Probiotics and Prebiotics for the Health of Cattle

Abstract

Throughout the years the livestock production systems have evolved modifying thenatural resistance of animals against the diseases. These systems are characterizedby new feeding methods (especially using unnatural feeds such as milk replacers),the intensive farming which limits the maternal contact and uses artificial habitatconditions, the use of animals with better growth parameters, and the use of antimicrobialssubstances. All these conditions increase the stress on animals, and digestivedisorders become more frequent as a result of imbalance in the intestinalmicrobiota and generate a reduction in the natural resistance against contaminationor pathogen colonization.