(WG)Group leader of Poultry Nutrition and Gut Health
Prof. Dr. Zafar Hayat is a distinguished academic leader, currently serving as the Principal of the College of Agriculture, Chairman of the Department of Animal Sciences, and Director of the Interdisciplinary Research Center for One Health at the University of Sargodha. With extensive participation in national and international research projects on sustainable poultry production, he has been a driving force in advancing research and innovation in the poultry sector. His doctoral research has focused on the production of designer eggs and their impact on human health, leading to the development of commercially available omega-3-enriched eggs in Pakistan. This provides consumers with a nutritious option to incorporate these important fatty acids into their diets. During his PhD and afterwards, he visited and worked at internationally accredited research centers and laboratories, including Oregon State University in the USA, the Avian Science Research Center in the UK, and Purdue University in the USA, among others. He has represented Pakistan on international platforms in Europe, North America, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. The international exposure helped him establish scientific networks and collaborations, bringing new knowledge, advanced technologies, and foreign funding to Pakistan. Focusing on developing alternatives to antibiotics in poultry production, Prof. Dr. Hayat emphasizes the importance of poultry nutrition and gut health. His research aims to develop innovative dietary strategies that enhance the microbiome of poultry, thereby improving health and performance while reducing reliance on antibiotics. Prof. Dr. Zafar Hayat is excited to contribute to the World Poultry Science Association as a Working Group Leader of Poultry Nutrition and Gut Health, where he looks forward to playing his part in shaping the future of poultry science on a global scale.
