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Role of probiotics in ruminant nutrition as natural modulators of health and productivity of animals in tropical countries: an overview

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Nitish Kulkarni at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Nitish Kulkarni
H. S. Chethan at Southern regional station of ICAR-NDRI
H. S. Chethan
  • Southern regional station of ICAR-NDRI
Rashika Srivastava at National Dairy Research Institute
Rashika Srivastava
Anil B. Gabbur
Anil B. Gabbur
Anil B. Gabbur
  • This person is not on ResearchGate, or hasn't claimed this research yet.
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Abstract and Figures

Given the ever-growing population in the developing countries located in the tropics of Asia, Africa, South America, and the Caribbean, the demand for products of animal origin has increased. Probiotics have proven to be a substantial substitute for antibiotics used in the animal diet and thus gained popularity. Probiotics are live and non-pathogenic microbes commercially utilized as modulators of gut microflora, hence exerting advantageous effects on the health and productivity of animals in tropical countries. Probiotics are mainly derived from a few bacterial (Lactobacillus, Enterococcus, Streptococcus, Propionibacterium, and Prevotella bryantii) and yeast (Saccharomyces and Aspergillus) species. Numerous studies in tropical animals revealed that probiotic supplementation in a ruminant diet improves the growth of beneficial rumen microbes, thus enhancing nutrient intake and digestibility, milk production, and reproductive and feed efficiency, along with immunomodulation. Furthermore, probiotic applications have proven to minimize adverse environmental consequences, including reduced methane emissions from ruminants’ anaerobic fermentation of tropical feedstuffs. However, obtained results were inconsistent due to sources of probiotics, probiotic stability during storage and feeding, dose, feeding frequency, and animal factors including age, health, and nutritional status of the host. Furthermore, the mechanism of action of probiotics by which they exhibit beneficial effects is still not clear. Thus, more definitive research is needed to select the most effective strains of probiotics and their cost–benefit analysis. In this review article, we have briefly explained the impact of feeding probiotics on nutrient intake, digestibility, reproduction, growth efficiency, productivity, and health status of tropical ruminant animals.
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Vol.:(0123456789)
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https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-022-03112-y
REVIEWS
Role ofprobiotics inruminant nutrition asnatural modulators
ofhealth andproductivity ofanimals intropical countries:
anoverview
NitishA.Kulkarni1· H.S.Chethan2· RashikaSrivastava3· AnilB.Gabbur4
Received: 21 July 2021 / Accepted: 11 February 2022
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2022
Abstract
Given the ever-growing population in the developing countries located in the tropics of Asia, Africa, South America, and
the Caribbean, the demand for products of animal origin has increased. Probiotics have proven to be a substantial substitute
for antibiotics used in the animal diet and thus gained popularity. Probiotics are live and non-pathogenic microbes com-
mercially utilized as modulators of gut microflora, hence exerting advantageous effects on the health and productivity of
animals in tropical countries. Probiotics are mainly derived from a few bacterial (Lactobacillus, Enterococcus, Streptococ-
cus, Propionibacterium, and Prevotella bryantii) and yeast (Saccharomyces and Aspergillus) species. Numerous studies
in tropical animals revealed that probiotic supplementation in a ruminant diet improves the growth of beneficial rumen
microbes, thus enhancing nutrient intake and digestibility, milk production, and reproductive and feed efficiency, along with
immunomodulation. Furthermore, probiotic applications have proven to minimize adverse environmental consequences,
including reduced methane emissions from ruminants’ anaerobic fermentation of tropical feedstuffs. However, obtained
results were inconsistent due to sources of probiotics, probiotic stability during storage and feeding, dose, feeding fre-
quency, and animal factors including age, health, and nutritional status of the host. Furthermore, the mechanism of action
of probiotics by which they exhibit beneficial effects is still not clear. Thus, more definitive research is needed to select
the most effective strains of probiotics and their cost–benefit analysis. In this review article, we have briefly explained
the impact of feeding probiotics on nutrient intake, digestibility, reproduction, growth efficiency, productivity, and health
status of tropical ruminant animals.
Keywords Probiotics· Yeast· Immunity· Digestibility· Reproduction· Tropical· Ruminants
Introduction
The ever-growing world population has increased the
demand for animal products, which has been an ongo-
ing challenge worldwide (FAO, 2015). Moreover, several
problems and constraints are affecting tropical livestock
production, which include low-quality tropical and sub-
tropical fodders, heat stress, global warming, parasites,
and diseases (Wanapat etal., 2013; Hernández-Castellano
etal., 2019). The ruminants play a significant role in the
well-being and livelihood of the global population, by
making valuable contributions to the human food chain
supply (Wanapat etal., 2015). Hence, there is a constant
need for improved livestock production, particularly in
the major significant tropical countries of Asia, Africa,
and Latin America. Over the last five decades, remarkable
progress has been made in the area of livestock produc-
tion, owing to advancements in health conditions, genetic
selection, nutrition, and the use of growth promoters and
antibiotics (Thornton, 2010). Incorporating the latter
two strategies into commercial animal production has
enhanced the health status of farm animals and their feed
efficiency. However, the antibiotics and growth promoters
* Nitish A. Kulkarni
kulkarni.nitish97@gmail.com
1 Animal Physiology Division, ICAR-National Dairy Research
Institute (NDRI), Karnal, India
2 Animal Reproduction Gynaecology andObstetrics,
ICAR-NDRI, Karnal, India
3 Animal Nutrition Division, ICAR-NDRI, Karnal, India
4 Animal Nutrition Division, Eastern Regional Station
(ERS)-NDRI, Kalyani, India
/ Published online: 23 February 2022
Tropical Animal Health and Production (2022) 54: 110
Content courtesy of Springer Nature, terms of use apply. Rights reserved.

Supplementary resource (1)

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Data
February 2022
Nitish Kulkarni · H. S. Chethan · Rashika Srivastava · Anil B. Gabbur
... Since that time, extensive research efforts have been dedicated to finding safer alternatives to antibiotics as feed additives. One promising alternative is the use of probiotics in ruminant diets (Kulkarni et al., 2022). ...
... Probiotics have been defined as live microbial feed supplements that exert beneficial effects on the host animal by improving its microbial balance (Fuller, 1989). Probiotics are also referred to as direct feed microorganisms (DFM), which mainly include bacterial species belonging to the genera Lactobacillus, Enterococcus, Bifidobacterium, Streptococcus, Propionibacterium and Bacillus, and fungal species such as Saccharomyces and Aspergillus (Kulkarni et al., 2022). Lactobacillus and Enterococcus are lactic acid-producing bacteria and are most commonly applied as probiotics among the bacterial strains (Chen et al., 2017). ...
... Probiotic supplementation of livestock feed has increased considerably in recent decades. Several LAB species are commonly used as bacterial probiotics, particularly in preweaning calves and dairy cattle (Kulkarni et al., 2022). In the present study, we investigated the in vitro effects of the addition of two newly isolated strains, Al. kunkeei EIR/BG-1 and E. hirae EIR/CM-2, on ruminal fermentation parameters and microbial populations in a highconcentrate diet. ...
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... Agroecological principles strive to replace harmful inputs, such as chemical fertilizers overutilization, and pesticides, by adopting the use of biofertilizers, e.g., animal manure and plant bioactive compounds, and traditional remedies to address common ailments in small ruminant production systems, including diarrhea and parasitic and respiratory infections [92,93]. In terms of a better animal health outcome, several strategies that substitute conventional inputs are shown in Table 2. Additionally, integrating probiotics and other microbial supplements (e.g., direct-fed microbials) can optimize gut health in small ruminants, enhancing nutrient absorption and reducing the risk of disease occurrence [94][95][96] ( Table 2). The various agroecological methods and strategies outlined in Table 2 exhibit a shared emphasis on holistic and natural approaches to enhance small ruminant health and productivity. ...
... [92,98,111,112] Probiotics and prebiotics Use of direct-fed microbials (DFMs), Rumen Enhancer (RE)3, lactic acid bacteria as putative probiotic, dry yeast with viable yeast cell Enhanced ruminal acidosis, immune response, gut health, and productivity and reduced pathogen emissions; maintained balance, improved growth performance, and potentially replaced antibiotics. [94,95,[113][114][115][116][117][118] ...
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... Agroecological principles strive to replace harmful inputs, such as chemical fertilizers overutilization, and pesticides, by adopting the use of biofertilizers, e.g., animal manure and plant bioactive compounds, and traditional remedies to address common ailments in small ruminant production systems, including diarrhea and parasitic and respiratory infections [92,93]. In terms of a better animal health outcome, several strategies that substitute conventional inputs are shown in Table 2. Additionally, integrating probiotics and other microbial supplements (e.g., direct-fed microbials) can optimize gut health in small ruminants, enhancing nutrient absorption and reducing the risk of disease occurrence [94][95][96] ( Table 2). The various agroecological methods and strategies outlined in Table 2 exhibit a shared emphasis on holistic and natural approaches to enhance small ruminant health and productivity. ...
... [92,98,111,112] Probiotics and prebiotics Use of direct-fed microbials (DFMs), Rumen Enhancer (RE)3, lactic acid bacteria as putative probiotic, dry yeast with viable yeast cell Enhanced ruminal acidosis, immune response, gut health, and productivity and reduced pathogen emissions; maintained balance, improved growth performance, and potentially replaced antibiotics. [94,95,[113][114][115][116][117][118] ...
sustainability-15-15326
Article
Full-text available
  • Oct 2023
The role of small ruminant production in achieving sustainable and resilient food systems in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is yet to be fully explored or incorporated into current agroecological practices and policies. This review examines the principles and practices of agroecology, focusing on circular food systems and the sociopolitical aspects of their implementation for small ruminant production in LMICs. It discusses Gliessman’s five levels of agroecological transition and eight principles for integrating small ruminant production into agroecology: input reduction, animal health, soil health, biodiversity, recycling, synergy, economic diversification, and co-creation of knowledge. The review highlights that, while there are differing interpretations in the scientific literature, there is a growing consensus that agroecological practices applied to small ruminant production have the potential to improve integration and self-sufficiency in farming systems, improve animal health, reduce reliance on external inputs, and promote circularity and biodiversity. This reinforces the view that agroecological approaches to small ruminant production can foster a sustainable and interconnected system that strengthens the relationships between animals, plants, and the environment and enhances circularity. To achieve successful implementation and widespread adoption of these approaches, it is crucial to facilitate greater collaboration and cocreation of knowledge among small ruminant farmers and stakeholders in the small ruminant livestock industry.
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... The impact mechanism of probiotics on animals is mainly manifested through two aspects: regulating gastrointestinal health and improving the body's immunity [6]. Probiotic additives can accelerate the growth and development of immune organs in ruminants by regulating the structure, quantity, and fermentation level of the gastrointestinal microbiota [7][8][9]. ...
Multi-Omics Analysis Reveals the Regulatory Mechanism of Probiotics on the Growth Performance of Fattening Sheep
Article
Full-text available
  • Apr 2024
Probiotics have been proven to improve the growth performance of livestock and poultry. The aim of this experiment was to investigate the effects of probiotic supplementation on the growth performance; rumen and intestinal microbiota; rumen fluid, serum, and urine metabolism; and rumen epithelial cell transcriptomics of fattening meat sheep. Twelve Hu sheep were selected and randomly divided into two groups. They were fed a basal diet (CON) or a basal diet supplemented with 1.5 × 108 CFU/g probiotics (PRB). The results show that the average daily weight gain, and volatile fatty acid and serum antioxidant capacity concentrations of the PRB group were significantly higher than those of the CON group (p < 0.05). Compared to the CON group, the thickness of the rumen muscle layer in the PRB group was significantly decreased (p < 0.01); the thickness of the duodenal muscle layer in the fattening sheep was significantly reduced; and the length of the duodenal villi, the thickness of the cecal and rectal mucosal muscle layers, and the thickness of the cecal, colon, and rectal mucosal layers (p < 0.05) were significantly increased. At the genus level, the addition of probiotics altered the composition of the rumen and intestinal microbiota, significantly upregulating the relative abundance of Subdivision5_genera_incertae_sedis and Acinetobacter in the rumen microbiota, and significantly downregulating the relative abundance of Butyrivibrio, Saccharofermentans, and Fibrobacter. The relative abundance of faecalicoccus was significantly upregulated in the intestinal microbiota, while the relative abundance of Coprococcus, Porphyromonas, and Anaerobacterium were significantly downregulated (p < 0.05). There were significant differences in the rumen, serum, and urine metabolites between the PRB group and the CON group, with 188, 138, and 104 metabolites (p < 0.05), mainly affecting pathways such as vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin B6, and a series of amino acid metabolisms. The differential genes in the transcriptome sequencing were mainly enriched in protein modification regulation (especially histone modification), immune function regulation, and energy metabolism. Therefore, adding probiotics improved the growth performance of fattening sheep by altering the rumen and intestinal microbiota; the rumen, serum, and urine metabolome; and the transcriptome.
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... Probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, growth promoters, and digestive enzymes fed to ruminants can affect rumen development indirectly by affecting the digestion of feed and production of VFAs in the rumen [76,84,149]. Supplementing calves' diet with microbes or probiotics such as Bacillus licheniformis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Bacillus subtilis natto, Lactobacillus plantarum, and live or hydrolyzed yeast has the potential to enhance rumen development by influencing the microbial community and digestion in the rumen [150][151][152]. The addition of inulin to whole milk of calves increased the length and width of the rumen papillae [84]. ...
Postnatal Growth and Development of the Rumen: Integrating Physiological and Molecular Insights
Article
Full-text available
  • Apr 2024
The rumen plays an essential role in the physiology and production of agriculturally important ruminants such as cattle. Functions of the rumen include fermentation, absorption, metabolism, and protection. Cattle are, however, not born with a functional rumen, and the rumen undergoes considerable changes in size, histology, physiology, and transcriptome from birth to adulthood. In this review, we discuss these changes in detail, the factors that affect these changes, and the potential molecular and cellular mechanisms that mediate these changes. The introduction of solid feed to the rumen is essential for rumen growth and functional development in post-weaning calves. Increasing evidence suggests that solid feed stimulates rumen growth and functional development through butyric acid and other volatile fatty acids (VFAs) produced by microbial fermentation of feed in the rumen and that VFAs stimulate rumen growth and functional development through hormones such as insulin and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) or through direct actions on energy production, chromatin modification, and gene expression. Given the role of the rumen in ruminant physiology and performance, it is important to further study the cellular, molecular, genomic, and epigenomic mechanisms that control rumen growth and development in postnatal ruminants. A better understanding of these mechanisms could lead to the development of novel strategies to enhance the growth and development of the rumen and thereby the productivity and health of cattle and other agriculturally important ruminants.
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... These genera have been identified as probiotics with immune-boosting potential in humans, fish and chicken [47]. Probiotics in ruminants influence enzyme production leading to efficient digestion of nutrients, improved growth and performance and robust immunity [29,48,49]. In this sense, greater relative abundance of Weissella, PeH15 and Arthrobacter in the rumen of low-RFI group suggest a possible role in activation and initialization of immunomodulatory properties, improved growth, and feed efficiency enhancement. ...
Characterization of rumen microbiome and immune genes expression of crossbred beef steers with divergent residual feed intake phenotypes
Article
Full-text available
  • Mar 2024
  • BMC GENOMICS
We investigated whole blood and hepatic mRNA expressions of immune genes and rumen microbiome of crossbred beef steers with divergent residual feed intake phenotype to identify relevant biological processes underpinning feed efficiency in beef cattle. Low-RFI beef steers (n = 20; RFI = − 1.83 kg/d) and high-RFI beef steers (n = 20; RFI = + 2.12 kg/d) were identified from a group of 108 growing crossbred beef steers (average BW = 282 ± 30.4 kg) fed a high-forage total mixed ration after a 70-d performance testing period. At the end of the 70-d testing period, liver biopsies and blood samples were collected for total RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis. Rumen fluid samples were also collected for analysis of the rumen microbial community. The mRNA expression of 84 genes related to innate and adaptive immunity was analyzed using pathway-focused PCR-based arrays. Differentially expressed genes were determined using P-value ≤ 0.05 and fold change (FC) ≥ 1.5 (in whole blood) or ≥ 2.0 (in the liver). Gene ontology analysis of the differentially expressed genes revealed that pathways related to pattern recognition receptor activity, positive regulation of phagocytosis, positive regulation of vitamin metabolic process, vascular endothelial growth factor production, positive regulation of epithelial tube formation and T-helper cell differentiation were significantly enriched (FDR < 0.05) in low-RFI steers. In the rumen, the relative abundance of PeH15, Arthrobacter, Moryella, Weissella, and Muribaculaceae was enriched in low-RFI steers, while Methanobrevibacter, Bacteroidales_BS11_gut_group, Bacteroides and Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 were reduced. In conclusion, our study found that low-RFI beef steers exhibit increased mRNA expression of genes related to immune cell functions in whole blood and liver tissues, specifically those involved in pathogen recognition and phagocytosis regulation. Additionally, these low-RFI steers showed differences in the relative abundance of some microbial taxa which may partially account for their improved feed efficiency compared to high-RFI steers.
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... Ruminal propionate was highly positively correlated with starch fermentation and feed fermentation efficiency [41], and the higher propionate in HFS cows suggests more efficient starch fermentation in the rumen. A recent study suggests that ruminal function can reflect the lower gut's health status by producing extra organic acids [42]. Further studies are required to measure whether there is a difference in the microbial metabolites that transfer from the rumen to hindgut, which could trigger dysbiosis in the lower gut of LFS dairy cows. ...
Competitive Analysis of Rumen and Hindgut Microbiota Composition and Fermentation Function in Diarrheic and Non-Diarrheic Postpartum Dairy Cows
Article
Full-text available
  • Dec 2023
Postpartum dairy cows can develop nutritional diarrhea when their diet is abruptly changed for milk production. However, it is unclear whether nutritional diarrhea develops as a result of gut acidosis and/or dysbiosis. This study aimed to uncover changes in the gastrointestinal microbiota and its fermentation parameters in response to nutritional diarrhea in postpartum dairy cows. Rumen and fecal samples were collected from twenty-four postpartum cows fed with the same diet but with different fecal scores: the low-fecal-score (LFS: diarrheic) group and high-fecal-score (HFS: non-diarrheic) group. A microbiota difference was only observed for fecal microbiota, with the relative abundance of Defluviitaleaceae_UCG-011 and Lachnospiraceae_UCG-001 tending (p < 0.10) to be higher in HFS cows compared to LFS cows, and Frisingicoccus were only detected in HFS cows. The fecal bacterial community in LFS cows had higher robustness (p < 0.05) compared to that in HFS cows, and also had lower negative cohesion (less competitive behaviors) and higher positive cohesion (more cooperative behaviors) (p < 0.05) compared that in to HFS cows. Lower total volatile fatty acids and higher ammonia nitrogen (p < 0.05) were observed in LFS cows’ feces compared to HFS cows. The observed shift in fecal bacterial composition, community networks, and metabolites suggests that hindgut dysbiosis could be related to nutritional diarrhea in postpartum cows.
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... Hendraningsih and Wahyudi (2022) investigated the use of cellulolytic bacteria isolated from rumen fluid as probiotics. Furthermore, previous studies examined the use of several probiotics (Lactobacillus, Enterococcus, Streptococcus, Propionibacterium, and Prevotella bryantii) and yeast (Saccharomyces and Aspergillus) (Kulkarni et al. 2022). In addition, using cellulolytic bacteria isolated from buffalo rumen has been administered to increase egg production and cholesterol production performance in egg yolk (Candrawati et al. 2017). ...
Probiotics formulated from indigenous bacteria from goat digestive tract and fed with fermented mixed feed Eichhornia crassipes and Zea mays cobs
Article
Full-text available
  • Jun 2023
Isnawati, Muhaimin FI, Rahayu DA, Fitrihidajati H, Ratnasari E. 2023. Probiotics formulated from indigenous bacteria from goat digestive tract and fed with fermented mixed feed Eichhornia crassipes and Zea mays cobs. Biodiversitas 24: 2906-2911. The provision of cellulolytic bacteria as probiotics in goat feed is crucial to their growth and health. Therefore, this study aimed to monitor the effects of providing cellulolytic bacteria isolated from the digestive tract of goats as probiotics in feed rations. Probiotic cellulolytic bacteria were isolated from the digestive tract of goat food fed with a fermented feed containing a combination of hyacinth and corn cob. In this study, the probiotic types are also different from other studies, namely Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus brevis, and Pseudomonas diminuta. Therefore, its effects on the vegetative and generative growth from various age groups and sexes of test goats are investigated. The goats tested were divided into two groups: fed with and without probiotics, with subgroups based on their sexes (male and female) and age groups (baby, juvenile, and adult). The tested goats were fed for 35 days, and their weight gain and sperm quality were observed; in general, weight gain was observed in goats fed the probiotics. Furthermore, the quality of spermatozoa in adult male goats fed with probiotics is higher than without probiotics, which includes its viability (52.2% to 36.9%), motility (48.1% and ++++ to 33.2% and ++), volume and concentration (1.05 mL/ejaculate with 3.7×109 cells/mL to 0.55 mL/ejaculated with 2.6×109 cells/mL). Based on the results, adding cellulolytic bacterial probiotics to the feed promotes the vegetative growth of goats in different age groups, in male and female goats. Also, it improves reproductive performance in adult male test goats.
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The Effect of a Direct Fed Microbial on Liveweight and Milk Production in Dairy Cattle
Article
Full-text available
  • Apr 2024
Simple Summary This study aimed to assess the impact of supplementing Lacticaseibacillus- and Lentilactobacillus-based direct fed microbials (DFMs) on dairy cow productivity in commercial settings. Two groups of 75 cows each were selected from a milking herd and managed separately. Both groups were fed the same diet, but one group received a daily supplement of DFM top dressed on the feed. The cows that received the DFM supplement showed increased liveweight mobilization and produced more milk, especially during early lactation. Abstract This longitudinal study aimed to quantify the effects of dietary supplementation of a direct-fed microbial (DFM) consisting of three lactobacilli isolates on milk yield, milk fat and protein yields, somatic cell count (SCC), and liveweight in a single dairy herd in Australia. A total of 150 dairy cows were randomly selected based on parity and days in milk and divided into two groups: control (n = 75) and DFM treatment (n = 75). Throughout the study, the two groups of cows were housed separately in a dry lot yard, and each group had their own feeding area. For the DFM treatment group, selected cows in mid-lactation were supplemented with 10 mL/cow/day of the DFM via top dressing of the feed for the remainder of the lactation and through the dry period, extending into subsequent lactation. The control group had no supplementation. The milk yield and liveweight were recorded daily. Milk samples were collected every two months for milk component analysis (fat, protein, and somatic cell count [SCC]). The DFM-treated cows gained more liveweight across the study (19.40 kg, 95% CI 0.44 kg; 38.30 kg, p = 0.05) compared to the control cows. In the second production year, the DFM-treated cows mobilized more liveweight (−6.06 kg, 95% CI −10.49 kg; −1.61 kg, p = 0.01) and produced more milk (0.39 L/d 95% CI 0.10; 0.89, p = 0.05). Over a full lactation, DFM cows yielded at least 258 L (95% CI 252 L; 265 L) more milk than controls. No significant differences were found in fat and protein yield or SCC. This study suggests that consistent and ongoing supplementation with a Lacticaseibacillus- and Lentilactobacillus-based DFM could have a positive effect on milk production, but further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanism.
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The role of probiotics on animal health and nutrition
Article
Full-text available
  • Dec 2021
Background The constant global need for food has created a demand for colossal food production. Every day the world requires more food than it is capable of growing and harvesting. Antibiotics have been used in healthy food products to promote growth and prevent disease in food-producing animals for a long time. This prolonged use of antibiotics leads to the development of resistant bacteria and the accumulation of antibiotic residue in livestock and fish. To avoid further causalities finding an effective alternative became a dire need. At present, the most suitable alternative for antibiotics is probiotics. Main body Probiotics are live microorganisms that provide health benefits when consumed or applied to the body with the optimum amount. Probiotics are mainly good bacteria and yeast which fight off the pathogenic bacteria, improve the immune system, and restore the gut microbial balance. Probiotics can eliminate the harmful pathogens following several molecular mechanisms and modulate the immune response of the host animal for the well-being of the animals. This review article aims to describe probiotics as a potential growth promoter in major food sectors (poultry, ruminant, and aquaculture), how probiotics can ensure food safety without harmful effects on animals, and find out some points where more research is required to ensure a positive outcome. Conclusion The conclusion of this review article highlights the knowledge gaps and how they can be minimized using modern molecular technologies to establish probiotic supplements as an effective alternative to antibiotics.
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Dietary Supplementation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Clostridium butyricum and Their Combination Ameliorate Rumen Fermentation and Growth Performance of Heat-Stressed Goats
Article
Full-text available
  • Jul 2021
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and their combination on rumen fermentation and growth performance of heat-stressed goats. Twelve heat-stressed goats (20.21 ± 2.30 kg) were divided equally into four groups: control group (CG, fed the basal diet, Saccharomyces cerevisiae supplemented group (SC, 0.60% Saccharomyces cerevisiae added to the basal diet), Clostridium butyricum supplemented group (CB, 0.05% Clostridium butyricum added to the basal diet), and their combination supplemented group (COM 0.60% Saccharomyces cerevisiae and 0.05% Clostridium butyricum added to the basal diet) and were assigned to a 4 × 3 incomplete Latin square design. The rumen fluid and feces were collected for fermentation parameters and feed digestibility analysis, and animal growth performance was also assessed during all the experiment periods. The results showed that rumen pH, rumen cellulolytic enzymes (avicelase, CMCaes, cellobiase, and xylanase) activities, and the concentrations of rumen total volatile fatty acid (TVFA), acetic acid, and propionic acid were significantly increased with Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Clostridium butyricum, and their combination supplementation (p < 0.05). Besides, the dry matter intake (DMI), average daily gain (ADG), and the digestibility of dry matter (DM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acidic detergent fiber (ADF) were significantly increased (p < 0.05) with supplemented these probiotics. However, the ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) concentration only significantly increased in CB and A/P ratio (acetic acid to propionic acid ratio) only significantly increased in SC and CB. These results indicated that the supplementation with these probiotics could ameliorate rumen fermentation and growth performance of heat-stressed goats.
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Effects of dry yeast supplementation on growth performance, rumen fermentation characteristics, slaughter performance and microbial communities in beef cattle
Article
Full-text available
  • Feb 2021
This study aimed to investigate the effects of active dry yeast (ADY) on growth performance, rumen microbial composition and carcass performance of beef cattle. Thirty-two finishing beef cattle (yak ♂ × cattle-yaks ♀), with an average body weight of 110 ± 12.85 kg, were randomly assigned to one of four treatments: the low plane of nutrition group (control), low plane of nutrition group + ADY 2 g/head daily (ADY2), low plane of nutrition group + ADY 4 g/head daily (ADY4) and the high plane of nutrition group (HPN). Supplementation of ADY increased average daily gain compared to the control group. The neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber apparent digestibility in HPN group was greater than that in control group. The propionic acid concentration in the rumen in ADY2, ADY4, and HPN groups was greater than that in control group. The Simpson and Shannon indexes in control and HPN groups were higher than that in ADY4 group. At the phylum level, the relative abundance of Firmicutes in the HPN group was higher than that in ADY4 group. The relative abundance of Ruminococcaceae UCG-002 in ADY4 group was higher than that in control and HPN groups. In conclusion, supplementation ADY 4 g/head daily shift the rumen microbial composition of beef cattle fed low plane of nutrition to a more similar composition with cattle fed with HPN diet and produce the similar carcass weight with HPN diet. • Highlights • The ADY can improve the utilization of nitrogen and decrease the negative impact on the environment in beef cattle. • Cattle fed low plane of nutrition diet supplemented with ADY 4 g/head daily increased growth performance. • Supplementation ADY 4 g/head daily in low plane of nutrition diet might be produced comparable carcass weight to HPN diet.
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Probiotics in Livestock and Poultry Nutrition and Health
Chapter
Full-text available
  • Jan 2021
The use of probiotics has gained immense interests in animal agriculture around the world due to the myriad of health and production benefits, especially in the context of more natural and antibiotic-free animal production. They have been widely evaluated in animal nutrition to improve the balance of beneficial gut microbiome (eubiosis) and eliminate the detrimental gut pathogens (dysbiosis), which results in a range of advantages such as enhanced functioning of gastrointestinal tract, improved immunity at the gut as well as systemic levels, and better health status of both ruminants and non-ruminants. Consequently, these beneficial effects positively influence overall production performance and farm profitability. The use of probiotics in ruminants has primarily focused on improving ruminal fermentation efficiency such as stabilisation of pH and enhanced fibre digestion, reduction of methane production in the rumen, thereby impacting production performance. Among the several species of probiotic organisms studied, yeasts have been most widely explored followed by bacterial probiotics in ruminant nutrition. In non-ruminants, bacterial probiotics dominate over yeast in augmenting performance measures. Furthermore, probiotics have also shown to reduce incidences of intestinal diseases, faecal shedding of gut pathogens, and improving the gut barrier functions and quality of meat and milk in food animals. This chapter discusses various species of probiotics, their beneficial effects and mode of actions in enhancing efficiency of animal production.
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Effects of single or combined supplementation of probiotics and prebiotics on ruminal fermentation, ruminal bacteria and total tract digestion in lambs
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  • Sep 2021
  • SMALL RUMINANT RES
Probiotics (beneficial living microorganisms) and prebiotics (fiber, cell wall material, mannan polysaccharides derived through hydrolysis of yeast cell walls) are feed additives that may have beneficial extra-nutritional pharmaceutical and/or metabolic effects on livestock health and growth performance. Due to differences in modes of action, their combination may have additive effects on digestion and fermentation in ruminants. For this reason, four male lambs (Dorper; 45.1 ± 2.7 kg initial weight) with “T” cannulas in the rumen were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square experiment to evaluate the effects of single or combined supplementation of probiotics and prebiotics on ruminal fermentation and total tract digestion. Dietary treatments consisted of a cracked corn-based basal finishing diet supplemented with: 1) no eubiotics (Control); 2) 3 g of live saccharomyces cerevisiae /lamb/day (2 × 1010 cfu/g, SC), 3) 3 g of mannan oligosaccharide (30% w/w) plus b-glucans (20% w/w) /lamb/day (MOS), and 4) combination of 1.5 g/day SC and 1.5 g/day MOS (SCMOS). Compared to controls, SC supplementation tended (P = 0.09) to increase total tract digestion of DM and OM, and increased (P < 0.05) total tract digestion of N, starch, and digestible energy (DE). Compared with Control, MOS increased total tract NDF (7.9%, P < 0.01) and starch digestion, and tended to improve total tract digestion of (P = 0.09), N (P = 0.07), and DE diet (P = 0.07). Compared to Control, SCMOS increased (P ≤ 0.03) total tract digestion of all fractions evaluated, including a 4.2% (P < 0.01) increase in DE. Although lambs fed MOS had greater (6.7%, P = 0.02) NDF digestion than those fed SC, differences in total tract digestion of DM, OM, N, starch and DE diet were not appreciable (P ≥ 0.24). Compared with SC and MOS fed separately, SCMOS increased (P < 0.05) total tract digestion of N and NDF. Supplemental MOS and SCMOS tended (P = 0.09) to promote greater ruminal pH than the Control. Combining supplementation decreased (P ≤ 0.03) the molar proportion of butyrate and ruminal ammonia, consistent with decreased of ruminal concentration of C. aminophilum. Probiotic/prebiotic supplementation of high-energy lamb finishing diets enhances total tract digestion and digestible energy. Reduction hyper-ammonia producing ruminal bacteria with the combination probiotic plus prebiotic may contribute to improved dietary N economy. The combination of probiotics with prebiotics potentiate positive effects on digestion and ruminal fermentation in lambs fed a high-energy diets.
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