Sugiharto Sugiharto, Danung Nur Adli, Tri Ujilestari, Mohammad Miftakhus Sholikin, Jedda Ayu Inggrida
A meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the effects of whey protein supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood parameters and carcase quality in broiler chickens. The dataset was compiled from studies published between 1964 and 2025, following the PICO framework, which included the following components: population = broiler chickens; intervention = various whey products (types of whey, inclusion methods and different inclusion levels); comparison = control versus treatment; and outcome = growth performance, nutrient digestibility, carcase traits, humoral immunity, antioxidant properties, intestinal morphology and microbiota composition. Overall, the inclusion of whey protein in broiler diets significantly improved average daily gain, feed intake, breast percentage and villus height (g' > 0.500; P < 0.001). In conclusion, this meta-analysis highlights the strong potential of whey protein as an alternative protein source in poultry nutrition. © The Author(s), 2025.
Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Animal and Agricultural Sciences, Universitas Diponegoro, Central Java, Semarang, Indonesia; Department of Feed and Animal Nutrition, Smart Livestock Industry Study Programme, Faculty of Animal Science, Universitas Brawijaya, East Java, Malang, Indonesia; Research Center for Animal Husbandry, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Bogor, Indonesia; Social and Economic of Agriculture, Agribusiness Programme Study (Kediri Campus), Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Brawijaya, East Java, Malang, Indonesia
