Commercial poultry feed formulation: current status, challenges, and future expectations

Feed formulation has gone through vast improvements from simple hand formulations to computerised formulations using modern software equipped with advanced capabilities, which allows for high accuracy, easy integration, and flexibility. In general, modern commercial feed formulations are based on the concept of 'least-cost' and produced using linear programming. Several challenges are encountered when formulating feeds, such as nutrient variability, ingredient shortages, and ingredient price fluctuations. Adopting innovative technology has helped nutritionists overcome most of the challenges that they face. In the future, poultry feed formulation is likely to receive more enhancements like implementing the true protein and net energy system and considering advanced profit-maximising models. Such enhancements should maximise profitability, meet nutritional needs more accurately, and reduce environmental pollution for more sustainable poultry production.