Use of probiotics as dietary supplement in cattle goats and pigs

Abstract

The application of potentially beneficial microorganisms to improve host defense is a new trend to increase health benefits. We developed the first specific host probiotics for goats and pigs from a mixture of lactic acid bacteria isolated from healthy animals. In both cases, the probiotic administration enhanced the body weight and was able to modify microflora balance by reducing Enterobacteria and increasing lactic acid bacteria population. The intestinal composition of fatty acids was modified, with a diminution of saturated fatty acid and an increase of the beneficial linoleic acid. On goats, the probiotics administration was correlated with a ten time diminution of fecal putrescine (cancer and bacterial disease marker) and a decrease of 60% mutagen fecal concentration, indicating the protective effect of this treatment. These results are encouraging towards the use of probiotic mixtures as functional food for goats and pigs.