Modulating intestine microflora with probiotics

The European Union ban on sub-therapeutic antibiotic usage has resulted in an increasing interest in finding alternatives to antibiotics in poultry production.

Probiotics are additives that steer the microbiota in the animal’s GIT. Bacillus amyloliquefaciens CECT – 5940 is a bacterial strain isolated by Norel and included in a probiotic: Ecobiol. The product is compatible with antibiotics and anticoccidials and it is used at 106 CFU/g of feed.

Once inside the animal it produces lactic acid with a positive effect on the lactic flora and a bacteriocine: barnase, capable of controlling the growth of other bacteria which may be pathogenic for the animal. A study was conducted at Norel premises at León (Spain) in order to compare the effect of Ecobiol against Bacitracin Methylene Disalicylate (BMD) on ileal microflora. 180 one day old Cobb broilers were allocated in 12 cages with 12 chicks per cage.

Three treatments were used in the trial: a control treatment, a Probiotic treatment, which consisted of the control diets supplemented with 106 CFU/g of feed added on top, and an AGP diet, with 55 ppm of BMD added on top of the control diets.

At day 43 Ileal microflora was measured (by plating) from two broilers per cage. Ileal Lactobacilli content was 45 times higher in Ecobiol group than in BMD group, meaning that the treatment was able to modulate the intestine microflora, enhancing the beneficial microorganisms.