The awareness of poultry production safety is constantly increasing. The safety of poultry production is defined as biosecurity and the health status of birds. Hence the constant pursuit of developing new strategies in this area is necessary. Biosecurity is an element of good production practices that ensures adequate hygiene and maintaining the health status of poultry production. Poultry production is the world leader among all livestock species. Producers face many challenges during rearing, which depend on the utility type, the direction of use, and consumer requirements. For many years, the aim was to increase production results. Increasing attention is paid to the quality of the raw material and its safety. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure hygiene status during production. It can affect the immune system's functioning and birds' health status. Feed, water, and environmental conditions, including light, gases, dust, and temperature, play an essential role in poultry production. This review aims to look for stimulators and modulators of the poultry immune system while affecting the biosecurity of poultry production. Such challenges in current research by scientists aim to respond to the challenges posed as part of the One Health concept. The reviewed issues are a massive potential for an innovative approach to poultry production and related risks as part of the interaction of the animal-human ecosystem.

The study's aim was to assess the production efficiency, evaluate the carcass and meat quality of chickens fed with wheat grains. 200 Ross 308 chickens were divided into 4 groups (5 replicates with 10 birds in each): control (C) and experimental groups, including W50, where the finisher feed was diluted with wheat grain in 50%, W25–25%, and W10–10%. The production efficiency and chemical composition of the feed were analyzed. After 42 d of rearing, 10 birds from each group were selected, and the tissue composition, pH, color, water-holding capacity, drip loss, the chemical composition of meat, and the apparent protein digestibility, bone, and jejunum strength were investigated. It was proved that ground feed had an unfavorable effect on the body weight (BW) in all groups. Wheat decreased the protein level (P < 0.001) and digestibility (P < 0.001). The body weight gain (BWG) in group W50 was lower than in groups C and W10 (P = 0.009), however, this had no effect on the final feed conversion ratio (FCR) (P = 0.146). Finisher feed costs were reduced in groups W50, W25 compared to group C (P < 0.001). The European Production Efficiency Factor and the European Broiler Index in groups W10 and W25 were similar to group C, whereas in W50 they were reduced (P = 0.035; 0.034). No negative effect on carcass traits was shown in groups W10 and W25, however, 50% feed replacement was unbeneficial compared to group C. Pectoral muscles from the experimental groups were characterized by higher lightness (P < 0.001). In group W10 femur bones' strength and in group W25 tibia bones' strength was higher than in group W50 (P = 0.014; 0.006). Jejunum tensile strength was higher in group W25 than in W10 (P = 0.002). The nutritional strategies based on the dilution of the feed with wheat grain could be applied at the level of 10/25%, but 50% had a negative effect.

The study aimed to assess various quality characteristics (physical, morphologic, mechanical) of hatching eggs during the early-mid incubation period. Hatching eggs (1,200) were bought from a broiler Ross 308 breeder flock. Before incubation, 20 eggs were analyzed for dimensions and morphologic composition. Eggs (1,176) were incubated for 21 d. Hatchability was analyzed. On d 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12, eggs were collected (n = 20). The eggshell surface temperature and water loss were measured. The eggshell strength and thickness and the vitelline membrane strength were analyzed. The pH of thick albumen, amniotic fluid, and yolk were determined. The viscosity and lysozyme activity were studied for the thick albumen and amniotic fluid. Water loss was proportional and significantly different between incubation days. The yolk vitelline membrane strength highly depended on incubation days, decreasing steadily within the first 2 d (R² = 0.9643). The albumen pH decreased from d 4 till d 12 of incubation, whereas the yolk pH first increased from d 0 to d 2 before a decline on d 4. Albumen viscosity was highest on d 6. There was a strong dependence of viscosity decrease with increasing shear rate (R² = 0.7976). On the first day of incubation, the highest lysozyme hydrolytic activity was demonstrated (33,790 U/mL) compared to the activity from the amniotic fluid (8-12 d). From d 6, lysozyme activity decreased to 70 U/mL (d 10). On d 12, amniotic fluid lysozyme activity increased by over 6,000 U/mL compared to d 10. The lysozyme hydrolytic activity was lower in the amniotic fluid (d 8-12) compared to the thick albumen (0-6 d) (P < 0.001). The embryo's protective barriers are changed, and the fractions are hydrated during incubation. It could be concluded that the lysozyme is transferred from the albumen to the amniotic fluid due to its activity.

In recent years, the free-range system for laying hens has increased, driven by societal sensitivity to animal welfare. This study aimed to comparatively analyze the total lipid, cholesterol, and fatty acid composition of egg yolks of late-age laying hens reared in enriched cages (C) and the free-range system (FR). Eggs were collected from Lohmann Brown Classic hens at the 68th, 70th, 72nd, and 74th week of age. The concentrations of total lipids and cholesterol were not affected (p > 0.05) by either factor. Egg yolk from the FR group showed lower (p < 0.01) monounsaturated fatty acids and higher (p < 0.01) polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) compared with that of the C group. From a nutritional point of view, the PUFA n-6/n-3 and the PUFA/SFA ratios of egg yolk from the FR group were favorably lower and higher (p < 0.01) compared with the C one. Conversely, hen age did not affect (p > 0.05) the fatty acid composition of yolks. Interactions between factors were found for total n-3 and n-6 PUFA and the n-6/n-3 ratio (p < 0.01), as well as the thrombogenic index (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the results confirmed that the free-range system may improve the nutritional yolk fatty acid profile and its positive impact on human health.

The assessment of aluminosilicates’ impact on the production of chickens, the physical features of the intestines, and leg bones was done. 500 Ross 308 chickens were used and divided into 5 groups. The control group was I. Groups II, III, IV, and V were fed with halloysite and zeolite (1:3 ratio) at 0,5% (1–35 days; starter, grower 1 and 2) and 1% (36–42 days; finisher) levels. Aluminosilicates were also used for the peat litter: II—500 g of halloysite/m²; III—250 g of halloysite/m² and 250 g of zeolite/m²; IV—500 g of zeolite/m²; V—130 g halloysite/m², 370 g zeolite/m². During 42 days, growth and feed indicators were recorded. 10 birds from each group were selected for slaughter. The digestive tract, femur, and tibia bones were sampled, and physical features were analyzed (weight, length, and strength). A lower feed conversion ratio on days 23–35 was found in the groups with the aluminosilicates addition. In group V a lower weight of the gizzard was found than in group I. A liver weight was higher in group V than in group III. A higher strength of the femurs was demonstrated in group IV. The tibia bones were characterized by higher strength than the femurs of broiler chickens. The aluminosilicates to feed and litter had no adverse effect.

Bedding material is a crucial environmental factor for chickens. Coffee husks are waste from the industry that could be reused. The study aimed to analyze the chemical composition of various bedding types and assess their impact on the performance characteristics of broiler chickens and the incidence of footpad dermatitis (FPD). Ross 308 broilers were used in the study. Birds were divided into 3 groups (216 chickens, 72 per group). Group 1 was kept on chopped straw (S). Group 2 was kept on coffee husks (CHs), and the 3rd group (PB) was kept on pellet bedding made from S and CHs in a 1:1 ratio. The dry matter (DM), crude fiber (CF), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) content, and the pH of the bedding were analyzed. Production results were examined during 42 days of rearing. FPD was assessed on a point scale. The tissue composition of the carcasses and qualitative physicochemical characteristics of the meat (pH, color, water holding capacity, drip loss) and bone-breaking strength were analyzed. Straw had a higher CF content. In total, the highest N content in CHs was noticed. P content was lower in the S, and K was the highest in the CHs group, followed by S and PB. The pH of the bedding was lower in the CHs group, higher in PB, and highest in S bedding. The DM was decreasing within the days of rearing. A significant interaction was demonstrated between the type of bedding and rearing days on the bedding (manure) composition. On days 1–14, FCR deteriorated in the PB group compared to the S group. The presence of FPD was significantly lower in the PB group than in the others. In the PB group, chickens had a higher slaughter yield than in the S group and a lower weight and liver share than in the CHs group. The weight and proportion of abdominal fat were higher in the group kept on S than on CHs. It can be concluded that coffee husks as a component of pellets had a beneficial effect on reducing FPD in chickens and their slaughter yield and enriched bedding with nutrients, which with poultry manure, could be a good fertilizer for agricultural soils after rearing. It could be recommended to use pelleted bedding.