Brazilian Poultry Production and Feed Challenges: Alternative Solutions

Brazil is the world leader in poultry production but faces high feed costs, which account for up to 75% of the sector's expenditure. Agro-industrial byproducts are sustainable alternatives because they are affordable and rich in nutrients.

This study seeks to systematically review the scientific evidence on the inclusion of alternative feeds in poultry nutrition in Brazil. The searches were conducted in the Scopus, Web of Science, Scielo and PubMed databases, resulting in 187 studies, of which only 28 were considered adequate. The highest percentage of studies is concentrated in the north region at 53.6%, the south region at 21.4%, the northeast at 17.9% and the central-west region at 7.1%.

The agro-industrial by-products analysed, such as babassu pie and Guarana peel meal, have relevant nutritional value, standing out for their high content of gross energy, proteins, fibres and minerals. Cassava starch by-products and tambaqui waste biological silage meal showed high digestibility; tucumã meal had the highest triglyceride concentration (266.91 mg dL−1) with 1.77% inclusion.

Guarana peel meal and fish waste oil showed reducing effects on the lipid profile at higher inclusion levels. Agro-industrial by-products have great potential as alternative ingredients in poultry diets, but their application must be carefully adjusted to maximise benefits and avoid negative impacts on bird performance.