Precision Protein Nutrition in poultry: Unlocking amino acid availability through protease supplementation

Abstract

Since protein is one of the most costly and nutritionally important ingredients in chicken diets, its effective use is crucial for economic and sustainable production. However, traditional protein-based feed formulation frequently leads to increased nitrogen excretion, poor amino acid use, and increased environmental burden. Precision Protein Nutrition (PPN), a nutritional approach that uses digestible amino acid-based formulations to match dietary amino acid supply with poultry physiological requirements, has arisen in response to these issues. Exogenous protease supplementation has drawn a lot of interest in this context since it can boost amino acid availability and accelerate protein decomposition. This paper investigates the role of protease supplementation in maximizing protein use in poultry and looks at the fundamentals of PPN. The methods by which proteases improve nutrition absorption, ileal amino acid digestibility, and protein digestion are highlighted. The effects of protease on intestinal microbial ecology, gut shape, and the performance of birds fed diets low in crude protein are also included in the paper. Protease supplementation can enhance feed efficiency, support growth performance, and increase nitrogen retention while lowering the quantity of undigested protein that reaches the lower gastrointestinal tract, according to evidence from recent research. By lowering dietary protein requirements, feed costs, and nitrogen emissions from chicken production systems, protease integration into precision feeding programs also provides economic and environmental benefits. Despite variability in response linked with enzyme properties, meal composition, and manufacturing settings, protease remains a viable tool for enhancing nutrient efficiency. All things considered, the combination of PPN and protease supplements is a calculated move toward more effective, sustainable, and ecologically conscious poultry farming.