Probiotics in dairy farming: A holistic approach to animal nutrition

Abstract

Probiotics have gained increasing attention in livestock farming due to their potential to enhance weight gain, disease resistance, and overall performance in animals. The ban on antibiotic growth promoters in livestock has led to a surge in the use of probiotics as feed supplements in animal production. This review assesses the current status, and challenges, of probiotic for livestock. Recent studies indicate that probiotics offer significant benefits, including improved health, immunity, growth performance, nutritional digestibility, and intestinal microbial balance in animals. Probiotic supplementation aids in balancing beneficial microbial populations, regulating microbial turnover, and stimulating host immune responses, thereby competitively excluding potentially harmful bacteria in the digestive tract. These findings underscore the potential of probiotics as valuable alternatives to antibiotics in promoting animal health and productivity in livestock farming. The mechanisms of action of probiotics encompass the modulation of gastrointestinal tract microbiota and interactions with the host's immune system. However, the precise molecular and metabolic changes induced by probiotic feed additives have yet to be fully elucidated. Safety concerns regarding novel probiotic strains, including antimicrobial resistance, virulence determinants, and transmigration potential across the gastrointestinal barrier, underscore the importance of rigorous evaluation. Despite potential risks, probiotics have shown promising benefits in various farm animals, including improved growth performance, nutrient digestibility, immune response, and milk yield. However, effects in certain species such as horses remain debated. Probiotics offer a viable alternative to antibiotics in promoting animal health and food safety, but careful consideration of strain stability and potential cross-contamination risks is essential for successful implementation in global agriculture.