In my previous blog, we explored why anti-nutritional factors exist and how many of the compounds that challenge poultry nutrition are part of how plants protect and manage their nutrients. That conversation naturally leads to a broader and often misunderstood group of compounds: secondary metabolites.
While proteins, fats and carbohydrates are considered primary nutrients in feed formulation, plants produce thousands of additional compounds that are not directly involved in growth or energy storage. These are known as secondary metabolites. In plant biology, they play important roles in protection, resilience and environmental interaction. In poultry nutrition, they can influence palatability, gut health, nutrient utilization and performance.
