Probiotics in poultry feed: A comprehensive review

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Microbiology
• Poultry Nutrition

Background:

• Antibiotic use in poultry for over 50 years raised concerns about resistant bacteria.
• Probiotics, or direct-fed microbials, are live microorganisms offering health benefits via the gastrointestinal tract (GIT).
• Poultry face challenges like heat stress, impacting their physiological balance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the benefits of probiotics as alternatives to antibiotics in poultry.
• To investigate how probiotics influence gut health, immune modulation, and nutrient utilization.
• To assess the impact of Bacillus subtilis on intestinal morphology and poultry performance.

Main Methods:

• Review of scientific literature on probiotics in animal feed.
• Analysis of studies investigating the effects of Bacillus subtilis on poultry GIT.
• Examination of research on heat stress mitigation strategies in poultry.

Main Results:

• Probiotic supplementation improves animal health, performance, and nutrient use.
• Bacillus subtilis enhances intestinal villus height and crypt structure, improving digestion and absorption.
• Probiotics contribute to immune modulation and strengthen intestinal mucosal defenses.

Conclusions:

• Probiotics offer a viable alternative to antibiotics in poultry production.
• Optimizing gut health through probiotics like Bacillus subtilis is crucial for animal well-being and performance.
• Probiotics can help poultry better manage environmental stressors such as heat stress.