Explore all the information onProbiotics 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.
 Dr. Alain Riggi from Phileo by Lesaffre points out some trials on how Actisaf Sc 47 HR+ delivers positive effects on poultry production...
 
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....
 
Vivek Kuttappan (Cargill) explains the synergistic effect of postbiotics and essential oils maximizing the impact on body weight and feed conversion, in this Engormix interview during IPPE 2025 in Atlanta, USA....
 
Dr. Abhinav Saika, Group Product Manager at Himalaya Wellness Company, discusses evolving poultry trends in South Central Asia. He highlights the shift towards natural, antibiotic-free solutions and emphasizes the role of phyto-compounds and probiotics in sustainable poultry production....
 
Mr, Joginder S. Uppal, Business Director at Nu.ance Biotechnology, a Switzerland-based company focused on enhancing animal resilience through advanced nutritional strategies, speaks about their cutting-edge product range, including postbiotics and probiotic solutions designed to boost performance, immunity, and profitability in poultry and dairy markets....
 
 INTRODUCTION:  The gastrointestinal tract, often referred to as "the gut," is a complex system consisting of several components, including the epithelium, the immune arm, and the commensal bacteria. This intricate structure plays a crucial role in the overall health and well-being of animals. Understanding the defense mechanisms of the gut is vital for maintaining optimal gastrointestinal function and preventing the invasion of harmful pathogens. (Kogut  et al .,...
 
 Gut infections can be a major source of efficiency loss, downtime and additional costs for veterinary treatment. Microbiota stabilization is central to the health of the digestive system. By reinforcing the commensal microflora, probiotics help to combat stress and maintain good overall animal health. Aside from the positive effect on productivity, probiotics also help to improve animal welfare. 
  
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PhD Maria Tereza Terra-Long (North America Technical Services Manager - Poultry, Phileo by Lesaffre), points out the potential  Potential rise of yeast probiotics in chicken farming...
 
 1. Introduction  Coccidiosis is a parasitic disease caused by an apicomplexan parasite of the genus Eimeria, which infects different parts of the intestinal tract depending on the species of Eimeria [1]. Eimeria spp. invade intestinal cells and cause physical damage to the intestinal epithelium, producing hemorrhagic diarrhea and disrupting the normal functioning of the intestinal tract [2]. This leads to impaired nutrient absorption and compromised gut health [3]. On the other hand,...
 
    Surfactin is a powerful biosurfactant with significant potential in the livestock industry. It is renowned for its strong antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, making it essential for enhancing animal gut health. By improving feed efficiency and boosting disease resistance, Surfactin plays a critical role...
 
 Probiotics are included in the feed and administered continuously during the entire production cycle to maintain intestinal integrity and strengthen the immunity of the bird, thus reducing the need for repeated medication. Alternatively, water-soluble probiotics are often applied to quickly react to upcoming stress situations in the flock – but they can negatively impact the formation of biofilm in the water lines. For this reason, formulations that reduce the formation of biofilms...
 
 INTRODUCTION  Since the use of antibiotic growth promoters was banned by the EU on January 1st, 2006, several feed additives have been studied as alternatives to antibiotics, such as probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and herbal medicines (1). Among these feed additives, prebiotics have been studied and supplemented broadly into broiler diets in recent years. Gibson and Roberfroid (2) defined a prebiotic compound as a non-digestible food ingredient utilized by intestinal microbiota....
 
Rick Kleyn (Consultant at Spesfeed) explains the importance of proper management as a first step and how probiotics and enzymes play a role in keeping gut health, in this Engormix interview....
 
 I. INTRODUCTION  The increased recognition of antimicrobial resistance as a public health risk and, therefore, the imposed restrictions on the use of antimicrobial growth promoters (AGP), has driven the search for novel nutritional strategies for broiler chickens. The advances in molecular biology, analytics, and data science in the past years have enhanced our understating of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) microbiome of chickens (Oakley et al., 2014; Sun et al., 2021). These novel...
 
 I. INTRODUCTION  Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by fungi (fusarium, aspergillus, penicillium mainly) that can cause serious health problems in poultry and may result in severe economic losses. They can exert negative impact on both performance (Kolawole et al, 2020) and intestinal health (Antonissen et al, 2014) depending on the type of mycotoxin, extent of exposure, its concentration, the age of the animals and their health status. Mycotoxins can also be a predisposing...
 
 I. INTRODUCTION  The ban on the use of AGPs together with good antibiotic stewardship practices by intensive livestock industries resulting in a decline of antimicrobial resistance globally (Salim et al., 2018). Probiotics have been widely studied partially as a replacement of AGPs. Some probiotics are able to improve production performance whilst improving gut health and decreasing the likelihood of mortality due to infection. This study investigated the effects of various novel...
 
Sudipto Haldar (Research Director at Agrivet) explains changes in the poultry microbiota approach and the effect of certain feed additives, in this Engormix interview....
 
 I. INTRODUCTION  Continuous interest in new probiotics to alleviate intestinal health problems is emerging, especially since antibiotics become more restricted in use. Various Bacillus spp. are known to improve broiler performance and health due to their ability to produce antimicrobial substances, modulate the immune system, change the intestinal microbiota or increase nutrient digestion and utilization (Lee et al., 2010; Caulier et al., 2019; Giurescu et al., 2020; Jha et al., 2020;...
 
Dr. Alain Riggi (Phileo by Lesaffre) points out how a yeast postbiotic can help during a high-stocking density...
 
 1. Introduction  The digestive tract serves as a selective regulator of nutrient intake and is the site of interaction with commensal and pathogenic bacteria [1]. Pathogenic colonization of the gut has negative effects on enterocyte permeability, ion transport and the structure of the mucosa [2]. Campylobacter jejuni is considered responsible for several gastrointestinal diseases in humans, with high consumption of chicken meat and poultry products being associated with human...