Why Bacterial Strains Matter When Choosing Poultry Probiotics for Optimal Performance
Navigating the field of poultry probiotics can be complex. Understanding key factors when selecting the right product for broiler performance is essential for production success.
What are Probiotics and Their Benefits for Poultry Gut Health?
Probiotics are live microorganisms that, when administered in sufficient amounts, provide health benefits, and manage gut imbalances.
Probiotics help restore and maintain a healthy gut microbiome balance, improving overall poultry gut health and boosting and bird's immune system. Resulting in better feed efficiency, improved growth rates, reduced antibiotic use, and lower mortality rates. By positively influence intestinal microbiome composition, probiotics promote Intestinal Integrity and performance.
Why Do Bacterial Strains Matter in Poultry Probiotics?
When selecting a poultry probiotic, considering the specific bacterial strains is crucial. These strains should align with your production system’s needs.
Producers must evaluate each probiotic strain’s unique properties and specific benefits, including pathogen inhibition and overall performance enhancement.
Choosing the right strain, or combination of strains, tailored to the desired outcome is vital. The genetic differences between strains can significantly impact their characteristics. Substantial genetic differences between strains result in diverse traits like pathogen inhibition and enzyme production. These differences directly affect bird outcomes, distinguishing effective probiotics from less effective ones.
Key Factors for Selecting a Poultry Probiotic:
- Choose Complementary Strains for Robust Gut Microbiome Support: Different strains have distinct capabilities; no single strain is universally effective. A single species can have numerous strains, each with unique properties. Bacillus subtilis, for example, has over 1,000 catalogued strains in international strain banks. Due to high genetic diversity within Bacillus subtilis, even genes with the same function can behave differently, leading to varied outcomes. A 2007 study by Earl et al1. analysed 17 Bacillus subtilis strains, revealing significant genetic diversity. For broader health benefits, combining complementary strains in probiotic products is ideal for promoting Intestinal Integrity and positively influencing a robust gut microbiome.
- Prioritise Strains with Strong Pathogen Inhibition: The inhibitory activity of Bacillus subtilis strains against pathogenic bacteria varies. Selecting strains based on their pathogen control mechanisms is essential. Strains that rapidly colonise the gut, form a beneficial biofilm, produce antimicrobial peptides, and outcompete harmful pathogens for nutrients are highly recommended.
- Select Strains that Enhance Dietary Nutrient Utilisation: Bacillus strains vary significantly in enzyme production, particularly for cellulase and xylanase, which break down cellulose and hemicellulose2. Strains with strong enzyme production enhance nutrient breakdown and absorption, improving animal performance.
GALLIPRO® FIT: The Probiotic of Choice for Poultry Producers
GALLIPRO® FIT is a unique triple-strain probiotic formulated to improve poultry health and performance. Its three Bacillus strains (Bacillus subtilis DSM 32324, DSM 32325, and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens DSM 25840) offer complementary strengths. These strains excel in pathogen inhibition and enzyme production. The two Bacillus subtilis strains effectively compete with undesirable bacteria5, while Bacillus subtilis DSM 32324 also improves protein availability14. Bacillus amyloliquefaciens DSM 25840 produce beneficial enzymes that assist with increasing energy and nutrient availability by breaking down dietary fibre and protein into more digestible components14 and supports a healthy gut microbiome.
GALLIPRO® FIT supports a robust poultry gut microbiome15. It forms a beneficial biofilm, that maintains tight junctions between cells, and promotes villi development for better nutrient absorption16. It combats undesirable bacteria such as E. coli 8,9, Salmonella6,7, Clostridium perfringens10-12, Campylobacter5, and E. Cecorum13 through multiple mechanisms.
Studies demonstrate that GALLIPRO® FIT significantly improves broiler performance3, reducing feed conversion ratios (FCR)4, lowering mortality rates3, increasing body weight3, and improving the European Production Efficiency Factor (EPEF)4
Learn more about GALLIPRO® FIT and how it can benefit your poultry operation
- Earl et al, 2007
- Larson et al, 2014
- Chr. Hansen Laboratories, ’28 trials data’.
- Chr. Hansen Laboratories, Trial No. 80559
- Chr. Hansen Laboratories – Peacock Project, 2020
- Chr. Hansen Laboratories, Trial No. M 1076
- Khan S and Chousalkar KK. (2020) Salmonella Typhimurium infection disrupts but continuous feeding of Bacillus based probiotic restores gut microbiotain infected hens. Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology.
- Skjoet-Rasmussen L, et al. (2018) Inhibitory activity of a novel triple-strain Bacillus probiotic (GalliPro® Fit) towards Escherichia coli in a feed matrix
- Chr. Hansen Laboratories, Trial No. 80677 (in vivo)
- Chr. Hansen Laboratories, Trial No. 80515
- Chr. Hansen Laboratories, Trial No. 80450 (in vivo)
- Chr. Hansen Laboratories, Trial No. 80449
- Meuter, et al. (2023) GALLIPRO® FIT reduces growth of pathogenic Enterococcus cecorum isolated from commercial broilers. Chr. Hansen Innovation Laboratories.
- Chr. Hansen Laboratories - Trial no. 80375
- Bostvironnois, et al. (2023) Supporting normal function of the gastro-intestinal tract with effective probiotics. Poster - International Poultry Scientific Forum, Atlanta I 23-24 January, 2023
- Konieczka P., et al. Effects of pea extrusion and enzyme and probiotic supplementation on performance, microbiota activity and biofilm formation in the broiler gastrointestinal tract. British Poultry Science. 2018;59(6):654-662
