# Short-Chain Fatty Acids Regulate Poultry Feed Intake via the Hypothalamus: Receptor-Mediated and Epigenetic Mechanisms

## TL;DR

Short-chain fatty acids influence poultry feed intake and health through brain signaling, offering new strategies for antibiotic-free farming.

## Contribution

This review highlights novel receptor-mediated and epigenetic mechanisms by which SCFAs regulate poultry feeding behavior and brain inflammation.

## Key findings

- SCFAs act as chemical messengers linking gut microbiota to the hypothalamus, modulating appetite and inflammation.
- Targeted fiber diets and probiotics can enhance SCFA levels to improve poultry health and productivity.
- Epigenetic and neural pathways are key mechanisms through which SCFAs exert their regulatory effects.

## Abstract

This review examines the central role of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in regulating feed intake and health in poultry through the gut–brain axis SCFAs produced by gut microbes from dietary fiber, which act as chemical messengers that transmit signals from the intestine to the hypothalamic feeding center through neural circulatory and immune pathways. They help modulate appetite, reduce brain inflammation, and support metabolic balance. The article also discusses practical feeding strategies such as targeted fiber diets, probiotics, and plant-based compounds to enhance SCFA levels, providing science-based approaches to promote poultry health and productivity in antibiotic-free farming systems.

The global poultry industry faces escalating challenges in animal welfare and production efficiency in the post-antibiotic era. Feed intake, a crucial determinant of growth, is frequently suppressed under stress, forming a key bottleneck for sustainable production. The microbiota–gut–brain (MGB) axis provides a novel framework to understand this complex regulation. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), produced from dietary fiber by gut microbiota, serve as vital chemical messengers within this axis, modulating hypothalamic feeding centers and systemic metabolism. This review summarizes SCFA biosynthesis and kinetics in poultry and examines their neural, humoral, and immune pathways to the brain. Emphasis is placed on receptor-mediated signaling, epigenetic regulation, energy sensing, and neuroimmune modulation through which SCFAs regulate feeding and reduce inflammation. Practical strategies—such as substrate engineering, microbiota modulation, and exogenous regulators—are discussed to enhance SCFA levels and poultry health. Future directions include multi-omics integration, novel additives, and predictive models to advance antibiotic-free nutrition.