Feather cover of chickens can be influenced by many factors, including direct or indirect nutritional factors. Direct dietary factor effects are levels of protein/amino acids, vitamins, minerals and mycotoxins. Indirect nutritional factors will impact feather cover through their effects on feather...

This chapter discusses management factors in broiler breeders that can trigger abnormal feathering and unwanted feather damage, such that the birds are unable to maintain good feather cover at all times. Management practices to ensure good feed access include the following. Birds have correct...

This chapter focuses on where the EU poultry industry needs to be heading in the future to remain competitive. It highlights growing meat demand as a main driver for change, and looks at the main challenges facing the industry, focusing in particular on feed price volatility and how this can be...

In this chapter the consequences of the currently foreseen trends in the consumer market, the genetic development in livestock animals, international trends in consumption of poultry products and their consequences for the demand and supply of feedstuffs for poultry are discussed.

This chapter discusses guidelines on the production of safe poultry meat and eggs during the pre-harvest stage, feeding (focused on the quality and evaluation of feeds), postharvest food safety and food processing controls.

This chapter discusses the role of World's Poultry Science Association (WPSA) in the different areas of poultry production such as breeding, genetics, nutrition, feed supply, biosecurity, removal of antibiotics, introduction of phytase, the Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) crises and future...

In this chapter methods in feeding and how to evaluate broilers more efficiently with minor references to other poultry are highlighted. Topics discussed include predicting feed intake, nutrient response, feed evaluation, and digestive tract optimization.

Housing and management of layer breeders has to be done in an optimal way otherwise farmers waste their genetic potential and high economic value. A good start secured by optimal brooding conditions, excellent feed quality and appropriate management in the early life of chicks is a prerequisite....

Legislative and assurance scheme requirements for standard and alternative indoor and outdoor broiler and turkey production systems are described. Generally, health and welfare are protected to various extents by a series of input requirements, largely related to stocking density, light,...

Many of the nutritional challenges posed by alternative systems can be addressed by application of existing scientific knowledge. However, regulations applied to alternative systems may limit the nutritionist's freedom of action, particularly with regard to the ingredients which can be used to...