Feed Safety, Gut Health, and Functional Nutrition in Monogastric Animals

Feed safety, gut health, and functional nutrition have become central pillars in modern animal production, particularly within monogastric species such as poultry and swine. In these intensive systems, gastrointestinal health directly impacts nutrient digestibility, immune resilience, and overall growth performance. However, rapid intensification, climate-related feed deterioration, mycotoxin contamination, pathogenic infections, and restrictive antibiotic use continue to pose challenges to intestinal integrity, metabolic efficiency, and food safety. The global transition toward antibiotic-free and sustainable livestock production has further amplified the importance of integrating safe nutritional strategies that both protect feed quality and support gut functionality. Recent advances in gut microbiome research and nutritional immunology have provided new insight into host–microbe–diet interactions, promoting the development of precision feeding approaches and functional feed ingredients that tackle disease susceptibility, oxidative stress, and productivity loss. Yet, knowledge and application gaps persist regarding how these strategies can be harnessed across commercial monogastric systems to simultaneously boost animal health, performance, and product safety.This Research Topic aims to consolidate and advance scientific understanding of the intricate relationships among feed safety, intestinal health, and functional nutrition in monogastric animals. The goal is to explore innovative, evidence-based solutions that mitigate feedborne hazards, maintain microbial balance, strengthen intestinal barriers, and enhance nutrient utilization under modern production conditions. Key objectives include identifying how functional feed additives, nutraceuticals, probiotics, prebiotics, enzymes, and phytogenics interact with the gut microbiome; elucidating how toxin mitigation and oxidative stress management contribute to gastrointestinal resilience; and developing practical frameworks for precision nutrition targeting both animal health and productivity. The Research Topic seeks to connect animal nutritionists, microbiologists, veterinarians, toxicologists, and feed scientists to build multidisciplinary approaches that support long-term sustainability, animal welfare, and food quality.To gather further insights into sustainable and functional nutrition for monogastric animals, we welcome submissions exploring, but not limited to, the following themes:• Feed contamination, mycotoxin control, and toxin mitigation strategies;• Gut microbiome modulation, microbial balance, and intestinal immune function;• Probiotics, prebiotics, postbiotics, synbiotics, phytogenics, enzymes, and bioactive additives;• Oxidative stress reduction, barrier integrity, and antioxidant mechanisms;• Nutritional immunology and host–microbe–diet interactions;• Precision and functional feeding strategies enhancing nutrient utilization;• Sustainable feed resources and valorization of agro-industrial by-products;• Alternatives to antibiotics in maintaining gut health and performance. Topic editors: Oluwakamisi Festus Akinmoladun, Andrew Falowo Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/82941/feed-safety-gut-health-and-functional-nutrition-in-monogastric-animals