ADVERTORIAL FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE May 2025 65 Consumer perception of poultry products has undergone a very interesting upward revaluation, generating extraordinary demand for certain products. Eggs, once criticized just a few years ago for increasing blood cholesterol levels, have completely transformed their image and are now seen as a product with health benefits. Their value as a source of high-quality protein is trending, and it’s one of the reasons behind the rise in consumption (up to 8% in countries like Spain) and a price increase of up to 25% in some countries. The perfect storm of high demand and low supply is driving prices up and leading to a level of sector financing never seen before. Structural changes in the industry within the European Union, stemming from animal welfare regulations and the growing consumer preference for cage-free eggs, are largely responsible for the reduced number of laying hens in production. In addition, the culling of birds testing positive for HPAI has further contributed to this supply shortage. From a food quality perspective, the reduction in antibiotic use in animal production is a reality. Over the past four years, according to official prescription sources (Presvet, Spain), the use of antibiotics in livestock farming has decreased by up to 53% in Spain. Although this downward trend in antibiotic use may be more pronounced in Europe—due to regulatory measures- it is being mirrored across all continents as a result of market globalization. Undoubtedly, the quality of the final product in the supermarket, along with the possibility of enriching that product (such as altering fatty acid profiles), adds value both to poultry and turkey meat, as well as eggs. In light of this situation, what should be the vision of a company dedicated to the production of feed additives for animal nutrition? Basically, we must keep in mind what the key challenges in poultry farming will be in the near future: • Zootechnical performance will continue to be the main benchmark for evaluation in production companies. Feed conversion remains a key factor, given the significant weight of feed costs in the total cost per kilogram. However, in certain regions, the need for slower-growing broilers is reducing the prominence of this parameter. Diets with lower energy per kilogram will likely become more com-
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