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 shown to enhance nutrient utilisation, reduce pathogen translocation, and support overall growth performance. The global trend toward antibiotic-free production has accelerated the development and application of safer alternatives, aligning poultry health management with consumer demands, regulatory requirements, and sustainable production goals. Environmental and management stressors, including temperature fluctuations, stocking density, litter quality, and water composition, remain significant challenges that can disrupt microbial equilibrium and intestinal barrier integrity. Precision nutrition, early gut health biomarkers, and non-invasive diagnostic tools are increasingly enabling proactive management strategies to optimise performance and disease resilience. This review provides an overview of current innovations in poultry gut health, evaluates the drivers and challenges influencing intestinal health management, and identifies future research directions. It emphasises integrated approaches combining nutritional, microbiological, environmental, and regulatory considerations to achieve sustainable, efficient, and welfare-oriented poultry production.