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Probiotics and prebiotics in poultry nutrition
Under normal circumstances, there is a delicate balance of beneficial and pathogenic bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). This is influenced by symbiotic and competitive interactions and relationships. The microbial communities will not only protect the GIT but also enhance productivity in the host. The use of probiotics and prebiotics are two approaches that have been examined and can potentially reduce enteric diseases in poultry and also enhance their productivity. These substances have been proposed to assist in the prevention of carcass contamination and improve the immune response in the chicken. Probiotics have been defined as 'a live microbial feed supplement which beneficially affects the host animal by improving its intestinal balance' (Fuller, 1989). The probiotic mode of action is by 'competitive exclusion', meaning there is competition for attachment sites in the GIT.
Growth promoting effects of zinc bacitracin, Bacillus-based probiotics and a blend of Yucca and Quillaja saponin in broilers have been well documented (Engberg et al. 2000; Cheeke, 2009; Jeong and Kim, 2014). These in-feed additives are commonly used in broiler diets but their effects at different dietary crude protein (CP) concentrations remain unclear. This study was conducted to study the effect of these additives when added to low and high-protein diets on performance and caecal...
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1 Introduction The rising number of recently reported human illnesses with bacterial infections resistant to multiple antibacterial agents has become a fundamental concern in recent years [1, 2]. This phenomenon has become a serious concern with regard to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria called “superbugs” [3, 4], especially when considering that humans only started using antibiotics in the past century with Sir Alexander Fleming’s discovery of...
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January 26, 2026
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In this issue: Introduction to the gut microbiome The function of prominent bacterial phyla Introduction to the gut-brain axis How microbial imbalance affects poultry welfare Practical strategies to improve the gut health of poultry What is the gut...
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I. INTRODUCTION Non-therapeutic in-feed usage of antibiotics in animal diets has been implicated in development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, some of which are zoonotic and pathogenic to humans (Stanton, 2013). Based on this fact, the European Union placed a ban on such usage of antibiotics 12 years ago (European commission, 2005; Castanon, 2007). However, the continuous incidence of antibiotic resistance in other regions is fueling the consideration and legislation of a global...
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The use of Bacillus species as probiotic supplements is expanding rapidly and demonstrates immune stimulation, antimicrobial activities, enzyme production and competitive exclusion as the most prevalent modes of action. The objective of this study was to investigate the dosage influence on performance parameters of the novel probiotic strain CHCC15076 in birds recovering from necrotic enteritis (NE) caused by Clostridium perfringens. The experiment consisted of 1920 day of hatch Cobb...
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The livestock industry is currently confronted with stringent regulations limiting the use of antibiotics, along with growing challenges from resistant pathogenic bacteria. These factors have prompted an urgent need to seek alternative strategies that can effectively promote animal health and optimize feed...
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I. INTRODUCTION Bacillus-based probiotics have gained increased attention as alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) to support broiler performance in systems aiming to reduce the use of antibiotics and maintain gut health and function. Combatting poor gut health and disease susceptibility in an era without antibiotics has been made increasingly difficult due to the increasing cost of commercial feed ingredients. This has forced some producers to use cheaper dietary...
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Editorial
This month, our comprehensive search captured 74 new publications in poultry nutrition from 61 journals (March 10th to April 10th, 2025, Web of Science), featuring top contributions from Poultry Science (6), Frontier in Veterinary Science(6), Animals (5), Veterinary Medicine and Science (5), etc. ( Download the complete list...
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Dysbacteriosis, an imbalance in gut microbiota, impairs nutrient absorption and growth in broilers. Severe cases can cause wet litter and high mortality. AGPs have long been used to enhance gut health and performance, but their prolonged use raises concerns over antimicrobial resistance in birds and humans. Removing AGPs from broiler diets has reduced performance and increased gastrointestinal tract (GIT) diseases. To mitigate the impact of AGP-free diets on broiler performance, various...
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1. Introduction Chickens represent the most widespread source of animal protein that is acceptable for nearly all communities, and, not surprisingly, the highly efficient commercial production of chickens is practised daily worldwide. However, chickens also represent a reservoir of zoonotic agents like Salmonella or Campylobacter. Chickens in commercial production are hatched from disinfected eggs in a clean hatchery environment, despite Gallus gallus being evolved to hatch in...
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Doug Korver (University of Alberta) spoke on the design of diets with essential oils, prebiotics, probiotics and enzymes, as well as the evaluation of the performance under commercial conditions, during IPPE 2019 in Atlanta, USA....
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Selective Elimination vs Competitive Exclusion: The Future of Antibiotic Alternatives in Food Animal Production As antimicrobial resistance (AMR) continues to threaten both public and animal health, the food animal industry is urgently shifting towards sustainable alternatives to antibiotics. Two promising strategies have emerged: Selective Elimination using bacteriophages or phage lysins and Competitive Exclusion using probiotics. Both methods target harmful bacteria but...
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Theresia Lavergne (Natural Biologics) explains her research with yeast components and phytogenics to enhance flock health and help sustain egg production in this Engormix interview during IPPE 2025 in Atlanta, USA.
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Mike Persia (Virginia Tech) discusses direct-fed microbials, their modes of action, and their positive impact on energy and eggshell quality in this Engormix interview during IPPE 2025 in Atlanta, USA....
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Increasing prices and low availability of common feed raw materials resulted in the use of alternative ingredients in animal production. These ingredients are often characterised by a high amount of soluble fibre resulting in lower performance and intestinal health issues that limits their inclusion rate in the diet. Bacillus amyloliquefaciens CECT 5940 (Ba) is a probiotic that can produce various metabolites and enzymes relieving the negative effects of soluble fiber and therefore it allows...
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Dr. Hugo Ramirez (Evonik Animal Nutrition) discusses probiotics’ role in improving poultry health, from gut permeability to immune support. He highlights sustainable solutions like water-soluble tablets, offering efficient, eco-friendly options for poultry health management....
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Henrique Brand (Evonik Animal Nutrition) shares Evonik’s approach to product development, emphasizing market-driven innovation. From probiotics to cost-efficient solutions like Guanamino, Evonik is advancing animal nutrition with cutting-edge technologies....
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Dr. Alain Riggi from Phileo by Lesaffre points out some trials on how Actisaf Sc 47 HR+ delivers positive effects on poultry production...
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Cristiano Bortoluzzi (dsm-firmenich) explains how to counteract negative effects of cocci vaccination with the help of synbiotics in this Engormix interview during IPPE 2025 in Atlanta, USA....
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