Advances in Nutritional Strategies for Enhancing Livestock Productivity: A Review
Udharwar Sanjaykumar Vithalrao *
ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, North Goa, ICAR- Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute, Ela, Old Goa, India.
Prachi Chandrakar
Department of Livestock Production Management, ICAR- NDRI, Karnal, Haryana, India.
Mahanthesh M.T
Department of Animal Science and Fisheries, College of Agriculture, Gangavathi, University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur, Kanakagiri Road, Gangavathi, District: Koppal Karnataka-583227, India.
Garima Singh
Animal Science and Fisheries, AKS University Sherganj Satna, India.
Sudhakar S
Plant Protection, ICAR-KVK, IDUKKI, Kerala, India.
Mahesh Uttam Tanpure
Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Science, VNMKV, Parbhani, India.
Satendra Kumar
Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, College of Agriculture Lakhimpur Kheri, Jamunabad Campus, CSA University of Agriculture Technology Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh- 262802, India.
Akhilesh Kumar Singh
Animal Husbandry & Dairying, PRSU, Prayagraj, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Livestock nutrition is a critical determinant of productivity, health, and sustainability, forming the foundation of global food security through efficient conversion of feed resources into milk, meat, and eggs. Nutrition is closely interlinked with livestock health, welfare, and productivity. This paper aims to review nutritional strategies for enhancing livestock productivity. This review synthesises advancements in nutritional strategies that enhance livestock performance by focusing on balanced nutrient supply, functional feed additives, innovative feed technologies, and climate-resilient practices. Energy, protein, minerals, vitamins, and water form the core of animal diets, with tailored supplementation directly influencing growth, reproduction, immunity, and product quality. Developments such as bypass protein and fat, probiotics, prebiotics, enzymes, and phytogenic additives improve feed efficiency and health outcomes, while mycotoxin binders and antioxidants safeguard against feed contaminants and oxidative stress. Ruminant systems benefit from optimised roughage-to-concentrate ratios, methane mitigation strategies, and bypass nutrients, whereas non-ruminant systems adopt precision feeding, amino acid balancing, and enzyme supplementation to optimise efficiency. The inclusion of unconventional feed resources crop residues, agro-industrial by-products, insect meals, algae, and hydroponic fodder addresses sustainability challenges and reduces reliance on conventional grains. Nutritional interventions also provide resilience against climate stress by enhancing thermal tolerance through energy-dense rations, electrolytes, and antioxidants, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions via feed innovations. Emerging tools such as nutrigenomics, nanotechnology, and smart feeding systems integrating AI and IoT enable precision livestock nutrition and designer feeds targeted at specific productivity traits. Socio-economic perspectives emphasise cost-effectiveness, sustainable feed supply chains, enabling policies, and extension services that promote adoption at the farm level. Collectively, nutritional strategies not only improve productivity and profitability but also align livestock production with One-Health principles by enhancing animal welfare, environmental sustainability, and food security. Nutritional interventions also play a critical role in mitigating climate stress through energy-dense rations, electrolyte supplementation, and antioxidant support, alongside reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The integration of biotechnology, nanotechnology, AI, and IoT has paved the way for designer feeds and smart feeding systems. Future research must focus on integrating digital tools, novel feed ingredients, and climate-smart interventions to ensure resilient, sustainable, and productive livestock systems capable of meeting global protein demand.
Keywords: Nutrition, livestock, productivity, protein, minerals, vitamins