Gut health is moving higher on the poultry industry’s strategic agenda as producers seek to improve feed efficiency, control costs and achieve more consistent performance from existing resources.

This connection between intestinal function and production economics was a central theme of Mohammad Vadiei’s presentation at the dsm-firmenich ICPIH 2026 Satellite Symposium in Istanbul. Vadiei, Head of Product Management Gut Health at dsm-firmenich Animal Nutrition & Health, positioned gut health not as an isolated technical concern but as a factor linking animal performance, sustainability and food security.

The economic argument begins with feed utilisation. The digestive system determines how effectively nutrients are converted into growth, making intestinal function central to the value producers obtain from their most important production inputs. Improvements in gut health can therefore support feed efficiency while helping businesses manage costs and protect production results.

Its influence also extends beyond digestion. Intestinal condition is closely connected to immune function, general flock health and the ability of birds to reach their performance potential. This makes gut health a shared priority for nutrition, veterinary care and farm management rather than the responsibility of a single discipline.

Advances in microbiome research are adding greater precision to this approach. Genomics and other omics technologies now allow microbial communities to be examined in much more detail, including the functions performed by microorganisms and the relationships between them.

For commercial poultry operations, however, the value of this science depends on its practical application. Complex microbiome findings must be converted into information that producers, veterinarians and nutrition specialists can use to improve decisions under farm conditions.

Early-life management represents one of the most important areas for intervention. Intestinal development begins during the first days of a chick’s life, while husbandry conditions and feeding programmes established during this period can influence subsequent health and performance.

Building a strong digestive system early can improve nutrient utilisation and support more consistent results later in the production cycle. This also underlines why gut health cannot be managed through a single product or short-term intervention. Nutrition, animal health and production management must work together throughout the bird’s life.

The industry’s growing interest in microbiome science reflects a wider transition towards more targeted nutrition and health programmes. As knowledge of microbial functions expands, production strategies can be designed around a clearer understanding of the biological factors affecting feed conversion, resilience and flock performance.

Gut health should consequently be evaluated not only through its capacity to support growth but also through its contribution to economic efficiency, sustainability and food security.

For poultry businesses operating under continuing cost and performance pressure, intestinal health is becoming a strategic management area with the potential to generate greater value from feed, health interventions and existing production resources.