Nutritional enhancement of the functions of the gastrointestinal tract to improve poultry health and performance
2007
Aziz Sacranie
Any strategy to improve health and performance in poultry is related to the integrity of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). The primary role of the GIT is to extract nutrients from the ingested diet, after which the nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream. The GIT therefore represents the main interface between the harsh external environment and host metabolism. The GIT’s integrity is threatened by pathogen entry, dietary toxins and exposure to harmful metabolites produced by the normal microflora. In fact, small changes in diet composition can have major impacts on GIT health, particularly in young birds. To overcome these constant challenges, the GIT has a number of defense mechanisms, or barriers, to protect itself from environmental challenges.
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