Strengthening Poultry Production Through Smarter Nutrition
Dr. Pratima Adhikari is an associate professor in MSU’s Department of Poultry Science. Her research focuses on the nutrition of laying hens, specifically advancing the understanding of feed ingredients, nutrient utilization, and the feeding value of dietary components that support efficient and sustainable egg production. She is one of a small group of specialists focused on developing nutrition programs that allow hens to reach their full genetic potential.
Adhikari reports the poultry industry is increasingly using lower-protein diets supplemented with synthetic amino acids to reduce feed costs and nitrogen excretion while still meeting birds’ nutritional needs. As crude protein levels are reduced, maintaining the proper balance of essential amino acids becomes more important. Of particular interest to Adhikari are the branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs)—leucine, valine, and isoleucine—which interact metabolically. When these amino acids are not properly balanced, they can compete with one another and negatively affect feed intake, production performance, and egg quality.
Emerging research also suggests that amino acids may influence bone health in laying hens. Adhikari’s research has shown dietary valine supplementation can affect both the calcium content and flexibility of bones, indicating that amino acids may contribute to skeletal strength and development in addition to their established roles in protein synthesis and production. Her work to understand these relationships could help the poultry industry develop feeding strategies that balance amino acids more effectively, supporting environmental sustainability and economic efficiency while also improving bird health and welfare.
In the future, poultry bone health will be a focus of her research. Using a recently acquired bone scanner, she will gain valuable insights on how nutritional strategies, including phytase supplementation, influence bone quality and overall bird welfare.
Adhikari wrote, “my ultimate goal is to generate science-based recommendations that improve nutrient efficiency, reduce feed costs and environmental impact, and better meet the nutritional requirements of modern genetic strains of laying hens.” She aspires to become one of the nation’s leading layer nutritionists (a poultry nutrition specialist who focuses on dietary needs of laying hens) and to impact poultry nutrition on a global scale.
