Probiotics (support gut health)

Last update: 2 June 2023

• Action: Helps animals to cope with pathogens by supporting a healthy gut, reducing the need for antimicrobial treatment.
• Animal category: All animal species.
• Technique: Modulation of gut microbiota via delivery of micro-organisms authorized as feed additives (probiotics) to increase resistance to colonization by pathogenic bacteria and reinforce the immune response of the intestinal mucosa. (examples: Lactobacillus, yeasts, etc.).
• Mode of action: Competitive exclusion (competition of available nutrients and mucosal adhesion sites); inactivation of toxic compounds; reduction of oxygen concentrations promotion of intestinal barrier function; regulation of permeability of intestinal epithelium and its development; immune modulation.
• Potential efficacy: Several indicators used including faecal score or immunoglobulins level.
• Nature of evidence of efficacy: Peer-reviewed scientific publications (meta-analysis), EFSA opinions.
• Factors impacting on efficacy: Animal species; micro-organism species; dosage.
• Mode of use: Incorporated in compound feed or administered via water.
• Requirements/limitations: Authorisation as feed additive is required. Incorporation in feed on farm is restricted to farmers registered as feed business operator applying HACCP (R183/2005).
• Economic consequences: Use of probiotics results in improvement of daily growth and reduction of feed conversion ratios.
• Other considerations: Probiotics may also contribute to mitigate heat stress.
• References:
  • Wang et al. (2023). A meta-analysis on the effects of probiotics on the performance of pre-weaning dairy calves. J Animal Sci Biotechnol 14, 3. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40104-022-00806-z
  • Zhu et al. (2022). A meta-analysis of Lactobacillus-based probiotics for growth performance and intestinal morphology in piglets. Front. Vet. Sci. 9:1045965. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2022.1045965
  • Barreto et al. (2021). Systematic review and meta-analysis of probiotic use on inflammatory biomarkers and disease prevention in cattle. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Volume 194. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2021.105433.
  • El-Saadony et al. (2021). The functionality of probiotics in aquaculture: An overview. 2021. Fish & Shellfish Immunology, Volume 117 Pages 36-52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsi.2021.07.007. • Abd El-Hack et al. (2020). Probiotics in poultry feed: A comprehensive review. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, Volume 104, Issue 6. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpn.13454
  • Smits, C.H.M., Li, D., Patience, J.F. and den Hartog, L.A. (2021). Animal nutrition strategies and options to reduce the use of antimicrobials in animal production. FAO Animal Production and Health Paper No. 184. Rome, FAO. https://doi.org/10.4060/cb5524en
  • EMA and EFSA (2016). Joint Scientific Opinion on measures to reduce the need to use antimicrobial agents in animal husbandry in the European Union, and the resulting impacts on food safety (RONAFA).
  • EIP-AGRI Focus Group (2014). Reducing antibiotic use in pig farming

• Other techniques: Enteral stimulation (dietary fibers); microbiota management (organic acids, Medium Chain Fatty Acids, copper compounds, bacteriophages); support mucosal barrier function (Short Chain Fatty Acids); immune modulation (plant extracts, essential oils, yeast products, prebiotics, synbiotics, chitosan); amylases, clay minerals; etc.