The use of vitamin A in industrial poultry farming, its effect on the health and productivity of poultry

The well-being and productivity of poultry are closely related to its diet. Proper feeding is necessary to maintain health, growth and productivity. An unbalanced diet can lead to health problems and economic losses. Vitamins, especially vitamin A, play an important role in maintaining vital functions. Understanding the importance of vitamins is important for optimizing poultry farming methods. Vitamin A is one of the key trace elements that play a fundamental role in ensuring the well-being of poultry and maximizing its productivity. Vitamin A is a fat–soluble vitamin, and it cannot be synthesized in the body, so it must come from food. It can be present in the body in the form of retinol, retinal and retinoic acid. Vitamins are required in small quantities, but their role is extremely necessary in such processes as maintaining health and vital functions, in the growth and development of embryos, differentiation of epithelial cells and immune function. Vitamin A deficiency in birds can lead to decreased productivity, increased susceptibility to infectious diseases and reproductive disorders. Determining the optimal supply of vitamin A is a difficult task, since poultry’s need for retinol depends on many factors such as physiological status, age, health status, nutritional status and function. Therefore, ready-to-use vitamin A, provitamin A, and several classes of carotenoids can be used to meet vitamin A needs. The presented review article will provide a comprehensive analysis of scientific papers devoted to the study of the sources and key functions of vitamin A in the body of poultry. In particular, its role in the processes of growth, strengthening immunity, antioxidant and other types of biological activity will be considered. In addition, the effects of feed additives containing retinol on the poultry body will be investigated.