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 long-term goal of my research program is to unravel factors and processes that regulate intestinal function and health in poultry by integrating maternal, in-ovo and early post-hatch nutrition strategies to support continuous gut development at embryonic through to early post-hatch period to optimize nutrients utilization for enhanced poultry productivity and reduced antibiotic use. The specific aim of the this proposal is to study mechanisms mediating adaptive digestive and absorptive responses and how they relate to growth and development to facilitate design of effective antibiotic free starter diets, particularly in conditions where enteric pathogens may otherwise compromise efficient production. The proposal will capitalize on my experiences with enteric pathogen challenge models to study the interactions between nutrition and gut health. By characterizing intestinal nutrient usage, amounts of nutrients that affect homeostatic balance will be discovered in the form of levels and interactions with other nutrients, and the timing of administration. This knowledge will be pivotal in developing starter diets to “condition” the gut for better nutrient utilization and program metabolism that ultimately affects production efficiency, carcass composition, and meat quality. The research will involve the use of advanced techniques in animal nutrition and cutting edge research techniques and instrumentation such as genomic sequencer, advanced microscopy, isopote tracers). Comprehending skillful use of these techniques to enhance feed efficiency is of high interest in both academic and industrial settings and will be very useful in furthering scientific careers of the HQP trained in the research program.