Using poultry probiotics to help prevent intestinal diseases
A healthy gut is central to peak poultry performance and disease resilience. Poultry feed additives such as probiotics, like GALLIPRO® FIT, help create a balanced gut environment by supporting beneficial bacteria and thereby maintaining Intestinal Integrity (I2).
Providing probiotics throughout a bird’s life can help strengthen natural defences, in turn helping to prevent common gut diseases which can affect bird health and performance.
What are common poultry gut diseases and how do they impact bird health?
• Coccidiosis - damages the intestinal lining, limiting nutrient absorption which can leading to watery droppings
• Necrotic enteritis - triggers gut inflammation and tissue damage, slowing growth and reducing feed efficiency
• Salmonella - infects the intestines, upsetting gut balance and sometimes spreading beyond the digestive tract
While Salmonella is typically a bigger risk to human health than bird health, in severe cases, all three of these diseases can lead to bird mortality.
How does GALLIPRO FIT work against undesirable bacteria?
There are several ways in which probiotics work within the bird’s gut to maintain a healthy, balanced environment and help to prevent undesirable bacteria from causing disease.
• Competitive exclusion – Poultry probiotics introduce beneficial bacteria into the bird’s gut, which compete with undesirable bacteria for space and nutrients. The beneficial bacteria establish themselves in the gut lining, making it difficult for harmful bacteria to attach, reducing the available space for pathogens to colonise. This process, known as superior siderophore activity, means undesirable bacterial species, like Salmonella and Clostridia, don’t have the essential iron that is needed for survival.
• Production of lipopeptides – GALLIPRO FIT produces lipopeptides which can both slow and in some cases inhibit the growth of undesirable bacteria1.
• Beneficial biofilm formation – Biofilms create a protective beneficial biofilm on the intestinal surface. This supports the growth of beneficial bacteria, helps to prevent pathogen colonisation, and improves gut health in poultry by maintaining tight junctions between gut cells. It also promotes nutrient absorption and enhances digestive efficiency. By outcompeting undesirable bacteria and acting as a physical barrier, beneficial biofilms reduce the risk of infections and support overall bird health and productivity.
• Improved Intestinal Integrity (I2) – Poultry probiotics such as GALLIPRO FIT can support the bird’s overall I2 by improving the health of the gut lining. By improving gut health in poultry, probiotics can reduce the risk of undesirable bacteria from passing through the intestinal barrier and entering the bloodstream.
• Healthy gut microbiome – Probiotics support the development of a balanced intestinal microbiome, which is key to maintaining Intestinal Integrity and optimal gut function. By promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria, probiotics help improve nutrient absorption and overall bird health. A healthy, well- balanced microbiome enhances the bird’s ability to cope with environmental stressors, support immune function, and improve resilience against pathogens, contributing to better performance and productivity.
What are the benefits of using poultry probiotics for disease control?
Incorporating feed additives, such as probiotics, into poultry diets helps maintain a healthy gut environment and reduces the risk of intestinal diseases which can impact bird health and performance.
By promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria, GALLIPRO FIT can help:
- Improve Intestinal Integrity (I2)
- Support better nutrient absorption
- Enhance the bird’s natural defences against harmful pathogens
Feeding probiotics throughout a bird's life can:
- Improve poultry gut health
- Reduce the risk of disease outbreaks
- Boost overall poultry performance, ensuring healthier flocks and more efficient production.
Feeding probiotics throughout a bird's life can improve:
- Poultry gut health
- Reduce the risk of disease outbreaks
- Boost overall poultry performance, ensuring healthier flocks and more efficient production.
*Referenceable claims in digital and social copy can be found on this page. Full reference list below:
1. Chr. Hansen Laboratories – Peacock Project, 2020.
