Nutrition-reproduction interaction in poultry

Jiwuba P. C., Ugwu D. O., Azodo N. L., Ilo S. U

Abstract: Recent research regarding nutrition-reproduction interaction in poultry is very limited. Nutrition is science that interprets the interaction of nutrients and other substances in feed in relation to maintenance, growth, reproduction, health and disease of an animal. The performance of poultry therefore is largely dependent on their reproductive performance, and there are interactions between reproductive performance and nutrient status. For optimal reproductive performance in poultry, all the nutrients which include protein, energy, minerals, fat and oil and vitamins must be met and fed to the birds using the appropriate feeding method. Previous studies have shown the effects of nutrition on male and female fertility, spermatogenesis, sperm motility and concentration, egg production, shell quality, hatchability, internal egg quality and progeny performances etc. Therefore this paper was an attempt to review the interaction between nutrition and poultry reproduction. The work also reviewed the positive
and negative effects of feeding methods, over-feeding and under-feeding of nutrients on poultry reproduction. Furthermore, this review could also serve as a ready source of literature for researchers in animal nutrition and nutritional reproductive physiology.
Recent research regarding nutrition-reproduction interaction in poultry is very limited. Nutrition
is science that interprets the interaction of nutrients and other substances in feed in relation to maintenance,
growth, reproduction, health and disease of an animal. The performance of poultry therefore is
largely dependent on their reproductive performance, and there are interactions between reproductive
performance and nutrient status. For optimal reproductive performance in poultry, all the nutrients
which include protein, energy, minerals, fat and oil and vitamins must be met and fed to the birds
using the appropriate feeding method. Previous studies have shown the effects of nutrition on male
and female fertility, spermatogenesis, sperm motility and concentration, egg production, shell quality,
hatchability, internal egg quality and progeny performances etc. Therefore this paper was an attempt
to review the interaction between nutrition and poultry reproduction. The work also reviewed the positive
and negative effects of feeding methods, over-feeding and under-feeding of nutrients on poultry
reproduction. Furthermore, this review could also serve as a ready source of literature for researchers
in animal nutrition and nutritional reproductive physiology.

Keywords: male fertility; nutrition and reproduction; poultry; progeny; spermatogenesis

Date published: 2020-10-31