Alternative Protein Sources in Poultry Feeding

Protein stands as the single most critical and expensive macronutrient in poultry nutrition, a fact that has shaped the economics of the industry for decades. As a major constituent of the biologically active compounds within the avian body, protein is indispensable for the synthesis of body tissue, facilitating both renovation and new growth. It serves as the building block for essential enzymes and hormones that orchestrate the physiological processes of the bird. For modern broiler chickens, whose advanced genetics have pushed growth rates to unprecedented levels, the demand for dietary protein is exceptionally high. Meeting this demand requires a sophisticated understanding of not only the quantity of protein but also the precise profile of essential amino acids it provides (Fiorilla et al., 2024).