** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** BONE WEAKNESS AND BONE DAMAGE IN LAYING HENS ARE IMPORTANT ECONOMIC AND ANIMAL WELFARE ISSUES FOR THE POULTRY INDUSTRY; SKELETAL ISSUES IN LAYING HENS SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT EGG PRODUCTION AND EGG QUALITY. SCLEROSTIN (SOST) IS A KEY REGULATOR OF BONE, MUSCLE, AND FAT FORMATION; IT REDUCES BONE MINERALIZATION, WHILE IT INHIBITS MEAT PRODUCTION BUT ENHANCES FAT PRODUCTION. HOWEVER, ROLES OF SOST IN REGULATION OF BONE, MUSCLE, AND FAT FORMATIONIN POULTRY HAVE NOT BEEN INVESTIGATED. THUS, IT IS A NOVEL APPROACH TO ENHANCE BONE HEALTH, BODY COMPOSITION, AND FEED EFFICIENCY IN LAYING HENS. THE RESEARCH PROPOSED IN THIS APPLICATION IS SIGNIFICANT, BECAUSE THE RESULTS FROM THE PROPOSED STUDY WILL PROVIDE NEW STRATEGIES SUCH AS GENETIC SELECTION FOR INACTIVE SOST OR LESS EXPRESSION OF SOST AND DEVELOPMENT OF NATURAL BIOACTIVES AS FEED ADDITIVES FOR INACTION OF SOST TO PROMOTE BONE AND MUSCLE DEVELOPMENT AND REDUCE FAT FORMATION WHILE MAINTAINING EFFICIENT EGG PRODUCTION AND IMPROVING EGGSHELL QUALITY, INCREASING ECONOMIC BENEFITS FOR THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.