Poultry Feed Ingredients for the Next Decade-A Review

Abstract

In view of the relatively minor changes in the type of feed ingredients used by the poultry industry during the last 10 to 15 yr, it is unlikely that there will be any major changes during the next decade. There are developments, however, that could result in either minor or major changes in feed ingredient usage by this industry. Successful commercialization of certain cultivars of cereal grains with nutritional changes beneficial for use in poultry feeds could result in less use of conventional corn. The demand for certain specific human foods such as oils high in Omega-3 fatty acids will make some change in the availability of feed ingredients such as canola meal, and may result in the use of other feed ingredients to increase the content of these fatty acids in poultry products. Concerns with environmental contamination by waste products from poultry production may eventually dictate changes in poultry feed formulation to increase the efficiency of dry matter utilization of the diet. This could result in the use of phytase to improve phosphorus utilization, lower protein diets with higher levels of synthetic amino acids to lower nitrogen excretion, and possibly change processing of soybean meals to lower undigestible carbohydrate content. Increased alcohol production for fuel may lead to greater quantities of fermented grain by-products for poultry feeding.