Probiotics and Prebiotics in Animal Feed

International audienceIn livestock production, probiotics have become highly recognized as supplements for animals because of their beneficial outcome on health improvement and well-being maintenance. Several studies are contributing to the better understanding of the impact of probiotics and prebiotics on the modulation of the intestinal microbiota and their subsequent effects on the host’s health. Several factors, encompassing dietary and management constraints, have been demonstrated to tremendously influence the structure, composition, and activities of gut microbial communities in farm animals. Under stressing surroundings, the direct-fed microbes and feed ingredients may play a key role as the salient limiting factor of the severity of the dysbiosis caused by disruption of the normal intestinal homeostasis. Probiotics are live microorganisms; prebiotics as nondigestible feed components may confer health benefits on the host by positively modifying the intestinal microflora. This work discusses definitions of probiotics and prebiotics. Criteria that have to be met by those kinds of formulas are also presented. A glance at the commercial market of probiotics and prebiotics for animal feeding has also been discussed additionally to the main selective criteria and requirements for probiotic strains and the feed ingredients associated. The chapter offers a list of the most commonly used probiotics and prebiotics, and some pertinent examples of formulas and preparations used in animal nutrition. Examples of the available study results on the effect of probiotics and prebiotics on animal performance parameters and welfare are also summarized