Nutritional Strategies for Improving Livestock Productivity: Recent Advances and Future Perspectives

Abstract

Livestock nutrition plays a pivotal role in determining productivity, product quality, animal health, and environmental sustainability, accounting for nearly 60–70% of total production costs. Recent advancements in feed formulation, nutrigenomics, feed additives, and precision technologies have transformed conventional nutrition into a science-driven approach that optimises performance while addressing ecological challenges. This review explores the advancements in nutritional strategies for enhancing livestock productivity. Precision feeding using sensors, data analytics, and artificial intelligence enables individualised diets, reducing wastage by 8–12% and improving feed efficiency by 10–15%. Nutraceuticals such as probiotics, enzymes, and plant bioactives enhance gut health, reduce methane emissions, and minimise reliance on antibiotics. Nutrigenomics provides molecular insights into gene–nutrient interactions, identifying genetic markers linked to feed efficiency and enabling targeted interventions. Sustainable strategies, including low-emission diets, recycling of food by-products, and integration of silvopastoral systems, contribute significantly to climate-smart livestock production, lowering greenhouse gas emissions by up to 25%. Studies reveal that supplementation with rumen-protected methionine increases milk protein content by 0.2–0.3 percentage units and improves conception rates by 5–8% in high-yielding cows. Harmonised regulatory standards for feed additives, nutraceuticals, and biotechnology-based ingredients will improve trade and ensure farmer confidence. Economic assessments show strong cost–benefit ratios ranging between 1.5:1 and 2.5:1, though challenges remain regarding feed affordability, farmer knowledge gaps, and regulatory restrictions. Future innovations in nano-biotechnology, functional feeds, and blockchain-enabled nutrition monitoring promise to enhance resilience, traceability, and profitability in livestock systems.