Enhancing functional intestinal development for improved growth and efficiency in poultry

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Nutritionists perceive dysfunctional gastrointestinal tract as a potential rate-limiting factor in the survival and productivity of poultry. This perception has been fostered by the emergence of ideas concerning the development and function of the digestive tract in the light of advances in genetic improvement and restriction on the use of growth promoting antimicrobials (AGP) and anticoccidial drugs. A functional gut is the result of the status of many physiological and microbiological parameters in a complex interplay leading to a tightly controlled mucosal immune balance. The high metabolic rate and cellular turnover of gut tissues in the immediate period post-hatch result in substantial first-pass utilization of dietary nutrients, especially amino acids, to maintain gut function. It is prudent to expect that poultry raised on feeds without AGP will experience higher incidences of intestinal health problems and prolonged period of immunological challenges. The consequences of the inflammatory and immune responses on nutrients metabolism could impair the availability of nutrients for body protein accretion, growth and all other metabolic processes. The