Table of Contents

Chapter 1 - Advances in understanding and improving the role of enzymes in poultry nutrition: Bogdan A. Slominski, University of Manitoba, Canada; 1 Introduction 2 Phytase in poultry diets: enzyme efficacy, phytate and non-phytate phosphorus contents and environmental impacts 3 Non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) and NSP enzymes: physiological effects, multi-carbohydrase enzymes and prebiotic potential 4 b-Mannanase in poultry nutrition 5 Starch digestion and supplemental a-amylase 6 Microbial protease supplementation 7 Concluding remarks 8 Where to look for further information 9 References
Chapter 2 - The role of probiotics in optimizing gut function in poultry: Guillermo Tellez and Juan D. Latorre, University of Arkansas, USA; Margarita A. Arreguin-Nava, Eco-Bio LLC, USA; and Billy M. Hargis, University of Arkansas, USA; 1 Introduction 2 Experiences of probiotics in poultry 3 Probiotics and inflammation 4 Risks of overuse of antibiotics 5 The use of direct-fed microbials 6 Conclusion 7 Where to look for further information 8 References
Chapter 3 - The role of essential oils and other botanicals in optimising gut function in poultry: Divek V. T. Nair, Grace Dewi and Anup Kollanoor-Johny, University of Minnesota, USA; 1 Introduction 2 The emergence of regulations to curb antibiotic resistance 3 Phytobiotics: an emerging group of alternatives 4 Potential role of phytobiotics to improve gut health in poultry 5 Benefits of improving gut health on poultry production 6 Conclusion and future trends 7 References
Chapter 4 - Alternative sources of protein for poultry nutrition: Paul A. Iji, Mehdi Toghyani, Emmanuel U. Ahiwe and Apeh A. Omede, University of New England, Australia; 1 Introduction 2 Regional supply of conventional protein sources 3 Finding alternative sources of protein for poultry 4 Alternative plant protein sources: grain by-products 5 Alternative plant protein sources: oil seed and fruit by-products 6 Alternative plant protein sources: grain legumes or pulses 7 Alternative plant protein sources: algae and duckweed 8 Alternative animal protein sources 9 Poultry responses to diets containing alternative protein sources 10 Constraints on the use of alternative protein sources 11 Improving the nutritive value of alternative protein sources for poultry 12 Conclusion 13 Where to look for further information 14 References
Chapter 5 - Microalgae: a unique source of poultry feed protein: Sahil Kalia, Andrew D. Magnuson, Guanchen Liu and Xin Gen Lei, Cornell University, USA; 1 Introduction 2 Nutrient composition of microalgae as alternative feed protein and bioactive nutrient sources 3 Effects and values of microalgae as a supplement in broiler diets 4 Effects and values of microalgae as a supplement in laying hen diets 5 Potential of microalgae as a supplement in diets for other poultry species 6 Conclusion and future trends 7 Where to look for further information 8 References

About the Author

Dr Guillermo Tellez Isaias worked at the National Autonomous University of Mexico for 16 years and was previously Head of the Avian Medicine Department at the College of Veterinary Medicine. Currently, Dr Tellez is a Research Professor at the Center of Excellence in Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, USA where his research is focused on the advantages of the poultry gastrointestinal model to evaluate the beneficial effects of functional foods to enhance intestinal health and disease resistance. Sahil Kalia is working as a Postdoctoral Associate in the Department of Animal Science at Cornell University. He has published various research articles, abstracts, book chapters in reputed journals including Nature Publishing Group. Dr Xin Gen Lei is Professor of Molecular Nutrition in the Department of Animal Science at Cornell University, USA. Professor Lei has an international reputation for his wide-ranging research in nutrition as well as algal biomass research. Amongst his many achievements, Professor Lei developed a new phytase enzyme that is now used in 46 countries to improve feed phosphorus bioavailability to animals and reduce their phosphorus excretion. He has won a number of awards from The American Society for Nutrition and the American Society of Animal Science. He is Associate Editor of the Journal of Nutrition as well as President of TEMA (Trace Elements in Man and Animals).