Optimizing Poultry Performance Through Innovative Nutritional Interventions - Dataset

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With global demand for poultry meat and eggs rising, the industry faces pressure to improve production efficiency while maintaining bird health and welfare. In this context, gut health and nutrient utilization are critical targets for sustainable production under antibiotic-free systems. This thesis demonstrates that targeted nutrition can enhance poultry health, performance, and welfare through non-antibiotic approaches. Results of the first two experiments of this thesis showed that xylo-oligosaccharides, high-carbohydrate diets, sodium butyrate, and copper have the potential to mitigate the impact of Eimeria infection in poultry by supporting gut health and improving growth. The third experiment revealed that AM/PM or split feeding with optimized protein, energy, and calcium enhanced nutrient digestibility, feed efficiency, and yolk color, while the fourth experiment showed that delivering calcium and vitamin D via drinking water reduced feather damage and improved vitamin D status. Collectively, these strategies demonstrate that precise dietary supplementation and nutrient timing can increase resilience, efficiency, and welfare in both broilers and layers, offering cost-effective, sustainable, and non-antibiotic solutions for modern poultry production.