Physiological limitations and potential, for improvement in gastrointestinal tract function of poultry

At time of hatching, chicks and poults are not completely prepared for their new nutritional environment. Hatchlings must make a rapid transition from a dependence on egg contents as a source of nourishment to a reliance on a relatively complex diet. Concurrently, young poultry must complete the physical and functional development of the gastrointestinal tract, including increase in tissue mass and composition, synthesis and secretion of digestive enzymes, absorption of nutrients, and gut-associated immune competence. New developments in biotechnology, especially in the areas of production of transgenic plants and animals, offer opportunities to improve the nutritional status and well-being of young poultry.