R&D Teams
Exploring the digestive tract of weaned piglets
The gut microbiota consists of a very large number of micro-organisms. Bacteria make up the majority of this and both commensal and pathogenic bacteria colonise the intestines. Whereas the commensals live in symbiosis with the host, the pathogens can cause damage and inflammation if conditions allow them to grow beyond normal levels. Such conditions could occur during weaning.
Bacillus: From soil to piglet feed
Suckling piglets supplemented with a Bacillus species-based probiotic have shown a notable increase in growth performance as compared to a control group. A different study also addressing the effect a Bacillus species-based probiotic supplemented as feed additive has shown that pre-weaning mortality could be significantly reduced by more than 50% with probiotic supplementation. Such notable increase in piglet survival results in one more pig weaned per litter, which is a clear indication that probiotics can improve the performance and profitability of sow units.
Lactic acid bacteria promoted FCR piglets
In the past, antibiotics were sometimes used to prevent and treat infectious diseases induced by weaning stress. However, the use of preventive antibiotics is being banned in many regions around the world. Many feed additives are on the market that claim to be a suitable alternative for preventive antibiotics as they have a positive effect on gut health and immunity of the animals. One of these products include the probiotics, live microorganism that confers a health benefit to the host, when administered in adequate amounts. Probiotics not only help in the maintenance of the piglet’s health status but have also been shown to improve the growth and feed conversion ratio.
How to select the right probiotic
Probiotics are on every list of tools to reduce therapeutic antibiotic usage. They have been shown to reduce diarrhoea, even necrotic enteritis. They improve welfare through reduced foot pad lesions and easily replace the effects of antibiotic growth promoters via feed. In layers some have been shown to improve shell quality, while also having a positive effect on FCR. First studies also show a clear effect on reduction of colistin and other therapeutic antibiotics. The big question is which strains can have the desired effect? Especially within the Bacillus subtilis group there is considerable genetic variation, easily explained by the wide ecological niche this species has adapted to.
Probiotics reduces antibiotic need in bees
Adding probiotics to bees’ food helps make them more resistant to nosemosis, a fungal infection associated with colony collapse disorder that has been observed in Europe and North America over the past 20 years. Currently, nosemosis is treated with antibiotics, but their efficacy is declining as resistant strains of the fungus have emerged.
The perfect probiotic for pigs
pigs are prone to gastrointestinal (GI) infections because their stomachs do not produce as much hydrochloric acid as adults do. This high pH environment can give rise to an overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria and hinder the population of beneficial bacteria necessary for healthy digestion. It also leads to more undigested feed entering the lower gastrointestinal tract.
Evaluating the effect of probiotics in broilers
The effect of probiotics consists of several mechanisms. Probiotics live in the mucous lining of the gastrointestinal tract. The bacteria living on the surface create a certain acidity level. The pH of the mucous membrane lowers, making it impossible for pathogenic bacteria such as E.coli and Salmonella to grow. Probiotics bind to the surface of the intestinal mucosa and prevent pathogenic bacteria from attaching. They excrete antibiotic substances which kill pathogenic bacteria and stimulate the immune system.
Improving the health of newborn calves with probiotics
Probiotics are extensively used as feed additives due to the potential positive effect of establishing a protective microflora in the gastrointestinal tract of calves. Lactic acid bacteria have been identified as a tool that can be used to maintain intestinal microbial balance and prevent the establishment of opportunistic pathogenic bacterial populations. Bacillus species are believed to reduce pathogen colonisation by activating key survival pathways and stimulating the immune system in epithelial cells. However, the effects of probiotics on the growth and health of calves are inconclusive and frequently driven by differences in probiotic species, viable probiotic bacterial numbers, and administration methods.
Probiotics: A natural health and performance modulator
probiotics have been developed as alternative feed additives to the prophylactic use of antibiotics. Probiotics are described as live microorganisms that, if administered in adequate amounts, promote gastrointestinal tract health, enhance dry matter intake, improve mucosal immunity, increase production performance, reduce methane production, and minimise energy loss in ruminants.
PROBIOTICS FOR CHICKENS: WHAT THEY DO & WHEN TO USE THEM
Providing probiotics to adult chickens after they have been treated with antibiotics also seems like a reasonable course of action. By "after" we mean giving your chickens probiotics for a week or two after they have taken the last dose of antibiotics. Why? Because antibiotics will also kill the good bacteria in the probiotic so provide the probiotics immediately after the last dose of antibiotics .
5 frequently asked questions about probiotics for poultry
Digestive health is especially important for raising a healthy flock. Birds establish gut microflora through the feed they eat and the environment in which they’re raised.
The Benefits of Probiotics for Chickens and other Poultry
Probiotics help boost good bacteria levels in the intestines and maintain optimal health. They also aid in digestion and assist in nutrient absorption which will result in a better feed conversion ratio, meaning your flock will need to eat less to get the same nutrients out of their feed. Probiotics help reduce fly problems in your coop and run area because the feces of flocks that consume probiotics smells less.
Can probiotics improve Pacific oyster production?
Environmentally-friendly methods for controlling microbial pathogenesis with probiotic bacteria are becoming increasingly preferred over repeated use of antibiotics, which can select for resistant pathogens in the environment.
Why catfish farmers should consider probiotics
bacillus subspecies in the probiotic had rebalanced intestinal bacteria in the catfish, which improved their ability to withstand production challenges.
The brain-gut microbiota axis: Impact on mental health & potential treatment avenues
The gut microbiota is altered in stress-related conditions, but there are a number of other scenarios in which the gut microbiota has been implicated: within disorders like schizophrenia and autism. It has also been implicated in a variety of degenerative conditions. The most widely-studied degenerative condition in relation to the microbiota is Parkinson’s disease, but there have recently been suggestions that the gut microbiota may also be involved in addiction, particularly in relation to alcoholism.