Endocrine manipulation in poultry production: Historical lessons and modern sustainable alternatives

Authors: Guillermo Tellez-Isaias, Yordan Martinez-Aguilar, Prof. Hafez, and Awad A. Shehata

Ger. J. Vet. Res 2026. vol. 6, Iss. 3 pp:28-38
Doi: https://doi.org/10.51585/gjvr.2026.3.0198

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Abstract:

Hormonal compounds were historically investigated in poultry as potential tools to improve growth performance, feed efficiency, reproductive control, and egg quality. During the second half of the twentieth century, anabolic steroids and synthetic progestogens, including trenbolone acetate and melengestrol acetate, were evaluated experimentally in chickens, turkeys, and quail for growth promotion, reproductive suppression, and induced molting. Some studies reported transient improvements in muscle accretion, feed conversion, reproductive regression, or post-molt egg quality. However, these responses were inconsistent and were often accompanied by important physiological and toxicological concerns, including endocrine disruption, reproductive dysfunction, skeletal abnormalities, locomotor disorders, immunotoxicity, developmental alterations, and the possibility of residues in poultry products. These concerns, together with increasing attention to food safety, animal welfare, environmental contamination, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals, contributed to stricter international regulation and the abandonment of hormonal growth-promoting strategies in poultry. Contemporary poultry production now relies on non-hormonal approaches, including genetic selection, precision nutrition, microbiome modulation, vaccination, environmental management, and welfare-oriented husbandry. This review summarizes the historical use of hormonal compounds in poultry, examines their biological and toxicological consequences, and discusses current regulatory perspectives and modern alternatives within a sustainable One Health framework.

Keywords:

Poultry production, Endocrine disruption, Hormonal compounds, One Health, Precision nutrition, Sustainable poultry systems

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