Rethinking Poultry Fiber: Nutrient or Antinutrient

A new focus on fiber in poultry:
Is it a nutrient or antinutrient?

Published Wednesday, 25th June 2025

To explore the evolving role of fiber in poultry nutrition, AB Vista will host a dedicated symposium titled “A New Focus on Fiber in Poultry:
Is it a Nutrient or Antinutrient?” at the upcoming 2025 Poultry Science Association (PSA) Annual Meeting in Raleigh, North Carolina. Taking place on July 16, this event will bring together industry-leading researchers and nutrition experts to examine the latest science and practical implications of fiber inclusion in poultry diets.

In this Q&A, we speak with two key AB Vista leaders driving this initiative, Dr. Tara York, Technical Services Director for North America, and Dr. Carrie Walk, Head of R&D. With decades of combined experience in monogastric nutrition, they offer insights into why it’s time to reassess fiber’s role in poultry production. From leveraging knowledge gained in swine research to redefining how fiber is measured and formulated, they shed light on where the science is heading, and what it means for nutritionists, producers, and the broader industry.

Tara: My name is Tara York, and I serve as the Technical Services Director for North America at AB Vista. In this role, I lead a dedicated team that provides critical support to our key accounts across various areas, including feed milling, nutrition, and veterinary services.

With 29 years of experience in the poultry industry, and 16 of those with AB Vista, I’ve had the opportunity to work across multiple facets of animal nutrition, from amino acids and antioxidant preservatives to enzymes. Throughout my career, one thing has remained constant: a strong commitment to helping our customers overcome challenges in the field and achieve success.

Carrie: Hello. I’m Carrie Walk, and I have worked in the AB Vista R&D team for a total of 11 years now. My current role is the Head of R&D, where I lead, advise, and support an exceptional team of scientists. We work to develop new and next generation products and solutions in nutrition and gut health, as well as working closely with our central and regional teams to support our current products, solutions, and customers in the industry.

Tara: Yes, absolutely. AB Vista has been actively involved in exploring the roles fiber can play in animal nutrition for quite some time, particularly within swine production, as part of our understanding and development of the Stimbiotic concept. Last year we hosted a very successful fiber symposium at the Midwest Swine Meetings, which generated a lot of insightful discussion and questions.

Following that event, we began to receive increasing interest in the role of fiber in poultry nutrition. While research in this area continues to evolve, growing evidence suggests that fiber plays an important, though often underappreciated, role in poultry health and performance.

That’s why we decided to host this fiber symposium at the upcoming PSA Meeting in Raleigh. Our goal is to present the latest fiber research, stimulate discussion, and encourage further research and collaboration in this emerging area of poultry nutrition.

Tara: To be completely honest, while research has been conducted on the role of fiber in poultry, we believe we’re still in the early stages of fully understanding its functional significance, and further research is clearly needed, particularly in terms of how to strategically incorporate it into diets for optimal outcomes. Historically, fiber has been viewed largely as a diluent in poultry diets, with limited nutritional value.

Carrie: However, emerging research is shifting that perspective. We believe this is because we are learning how to accurately and rapidly quantify fiber, the fractions…