Role of Probiotics in Animal Productivity and Health: A Review

Abstract

Probiotics have been recently defined as live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host. A good probiotic should be non-pathogenic, non-toxic and capable of exerting beneficial effect on the host animal. Probiotic products may contain one or more selected microbial strains of bacteria with special characteristic of biochemical activities in the body to enhance general body performance of animals and human. Studies have also shown that probiotics may contain fungus and protozoa. Probiotics have been shown to promote growth, improve efficiency of feed utilization, protect host from intestinal infection and stimulate immune responses in farm animals. This review paper is prepared to determine the role of probiotics in animal production in general and specifically, health, growth performance and milk production.

Keywords: Probiotics, Bacteria, Lactobacillus, Cellulose degrading bacteria, cellulose, nutrition

DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/9-6-03

Publication date:March 31^st 2019