LPM 221: Commercial Poultry Production and Hatchery Management (1+1)

Probiotic or direct fed microbials (D.F.M.)

PROBIOTIC OR DIRECT FED MICROBIALS

• Probiotic is a live microbial feed supplement which beneficially affects the host animal by improving its intestinal microbial balance resulting in a better performance in terms of growth or feed efficiency.
• Probiotic preparations are made from bacteria, yeast and fungi. Commonly included probiotic preparations in various combinations are:
  • Bacteria: Strains of Lactobacillus , Leuconostoc , Bifidobacterium , Pediococcus and Streptococcus
  • Fungi: Strains of Aspergillus
  • Yeast: Strains of Saccharomyces.
• Probiotics act by suppressing viable counts of pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli, producing antibacterial compounds, by competing for nutrients and adhesion site in the intestinal epithelium.
• In general, probiotics increase growth rate in broilers, egg production in layers, and reproductive performance in breeders.
• However, the effect of probiotics is more noticeable in stressed birds than in healthy ones.