In livestock production, animals are weaned early for reproductive efficiency. Upon weaning or hatching, young animals often receive complex feeds. Early weaned animals or newly hatched birds have intestinal tracts that are not fully mature or able to handle all components in feeds, ranging from plant and animal tissues as well as harmful compounds and toxins which can lead to intestinal inflammation, immune response, and oxidative stress. A proper nutritional strategy is important for managing intestinal challenges in these young animals. This can be achieved by a more careful selection of feeds, as well as by supplementing with nutrients or compounds with a functional role to play in aiding intestinal health.

This Research Topic welcomes authors to submit their review and research manuscripts in relation to nutritional manipulation or the use of functional compounds to support coping with the intestinal challenges that young animals suffer upon weaning or batching. Target animals are primarily monogastric animals, including pigs, poultry, horses, rabbits, etc. The authors could focus on reviewing roles of specific nutrients or functional compounds and how these could be applied in animal feeding. Although review papers are welcome, research papers would also be considered in this Research Topic.

Keywords: Animals, Intestinal health, Nutrition, Pigs, Poultry

Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.