TLDR Good feather growth in poultry needs the right balance of proteins, amino acids, minerals, and vitamins.
The document from January 2020 reviews the molecular signaling pathways and nutritional factors that influence feather growth and regeneration in poultry. It explains the roles of signaling pathways such as Wnt, BMP, Notch, and SHH in regulating feather follicle stem cells and how dysregulation can lead to poor feather quality. The review also discusses the importance of nutrients like proteins, amino acids, minerals, and vitamins for feather development, with specific emphasis on the roles of dietary crude protein, sulfur-containing amino acids, zinc, selenium, and vitamins B and D3. The document concludes that while the molecular mechanisms of nutrient regulation on feather growth are not fully understood, further research could lead to improved methods for enhancing plumage coverage in commercial poultry.
161 citations,
August 2012 in “Seminars in cell & developmental biology” Hair growth and development are controlled by specific signaling pathways.
76 citations,
January 2010 in “Journal of bone and mineral metabolism” 
85 citations,
October 2006 in “Current opinion in cell biology” Feather growth and regeneration involve complex patterns, stem cells, and evolutionary insights.
40 citations,
October 2002 in “Endocrinology” Vitamin D3 analogs can promote hair growth in mice genetically prone to hair loss.
1 citations,
October 2013 Different ectodermal organs like hair and feathers regenerate differently, with specific stem cells and signals involved in their growth and response to the environment.
28 citations,
March 2016 in “Toxicologic pathology” Dogs could be good models for studying human hair growth and hair loss.
19 citations,
April 2015 in “Developmental Dynamics” The conclusion is that skin and hair patterns are formed by a mix of cell activities, molecular signals, and environmental factors.
82 citations,
February 2017 in “Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology” The TGF-β family helps control how cells change and move, affecting skin, hair, and organ development.
66 citations,
July 2015 in “Journal of Molecular Biology” The document concludes that for hair and feather growth, it's better to target the environment around stem cells than the cells themselves.
