Poultry gut health: industry drivers, management determinants, and emerging research directions

Gut health has emerged as a critical determinant of sustainable poultry production, directly influencing nutrient absorption, immune competence, disease resistance, and overall bird performance. Recent research has highlighted the central role of the gut microbiota in maintaining intestinal health and functions, with strategies such as probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, postbiotics, phytogenic compounds, and fermented feed ingredients demonstrating considerable promise in promoting microbial balance and enhancing gut integrity. Efforts to strengthen intestinal barrier function through modulation of tight junction proteins and improvement of gut morphology, including villus height and crypt depth, have been…