BOKU Symposium Tierernährung

Functional Feed Additives for Resource-Efficient Animal Nutrition

Increasing demands for resource efficiency, animal health and environmental sustainability are creating new challenges for animal nutrition. Functional feed additives can contribute to more efficient nutrient utilization, targeted modulation of digestive and metabolic processes, improved resilience to physiological and environmental stressors, and reduced emissions. Enzymes, probiotics and postbiotics, phytogenic compounds, organic acids and other bioactive substances offer a wide range of opportunities for more sustainable animal nutrition.

At the same time, important questions remain regarding the conditions under which such additives are truly effective. Which modes of action are supported by scientific evidence? To what extent do responses depend on animal species, diet composition, production system and environmental conditions? And how reliably can results obtained under controlled experimental conditions be transferred into practice? Beyond the efficacy of individual additives, increasing attention is therefore being given to interactions between additives, combined strategies and their targeted application under different physiological and production conditions.

The 25th BOKU Symposium Animal Nutrition 2027 also marks a special anniversary, reflecting a long-standing tradition of scientific exchange between research, practice and industry. This anniversary edition will address the potential of functional feed additives to support resource-efficient animal nutrition. Renowned experts from different areas of animal nutrition will discuss current scientific evidence and its practical implications for ruminants, pigs, poultry and aquaculture. In addition to the invited keynote lectures, we welcome scientific contributions and posters addressing the general theme as well as other current topics in animal nutrition.

We hope to see you again!