Probiotic Feed Research Articles

Performance of Local Peking Duck (Anas platyrhynchos domestica) with Commercial Probiotics (Probac) at Different Levels

Peking duck is one of the superior ducks that breeders are interested in keeping. Maintaining broiler ducks often occurs with several obstacles including mortality, high feed conversion and target body weight couldn’t achieve. The use of probiotics generally gives a positive response on livestock performance. This study aims to determine the performance of local Peking ducks with the addition of commercial probiotics (Probac) with different levels. The study used an experimental method with a completely randomized design with 4 treatments and 5 replications. Experimental level with P0 (without probiotics), P1 (1g/kg feed probiotics), P2 (2g/kg feed probiotics), P3 (3kg/kg feed probiotics) The variables observed were body weight, feed conversion and mortality. The best results showed that the use of a commercial probiotic (Probac) with a P2 level (2g/kg feed) had an effect on body weight, but had no effect on feed conversion and mortality in local Peking ducks. It is recommended to use a commercial probiotic (Probac) at a dose of 2g/kg of feed to increase the performance of local Peking ducks

Effectiveness of fattening cattle on diets of different energy levels with the use of probiotic feed additive “PROGALplv”

A full-fledged yearling of young cattle should be based on scientifically based standards, guaranteeing their genetic productivity potential, rational use of feed resources, and proper payment for feed with meat products. The current situation regarding the rationing of yearling livestock in global and domestic, both scientific and production practices, has fundamentally changed, which requires a significant revision of traditional provisions on the organization of rationed yearling and feeding of farm animals. At the same time, the conceptual requirements for the organization of standardized feeding of young livestock should be based on the general world experience of the need for energy, nutrients, and biologically active substances of animals, taking into account the age period of the growing season, with an emphasis on the quality and biosafety of products. In the intensive production of meat products, to ensure high productivity, it is only possible to do so by using feed products of natural substance, which should include additives with a phytobiological effect. One of these consists of the feed supplement “PROGALplv,” which contains the probiotic component maltodenstrin and fructooligosaccharides and belongs to the probiotic supplement for ruminants. Based on the research, optimizing the standardized feeding of fattening young animals on diets with different energy levels and using the biological feed additive “PROGALplv” at the rate of 6, 10, and 15 g/head was set a day. The research was conducted on Simmental bulls in the conditions of the farm “Pchany-Denkovych” of the Stryi district of the Lviv region. It was established that using “PROGALplv” bio-additives in the ration against the background of different energy nutrition contributed to an increase in the intensity of physiologically helpful microflora of the rumen, which had a stimulating effect in the processes of additional assimilation of nutrients. A positive result was obtained regarding the average daily gains and quality indicators of meat products and the economic efficiency of the final fattening period. Thus, based on the results of our research, it is possible to recommend the introduction of an increased level of energy nutrition of 110 % of the explicit norms into the intensive technology of livestock removal at the expense of an entirely rational feed mixture with the inclusion of the probiotic feed additive “PROGALplv” at the rate of 10 g/head per day. The optimal introduction dose to compound feed compliance is 10 g/head. The maximum amount can be no more than 15 g/h. daily. No adverse side effects of “PROGALplv” bio-additives on the general functional condition of Bugai residents were found.

Повышение пищевых характеристик рыбы с использованием фитобиотиков и пробиотиков в кормлении (обзор)

Abstract. The purpose of the study is aimed at collecting and analyzing literature data on the use of probiotics and phytobiotics in the fish fattening system to obtain environmentally safe products on the example of fattening common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Materials and methods of research. The search and analysis of literature was carried out using Internet resources: RSCI – https://www.elibrary.ru, ScienceDirect – https://www.sciencedirect.com, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Results. In this review, using meta-analytical data, the main results on the use of probiotics and phytobiotics in the fish fattening system for obtaining environmentally safe products with high nutritional values of finished products are summarized. The current trends of high demand for food products are mainly focused on the search for innovative solutions for the identification of production processes. From the standpoint of nutritional value, fish proteins are absorbed better than animal proteins. Fish contains significant indicators of calcium content, which, combined with high levels of vitamin D and low cholesterol, makes it extremely useful for the human body. As the main model for collecting meta-analytical data, we used the results of international experience in the use of various phytobiotics in the fattening of common carp (Cyprinus carpio). A systematic analysis of the data allows us to judge the high potential of feed additives of various origin and pharmacochemical composition as growth activators, antioxidant and humoral protection of the body, as well as an increase in the nutritional value of finished products by increasing the content of crude protein in the final product. The presented data indicate a high potential for the use of agro-food waste for the sustainable development of industrial fish farming. It should be noted that the conducted bibliometric study of the review of recent publications indicates a high level of interest in the world to solve the problem and the interest of the world scientific community. Scientific novelty lies in the systematic analysis of empirical literature data on the development and use of probiotic and phytobiotic feed additives to increase productivity, nutritional value and resistance to infectious diseases of various representatives of aquaculture.

Screening of host gut-derived probiotics and effects of feeding probiotics on growth, immunity, and antioxidant enzyme activity of hybrid grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus♀ × E. lanceolatus♂)

In recent years, the widespread use of antibiotics in intensive grouper mariculture has resulted in the ineffectiveness of antibiotic treatment, leading to an increasing incidence of diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, and parasites, causing serious economic losses. Hence, it is crucial to develop alternative strategies to antibiotics for healthy and sustainable development of the mariculture industry. Here, we aimed to screen host gut-derived probiotics and evaluate its effects on growth and immunity of grouper. In this study, 43 bacterial strains were isolated from the intestine of the hybrid grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus♀ × E. lanceolatus♂), and a potential probiotic strain G1-26, which can efficiently secrete amylase, protease, and lipase, was obtained using different screening mediums. Based on 16S rDNA sequencing, the potential probiotic strain G1-26 was identified as Vibrio fluvialis. The results of a biological characteristic evaluation showed that V. fluvialis G1-26 could grow at 25–45 °C, pH 5.5–7.5, salinity 10–40, and bile salt concentration 0–0.030%, and produce amylase, lipase, and protease under different culture conditions. Additionally, V. fluvialis G1-26 is sensitive to many antibiotics and does not exhibit aquatic biotoxicity. Subsequently, hybrid groupers were fed diets containing V. fluvialis G1-26 at different concentrations (0, 106, 108, and 1010 CFU/g) for 60 d. The results showed that V. fluvialis G1-26 at 108 CFU/g did not significantly affect the growth performance of the hybrid grouper (P > 0.05). V. fluvialis G1-26 supplementation at 108 and 1010 CFU/g significantly promoted the relative expression of immune-related genes in hybrid groupers (TLR3, TLR5, IL-1β, IL-8, IL-10, CTL, LysC, TNF-2, and MHC-2) and improved the activities of alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, total superoxide dismutase, and total protein in the liver. In conclusion, V. fluvialis G1-26, a potential probiotic strain isolated from the intestine of the hybrid grouper, can be used as an effective immunopotentiator at an optimal dose of 108 CFU/g diet. Our results provide a scientific basis for the development and utilization of probiotics in the grouper mariculture industry.

Probiotic feed additive in the diets of young chickens of egg productivity

From the perspective of modern ideas about the complete balanced feeding of poultry, it is necessary to use biologically active additives to maximize the realization of the genetic potential of poultry. The purpose of the research was to study the eff ect of the probiotic feed additive “Profort” in the diets of young chickens of the egg cross Czech Dominant on egg productivity and the quality of the resulting egg. The control group of chickens received the main diet, in the experimental group of poultry together with the main diet the feed additive “Profort” was used (LLC Biotrof, St. Petersburg) at a dose of 0,5 kg/t of compound feed. The compound feeds used for feeding in the experimental and control groups were developed at the Belgorod Vitamin Enterprise LLC “Biorhythm” corresponded to the norms and needs of the farmed poultry in the studied periods. The growth of young poultry of the cross Czech Dominant when the feed additive “Profort” was introduced into the diets for the period of experiment (0–116 days) was as follows: the live weight in the experimental group was by 12,8 % higher, the average daily gain was by 13,4 % % higher, compare with the control group. The absolute gain in live weight during the experiment in the experimental group was 1223,8 g, in the control group 1080 g, with a diff erence of 13,3 %. The livability of poultry in the experimental group was 97,0 %, and in the control group it was 95,0 %, the diff erence was 2,0 abs.%. In order to increase the complete feeding of poultry of modern egg crosses, increase its productivity and improve the quality of final products, in the process of rearing of young chickens of the egg productivity, we recommend using the feed additive “Profort”, feeding it by introducing into the composition of the compound feed at the dose of 0,5 kg/t.

Nanopore Sequencing Discloses Compositional Quality of Commercial Probiotic Feed Supplements

The market for the application of probiotics as a livestock health improvement supplement has increased in recent years. However, most of the available products are quality-controlled using low-resolution techniques and un-curated databases, resulting in misidentification and incorrect product labels. In this work, we deployed two workflows and compared results obtained by full-length 16S rRNA genes (16S) and metagenomic (Meta) data to investigate their reliability for the microbial composition of both liquid and solid forms of animal probiotic products using Oxford Nanopore long-read-only (without short-read). Our result revealed that 16S amplicon data permits to detect the bacterial microbiota even with the low abundance in the samples. Moreover, the 16S approach has the potential to provide species-level resolution for prokaryotes but not for assessing yeast communities. Whereas, Meta data has more power to recover of high-quality metagenome-assembled genomes that enables detailed exploration of both bacterial and yeast populations, as well as antimicrobial resistance genes, and functional genes in the population. Our findings clearly demonstrate that implementing these workflows with long-read-only monitoring could be applied to assessing the quality and safety of probiotic products for animals and evaluating the quality of probiotic products on the market. This would benefit the sustained growth of the livestock probiotic industry.

Probiotic feed additive “EnzActive” against the background of hay-type fattening of young bulls

Standardized feeding of young cattle should be based on scientifically based standards, guaranteeing their genetic productivity potential, rational use of fodder resources, and proper feed payment with meat products. The current situation regarding the rationing of livestock feeding in global and domestic, both scientific and industrial practices, has fundamentally changed, which requires a significant revision of the traditional provisions on the organization of standardized feeding and feeding of farm animals. At the same time, the conceptual requirements for the organization of standardized feeding of young livestock should be based on the generalization of world experience in need of animals for energy, nutrients, and biologically active substances, taking into account the age period of fattening with an emphasis on the quality and biosafety of products. In the conditions of intensive production of meat products, to ensure high productivity, it is impossible to do without using feed products of natural substance, which should include additives with a purely biological effect. One of these includes the feed additive “EnzActive”, which contains a unique formula of a combination of biotic and enzymatic action, which consists of live yeast of the genus Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and a complex of six enzymes: protease, cellulose, xynalose, α-amylase, ß-gluconase and phytase. The research was based on optimizing the standardized feeding of fattening young animals on hay-type rations using the probiotic feed additive “EnzActive” based on 8 g/head per day. The research was conducted on Simmental bulls in the conditions of the “Pchany-Denkovych” farm of the Stryi district of the Lviv region. It was established that the use of the probiotic supplement “EnzActive” against the background of hay-type feeding contributed to the improvement of the intensity of the vital activity of the physiologically helpful microflora of the rumen, which had a stimulating effect in the processes of additional assimilation of nutrients. A positive result was obtained regarding the level of average daily growth and functional features of rumen microflora, the final period of fattening. Thus, based on the results of our research, it is possible to recommend introducing the hay type with the inclusion of probiotic feed additive “EnzActive” at the rate of 8 g/head into the intensive livestock technology fattening a day. No adverse side effects of “EnzActive” bio-additives on the general functional condition of young bull's residents were found.

Effects of Compound Probiotics on Cecal Microbiota and Metabolome of Swine.

Complex probiotics are made from various single probiotics mixed in scientific formula. The long-term intake of different probiotics is beneficial to maintain the intestinal microecological balance, inhibiting harmful pathogenic flora and facilitating organism health. Based on the limited research on intestinal flora and related metabolites after the long-term intake of the probiotic complex, in this study, 16S rRNA gene sequencing and untargeted metabolomics were used to further investigate the effects of the probiotic complex on the intestinal flora and metabolome of pigs. The results demonstrated that the content of flora in the intestinal tract or metabolites of pigs varied greatly and was related to cellular metabolic pathways after the long-term feeding of complex probiotics. This study provides a valuable theoretical basis for farmers to raise pigs scientifically and healthily.

The Effect of Use Herbal Plus Probiotic on Nursery Stage Milkfish (Chanos Chanos) Culture

The milkfish, or Chanos chanos, is a fish that is frequently raised in brackish water ponds and is in high demand by consumers. It has a large economic value. A procedure known as nursery cultivation is used to maintain milkfish fry and produces fish that are prepared to be reared in ponds when they reach a specific size. The goal of this study is to determine how probiotics and herbs affect the growth and survival of milkfish. The materials used in this study were milkfish with an average weight of 0.018−0.01 g, commercial milkfish feed with a 20% protein content, probiotics, and a mixture of turmeric extract and curcuma. The investigation was conducted utilizing an experimental technique and a thoroughly randomized design with three replications of each treatment and one control. Data analysis used analysis of variance (One Way Anova) to compare milkfish cultivation in treatment A (milkfish with herbal feed), treatment B (milkfish with feed containing probiotics), treatment C (milkfish with feed containing herbs and probiotics), and control (milkfish nursery with feed). The analysis’s results showed that while adding herbs, probiotics, or herbs plus probiotics to the diet had no significant effects on milkfish survival (P > 0.05), they did significantly influence fish growth when compared to controls (P 0.05). When compared to controls, W herbs + probiotics in feed had a substantial impact on fish development but no significant impact (P>0.05) on milkfish survival. When compared to controls, W herbs + probiotics in feed had a substantial impact on fish development but no significant impact (P>0.05) on milkfish survival. During the maintenance period, the water quality metrics were within an acceptable range for milkfish to survive and thrive..

Effect of the probiotic feed additive “Immunobacterin-D” on the productivity of black speckled cows during lactation

In Ukraine, as in every country in the world, an important task is to develop an effective development strategy for producing natural dairy products through probiotics. Feeding PFA to animals shows different effectiveness depending on their age, the intestinal microbiome's characteristics, the feed diet's composition and production technology. The purpose of the study was to identify the most effective period of application of PFA “Immunobacterin-D" and to select a yeast culture to increase the milk productivity of cows. The effectiveness of PFA was evaluated by the amount of milk produced, and its quality – by using an Ecomilk ultrasound analyser. The health status of cows was monitored based on the results of a spectrophotometric study of biochemical parameters of blood serum on a LabLine-010 biochemical analyser (Austria). As a result, it was determined that the optimal period of application of PFA is 30-60 days after calving. On the 13th day of PFA feeding, milk yields in cows of the experimental group increased by 1.2-2.5 L/day. The difference in the amount of milk produced between the animals of the experimental and control groups was 0.7-1.9 L/day. From 70 days after calving, the use of PFA in cows did not cause changes in the volume of milk yield but contributed to an increase in its fat content. By feeding cows of the experimental strain for 21 days S. cerevisiae as part of the PFA, the maximum increase in milk yield was obtained – by 2.13 L, and milk fat – by 0.45%. Whereas the use of PFA with a conventional strain S. cerevisiae AF 338 contributed to an increase in milk yield by 1.73 L, and in the control group of cows only by 1.30 L. According to the results of biochemical studies of blood serum, the positive effect of PFA “Immunobacterin-D” on the health status of cows was proved. PFA can be recommended for feeding cows in production, which will help increase milk yield and improve their health

Sequestration of zearalenone using microorganisms blend in vitro.

Zearalenone (ZEN) is an estrogenic mycotoxin produced by the Fusarium species and induces severe reproductive disorders in animals thus a major concern in the livestock industry. Probiotic bacteria treatments have been shown to inactivate mycotoxins, therefore, in this study, we investigated the effect of two commercial probiotic feed additives on the sequestration of ZEN. Commercial probiotic blends containing clay-based binder with Aspergillus niger, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus pumilus, and Bacillus subtilis at various proportions from BioMatrix International were incubated with ZEN in a time-dependent manner and then analyzed by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) to quantify unbound ZEN. Sequestration of ZEN was further verified by using MCF-7 cell-based cytotoxicity and/or cell proliferation assays. ZEN, or probiotic mix, was nontoxic to MCF-7 cells. Probiotic blends decreased ZEN concentration by 45% (∼100 μg L-1) and prevented ZEN from inducing MCF-7 cell proliferation (20%-28% reduction). The probiotic feed supplements tested show a potential utility in ZEN neutralization.

Antibiotic resistance of probiotics isolated from Chinese corn stover silage

ABSTRACT One of the most important drivers of the emergence of antimicrobial resistance is the irrational usage of antibiotics. But alongside some indirect sources such as feeding Chinese corn stover silage could also transmit resistant genes to animals. This study was aimed at assessing the antibiotic resistance phenotypes, drug resistance genes and mediated drug resistance mechanisms. A total of 37 isolates were obtained by selective medium and identified by 16S rDNA sequencing including Lactobacillus acidophilus (n = 3), Lactobacillus amylovorus (n = 4), Weissella confusa (n = 3), Acetobacter pasteurianus (n = 9), Lactobacillus buchneri (n = 6), Enterococcus faecium (n = 8) and Lactobacillus reuteri (n = 4). Antimicrobial resistance of all isolates to 12 antibiotics was determined using the agar dilution method. Widespread resistance to ampicillin, erythromycin, clindamycin, kanamycin, streptomycin, levofloxacin and ciprofloxacin was observed. The presence of relevant resistance genes was examined by PCR, and the genes pbp5, blaZ, bla TEM, mecA, mexI, tetW, ermB, msrA, msrC, ermC, vatE, aacA-aphD, aphA1, aadA1, aadA2 and vanX were detected. All the isolated strains had multiple drug resistance, and harboured related drug-resistant genes; therefore, the use of probiotics in animal feed should be standardized to reduce the risks of horizontal transmission of drug resistance genes to animal products and human population. Highlights Fermentation bacteria isolated from the silage were identified. Lactobacillus strains isolated from the silage exhibited antimicrobial resistance. Feeding Chinese corn stover silage transmits resistant genes to animals. Standardization of probiotics in animal feed is crucial to avoid horizontal drug resistance.

Comparison of probiotics with different concentrations on the growth and survival rate of Bonylip Barb (<i>Osteochilus vittatus</i>)

Bonylip barb (Osteochilus vittatus) is one of Indonesia's local fish which is starting to bloom in cultivation. One of the important needs in the development of fish farming is feed, to increase feed efficiency by providing probiotics which play a role in increasing growth, survival rates, digestibility, feed efficiency, the immune system and the composition of beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract of fish. This study aims to compare the concentration of different probiotics in commercial feed on the growth and survival of barley nilem (Osteochilus vittatus). The research was conducted at Pandaan Aquaculture Installation (IPB), Pasuruan Regency, East Java. Experimental study using a completely randomized design (CRD) with four treatments and three replications. Statistical analysis to compare growth performance (length and weight) and survival of nilem fish used analysis of variance (ANOVA) test. The results showed that there were differences in the growth of weight, length, and survival of barley nilem (Osteochilus vittatus) on commercial feed with different concentrations of probiotics. Where there is a tendency that the higher the concentration of probiotics in commercial feed, the higher the growth in length and weight and survival of nilem fish (O. vittatus).

Diet-Independent Positive Effects of a Multi-Species Probiotic on the Growth Performance and Resistance against Vibrio parahaemolyticus in White Leg Shrimp.

Probiotic feed additives can support the gut health of shrimp and thereby improve performance, production efficiency and disease resistance. Two experiments in white leg shrimp aimed to investigate the effects of a multi-species probiotic feed supplement (AquaStar®, 3 g/kg feed, Biomin GmbH, Getzersdorf, Austria) in feed formulations with different marine meal levels (32% and 15%) on growth performance and resistance against Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Juvenile shrimp were stocked in a recirculating aquaculture tank system at a density of 20 shrimp/46.8 L and were fed diets with and without the probiotic supplementation for 8 weeks. Afterwards, a bath immersion with V. parahaemolyticus was performed and mortality was observed over a period of 14 days. Independent of the diet formulation, probiotic supplementation significantly improved the survival rate of the shrimp and the specific growth rate while decreasing feed consumption and feed conversion ratio when compared to the control (p ≤ 0.042). After the Vibrio immersion challenge, mortality was significantly decreased by 13.33% with probiotic supplementation in the high marine meal diet experiment (p = 0.042) and numerically decreased by 11.67% in the low marine meal diet experiment (p = 0.133). Overall, the results suggest that the beneficial effects of the probiotic can occur independently of the diet formulation.

Diet Composition and Using Probiotics or Symbiotics Can Modify the Urinary and Faecal Nitrogen Ratio of Broiler Chicken's Excreta and Also the Dynamics of In Vitro Ammonia Emission.

The objective of this research was to determine whether diet composition, or adding probiotic or symbiotic feed additives to broiler diets can modify the N composition of the excreta and the dynamics of ammonia volatilization from the manure. A total of 574 one-day-old Ross 308 broiler chickens were fed four different diets. The treatments included a corn and soybean meal-based control diets (C), wheat-based and wheat bran containing diets (W), a multi-strain probiotic treatment (Broilact®; Br), and a symbiotic additive containing Bacillus subtilis, inulin, and Saccharomices cerevisiae (Sy). Feeding the wheat-based diet significantly improved the weight gain and FCR of chickens. Treatment W also significantly increased the dry matter content of the excreta compared with the probiotic and symbiotic treatments. Both Br and Sy tended to decrease the amount of excreted uric acid, which is the main substrate of ammonia. Treatment Sy reduced the urinary N ratio of the excreta in comparison with treatment W. The symbiotic additive resulted in significantly higher ammonia emission in the first two hours. On the other hand, the dynamics of the emission was slow at the beginning and increased steeply after 15 h when the wheat-based diets were fed. Based on our results, the wheat-based diets, containing soluble arabinoxylans, and the symbiotic treatments of broiler diets have an impact on the urinary and faecal nitrogen composition of the excreta, and also on the dynamics of ammonia release from the manure.

Study of the effectiveness of using the antioxidant astaxanthin in the composition of feeds for valuable aquaculture objects

The “Enzymsporin” is one of these preparations, which is a probiotic feed additive for optimizing digestion processes, increasing the productivity and safety of fish. Second year rainbow trout grown in cages at the cooling pond of the Smolensk NPP were used as the objects of study. Specialized domestic feed “Trout growth 44/23” was used as the main diet (MD) for feeding the fish. The main diet with the addition of 0,5 g of “Enzymsporin” per 1 kg of feed was used as an experimental variation. An increase of the body girth index (66,7% versus 61,9% at p < 0,05) in the experimental group of the trout was founded. A tendency to increase the coefficient of fatness and the relative length of the stomach and intestines were noted, but the difference was not significant. The relative weight of fish without chyme (gastric and intestinal contents) in the control (without the use of the preparation) was significantly higher by 2,6% (p < 0,05), that indicates its lower nutritional activity. Significant differences in the content of moisture and minerals in the experimental and control groups won’t founded, but the fat content in the body of fish when using a probiotic was 1,5% higher then in control. Therefore, trout meat in this variant was more nutritious. An improvement in rearing results was achieved in the experimental group, especially the average daily growth gain increased by 6,8%, survival — by 6,7%, standing crop of the fish per unit area in a body water — by 9,2%, with a reduction of feed conversion ratio by 10,2%. The trout meat of the experimental group after heat treatment had a more pleasant taste, juiciness and tender texture. The average score of its overall average degustation evaluation significantly exceeded the control (8,0 versus 7,5 at p < 0,05). An economic effect in the experimental variant of feeding was 98257,5 rubles for the 80 m2 cage.

Impact of Oral Probiotics on Faecal Profile in Endangered Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus)

A study was planned to determine the impact of oral probiotics on faecal profiles in 18 adult Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) for sixty days. The elephants were randomly divided into three groups, with six each. The experimental probiotics; Lactobacillus acidophilus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, were supplemented @ 1 gm (1 × 109 cfu /gm) / 50 kg body weight per day to all the elephants of T2 and T3 groups, respectively, whereas no probiotic was given to the control (T1) group. The faecal samples were taken on 0 and 60th day of the experiment for the analysis of faecal profiles viz. pH, lactic acid, coliforms, and probiotic microbial counts, i.e., lactobacillus and mould. Oral feeding of probiotics did not exhibit any significant impact on faecal profiles; however, it seems to induce some shift in faecal microflora. A declining trend in lactobacillus count was observed in probiotic groups as compared to the control group, which could be implicative of positive health status in Asian elephants.

ProbioMinServer: an integrated platform for assessing the safety and functional properties of potential probiotic strains

Abstract Motivation ProbioMinServer is a platform designed to help researchers access information on probiotics regarding a wide variety of characteristics, such as safety (e.g. antimicrobial resistance, virulence, pathogenic, plasmid, and prophage genes) and functionality (e.g. functional classes, carbohydrate-active enzyme, and metabolite gene cluster profile). Because probiotics are functional foods, their safety and functionality are a crucial part of health care. Genomics has become a crucial methodology for investigating the safety and functionality of probiotics in food and feed. This shift is primarily attributed to the growing affordability of next-generation sequencing technologies. However, no integrated platform is available for simultaneously evaluating probiotic strain safety, investigating probiotic functionality, and identifying known phylogenetically related strains. Results Thus, we constructed a new platform, ProbioMinServer, which incorporates these functions. ProbioMinServer accepts whole-genome sequence files in the FASTA format. If the query genome belongs to the 25 common probiotic species collected in our database, the server performs a database search and analyzes the core-genome multilocus sequence typing. Front-end applications were implemented in JavaScript with a bootstrap framework, and back-end programs were implemented using PHP, Perl, and Python. ProbioMinServer can help researchers quickly and easily retrieve information on the safety and functionality of various probiotics. Availability and implementation The platform is available at https://probiomindb.imst.nsysu.edu.tw.

Optimization of 4-Bac Extra Probiotics Dosage for Enhanced Productivity in Broiler Chickens Using a Quadratic Polynomial Response Model

This study aimed to determine the optimal dosage of 4-Bac Extra probiotics supplementation for broiler chickens using performance traits and a quadratic polynomial response model. A total of 180 Arbor Acre broiler chickens were randomly assigned to three treatment groups, replicated three times, representing 0% (T1), 0.25% (T2), and 0.50% (T3) probiotics supplementation. The birds were raised in a deep litter system and provided with ad libitum access to feed and water. During the starter phase, the 0.25% probiotics treatment group exhibited significantly higher feed intake and improved feed conversion ratio compared to the 0% and 0.50% groups. Additionally, the broilers in the 0.25% group showed significantly higher final body weight. However, the cost per kilogram of weight gain and cost of production were significantly higher in the 0.50% group compared to the 0% and 0.25% groups. Quadratic regression analysis revealed significant relationships between feed intake and probiotics dosage, as well as the week of production. The optimal feed intake, probiotics dosage, and week of production were determined to be 260g/week, 0.024g/day, and 7 weeks, respectively. In conclusion, the optimum dosage of 4-Bac Extra probiotics supplementation for broiler chickens is 0.024g per day for optimal performance characteristics. This study provides valuable insights into improving broiler chicken productivity and cost efficiency through optimized probiotics supplementation.

Probiotic Paenibacillus polymyxa HGA4C and Bacillus licheniformis HGA8B combination improved growth performance, enzymatic profile, gene expression and disease resistance in Oreochromisniloticus.

Bacterial consortium containing two bacterial strains such as Paenibacillus polymyxa HGA4C and Bacillus licheniformis HGA8B incorporated in the diet of Oreochromis niloticus at a concentration of 1×106CFUg-1 (PB1) and 1×108CFUg-1 (PB2) revealed the probiotic potentials of the bacterial combination. The probiotic feed enhanced the growth performance, digestive enzymes, and antioxidant enzymes in the liver and intestine. Probiotic mediated growth enhancement was further substantiated by the up-regulation of genes such as GHR-1, GHR-2, IGF-1, and IGF-2 and the up-regulation of immune-related genes viz. TLR-2, IL-10, and TNF-α were also significantly modulated by probiotics supplementation. The intestinal MUC 2 gene expression revealed the mucosal remodification and the disease resistance of the fish challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila (MTCC-1739) was improved by the probiotic supplementation. Based on these results the new probiotic supplementation feed can be possibly marketed to help aquaculture farmers to alleviate many of the problems associated with fish farming.