Is intestinal absorption capacity rate-limiting for performance in poultry?

In recent years, there has been a growing perception that limitations in ga strointestinal absorption may be detrimental to posthatch survival and subs equent performance. This perception is based on a large body of information demonstration that genetic selection for growth in domestic poultry alters intestinal structure from that of their wild counterparts. Furthermore, re cent advances in our understanding of the energetic costs of absorption sug gest that biochemical as well as structural changes in intestinal function have decreased absorptive function and efficiency in both chickens and turk eys. The recent discovery that some gastrointestinal peptides enhance nutri ent absorption has allowed limited, direct testing of this hypothesis. The results of preliminary studies indicate that intestinal absorption enhancem ent technology may have beneficial practical application. More detailed stu dies are needed to fully assess the economic potential of intestinal absorp tion enhancement in poultry.