Vol. 10, Special Issue 9 (2025)

Author(s): Dheeraj Kumar, KD Rathod, SM Kale, Rakesh Maurya and TR Bhosale

Abstract: The pressing need for sustainable feed options that lessen reliance on traditional components like maize and soybean meal is highlighted by the rising demand for poultry products worldwide. Agro-industrial by-products, crop leftovers, and new proteins from insects, algae, and single-cell organisms are examples of alternative feed resources that have intriguing opportunities to improve circularity, reduce feed costs, and diminish environmental effect. However, socioeconomic limitations pertaining to cost competitiveness and farmer acceptance, technical obstacles such as seasonal availability, storage, and processing demands, and nutritional challenges such as variability in composition, anti-nutritional factors, and poor digestibility are impeding their adoption. The potential of these resources can be unlocked with the aid of cutting-edge techniques including extrusion and fermentation, enzyme supplementation, digestible amino acid-based formulations, and synthetic amino acids. Looking ahead, alternative feeds can be positioned as a cornerstone of sustainable poultry production, guaranteeing profitability, bird health, and resilience against future challenges. This can be achieved through targeted use in broilers and layers, integration into organic and antibiotic-free systems, and the exploration of novel proteins.

DOI: 10.22271/veterinary.2025.v10.i9Sa.2555