New probiotic optimises feed conversion poultry

Probiotics are naturally occurring live microbes that stabilise the gut flora of poultry, pigs and other animals when ingested. They can improve animal health, growth rate and feed utilisation, thereby saving resources and improving sustainability of the animal farming industry. Probiotics can thus be seen as a suitable alternative for antibiotics. And this is favourable, as more and more countries are restricting use of antibiotics for growth promotion as part of strategies to prevent development of resistance to antibiotic treatments in humans. 

The new probiotic launched (Alterion) is a team effort between Adisseo and Novozymes. Launched for the US market as well as in a number of countries in the Middle East and South East Asia, the product has been developed from a unique strain of Bacillus subtilis, a naturally-occurring bacterium found in soil. Added to feed, it allows farmers to better control gut health of their animals, it limits development of unwanted bacteria in the animal’s digestive tract, and it optimizes feed conversion by 2 to 2.5%, meaning less feed consumed to raise an animal.