Explore all the information on
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.
Introduction The poultry industry plays a vital role in global food security, providing an affordable and efficient source of animal protein (Castro et al., 2023). However, maintaining flock health and productivity remains a major challenge, with intestinal health playing a central role in poultry performance (Korver, 2023). With the rise of antibiotic resistance across the globe, the potential restriction of in-feed antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) in animal food production could...
Comments : 0
Recommendations: 0
Stella Molck, Scientist Microbiology RD&I at Evonik, discusses the importance of outgrowth speed in spore-forming probiotics and how it influences gut colonization, microbial balance, and overall effectiveness in animal nutrition. ...
Comments : 0
Recommendations: 0
Recommended events
January 25, 2027
United States - Georgia - Atlanta
Dr. Stella Molck, Scientist Microbiology RD&I at Evonik, explains how dynamic in vitro intestinal simulation tools provide deeper insights than traditional poultry gut health studies, helping researchers better understand gut function, feed additive performance, and microbiome interactions. ...
Comments : 0
Recommendations: 0
.mp4&w=3840&q=75)
...
Comments : 9
Recommendations: 5
INTRODUCTION
For many years, broiler intestinal health was supported by the widespread use of antimicrobial growth promoters (AGPs). These AGPs are antibiotic substances that were added to the feed at subtherapeutic levels, leading to improved animal performance. In the European Union, the use of AGPs was banned in 2006 while the Center for Veterinary Medicine of the US Food and Drug.
...
Comments : 7
Recommendations: 20
Disruptions within the microbiome–gut–bone axis are increasingly recognized as key contributors to impaired bone metabolism and leg disorders in broiler chickens. This study investigated the effects of a combined dietary additive containing Bacillus subtilis DSM 29784 and a phytogenic blend of garlic and essential oil components (BsP) on the modulation of microbial communities, intestinal integrity, mineral utilization, and bone-associated immune–osteogenic...
Comments : 0
Recommendations: 1
Anita Menconi, Regional Business Director, Specialty Nutrition, Americas at Evonik, explains how this probiotic simplifies life for feed manufacturers and producers. From operational ease to compatibility with AGPs and anticoccidials in complex feed programs, she breaks down why flexibility and stability matter in real-world production systems. ...
Comments : 2
Recommendations: 2
Héctor Leyva-Jiménez (United Animal Health) shares his research on the impact of probiotics on fly populations in poultry farms, in this Engormix interview at IPPE 2026 in Atlanta. ...
Comments : 1
Recommendations: 2
Antibiotics have been added to livestock in Industrial farms since 1946 to caused animal grow faster and put on weight more efficiently. Between 1985 and 2001, the use of antibiotics in feed for industrial livestock production rose a starling 50%. As global demand for animal protein grows, antibiotics use to raise food-producing animals in intensive production–mostly to promote growth rather than treat disease. According to a new report by the FDA 2010,...
Comments : 14
Recommendations: 4
Butyrate is a short-chain fatty acid that can be given as a dietary additive to support intestinal health and poultry performance. Providing butyrate in a protected form that reaches the hindgut could have different effects than an earlier-absorbed butyric acid salt. To compare these additives, 468 broiler chicks were housed 12 birds per pen, with 13 pens per dietary treatment. Birds were fed a three-phase feeding regimen for 42 d divided into three dietary treatments: a negative...
Comments : 0
Recommendations: 0
.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
Fernanda Castro (Cargill) explains how microbiome intelligence technology can help assess the flock's status and then choose the best strategy. As an example, she presented research on crude protein levels of diets during this Engormix interview at IPPE 2026 in Atlanta. ...
Comments : 1
Recommendations: 0
Necrotic Enteritis (NE), primarily caused by Clostridium perfringens , stands as one of the most devastating gastrointestinal pathologies in modern poultry production, with global economic losses estimated at approximately US$6 billion annually. Beyond its high clinical mortality rates,...
Comments : 0
Recommendations: 3
.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
I. INTRODUCTION Since the ban on using antibiotics (AGP) as growth promoters in the EU in 2006, gut health has become a growing concern. As described by Conway in 1994, the gut health concept is based on three components: the diet, the microbiota, and the gut mucosa. All three components interact to maintain a dynamic equilibrium that ensures proper functioning of the digestive system without pathology. However, this equilibrium is fragile and can be affected by factors such as how...
Comments : 0
Recommendations: 0
Avian salmonellosis remains a critical challenge for the global poultry industry, particularly in regions where intensive production coexists with traditional farming. In this comprehensive review, authors Pablo A. Chacana and Horacio R. Terzolo explore the evolving landscape of Pullorum Disease and Fowl Typhoid, emphasizing new diagnostic and preventive approaches for these long-standing bacterial threats. This work, originating from the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA)...
Comments : 0
Recommendations: 0
Mike Persia (Virginia Tech) explains the performance benefits of supplementing direct-fed microbials to laying hens, as observed in his research, in this Engormix interview at IPPE 2026 in Atlanta. ...
Comments : 0
Recommendations: 0
Vivek Kuttappan (Cargill) shared his research on the beneficial effects of postbiotics and phytogenics on mitigating APEC severity in laying hens, during this Engormix interview at IPPE 2026 in Atlanta. ...
Comments : 1
Recommendations: 2
The Relevance of Starch-Protein Digestive Dynamics in Crude Protein-Reduced Broiler Diets
Suggested link
Lukas Bauer, Portfolio Development Manager at Evonik Animal Nutrition, explores how spore germination and outgrowth determine probiotic function after ingestion. The discussion also highlights insights from a new in-vitro digestion model and explains why the timing of outgrowth is critical when managing gut health and disease risk in poultry production. ...
Comments : 0
Recommendations: 3
Mueez Ahmad (Arm & Hammer) discusses the increasing costs of this disease in the poultry industry and offers advice on how to control it, in this Engormix interview at IPPE 2026 in Atlanta. ...
Comments : 0
Recommendations: 0
Brief project summary Many alternative feed ingredients and by-products from agri-food industries often remain underutilized due to their abundance in dietary fibre or the lack of realization of their nutritional value and bioactive properties. This research aims to investigate the potential of novel prebiotic-type ingredients in promoting the health and development of the gastrointestinal tract in broiler chickens and laying hens, thereby establishing them as valuable bioactive...
Comments : 0
Recommendations: 0
Manuel Da Costa (Cargill) comments on advances in nutritional solutions using postbiotics and phythogenics, and how microbiome analysis helps identify opportunities or specific issues to address, during this Engormix interview at IPPE 2026 in Atlanta. ...
Comments : 0
Recommendations: 0
