Modern Feeding and Nutritional Management Practices in Livestock Production: A Review
Yashesh Singh *
Department of Animal Husbandry, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology (SVPUAT), Meerut, India.
Jitendra Choudhary
Department of Livestock Production Management, Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University (SKNAU), Jobner, India.
Mamta
Department of Livestock Production and Management (LPM), DUVASU, Mathura, India.
Ramdas Bhimrao Shende
Animal Husbandry and Dairy Science, College of Agriculture, Nandurabar- 425412, MPKV, Rahuri, Maharashtra, India.
Prashant Mohanrao Sathe
Department of LPM, PGIVAS, Akola, MAFSU, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India.
D. Aishwarya
Department of Dairy Engineering, Karnataka Veterinary Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Bidar, India.
Saurabh Sharma
Department of Veterinary Extension Education, Shourabh College of Veterinary Science., SCVS, Hindaun City, Karauli, Rajasthan-322234, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Livestock production has undergone significant transformation through the adoption of modern feeding and nutritional management practices that enhance productivity, improve animal health, and promote sustainable resource utilisation. Nutrition remains the most influential factor affecting growth, reproduction, milk production, meat quality, feed efficiency, and overall economic performance of livestock enterprises. Recent advances in nutritional science have shifted feeding strategies from conventional ration formulation towards precision nutrition, enabling nutrient supply to be tailored according to species, physiological stage, genetic potential, production level, and environmental conditions. The utilisation of high-quality forages, balanced concentrate mixtures, alternative feed resources, functional feed additives, and advanced feed processing technologies has substantially improved nutrient digestibility and production efficiency. Emerging feed ingredients such as insect meal, algae, single-cell proteins, and agro-industrial by-products offer sustainable alternatives to conventional feedstuffs while supporting circular bioeconomy principles. Precision livestock nutrition supported by artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, machine learning, wearable sensors, automated feeding systems, and decision support tools has further enhanced feed intake monitoring, real-time nutrient adjustment, and farm management efficiency. Nutritional interventions targeting critical physiological stages, including neonatal development, growth, gestation, transition, lactation, reproduction, and heat stress adaptation, have improved animal welfare and lifetime productivity. Functional feed additives such as probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, enzymes, phytogenic compounds, antioxidants, buffers, and mycotoxin binders contribute to improved gut health, immune function, nutrient utilisation, and disease resistance. Sustainable feeding approaches emphasising methane mitigation, low-carbon feeding, waste valorisation, climate-smart nutrition, and carbon footprint reduction are becoming integral components of modern livestock systems. Continued integration of precision feeding technologies, functional nutrition, digital agriculture, and sustainable feed resources offers substantial opportunities to improve production efficiency while reducing environmental impacts. This review synthesises recent scientific advances in modern feeding strategies, nutritional management practices, precision livestock nutrition, functional feed additives, and sustainable feeding systems that collectively support resilient, profitable, and environmentally responsible livestock production.
Keywords: Precision nutrition, livestock production, feed additives, sustainable feeding, precision livestock farming, alternative feed resources, feed efficiency