PROBIOTICS By K. J. Theodore (USA) Photo: Lactobacillae PROBIOTICS are a dietary supplement that increase the population of the 'good' bacteria (micro flora), which are needed in the intestinal tract in order to process food properly. The use of probiotics as a daily supplement has become a popular routine in the commercial poultry industry, particularly following antibiotic treatment. One commonly known probiotic is called Lactobacillus Acidophilus, and is naturally occurring in some food such as yogurt. But direct application through a liquid or powdered form mixed into drinking water is the most effective route. Good bacteria also help fight off the bad bacteria that passes through the system, before it has a chance to take hold. Introducing probiotics into the digestive system everyday to ward off bacterial infection is known as 'selective exclusion'. Selective exclusion is a very good way to keep your birds healthy and disease resistant throughout their life. I use probiotics in my own flock, along with a vitamin and mineral supplement on a daily basis. Above: Marans rooster. Photo: Dirk de Jong.
I also use probiotics before, during, and after both showing and breeding. For showing, the probiotics help the birds ward off most illnesses they could become exposed to in that environment. For breeding, one benefit is the tendency of the laying hens to drink more water, when the water is treated with flavored probiotics. Both breeding and showing are very stressful times in your birds' lives, and the vulnerability to disease increases during those times. The use of probiotics helps to reduce that vulnerability. Above: Thuringian Bearded rooster. Photo: Dirk de Jong. Below: Welsummer hen. Photo: Monique de Vrijer. During times of stress or the use of antibacterials (antibiotics), hormonal changes can occur, causing the ph of the small intestine to rise. Right: Castilian rooster. Photo: Jose Luis Yustos. This allows existing bad bacteria to take a foothold in the lining of the intestine because of the deterioration of the protective mucus lining. Because of this, the 'villi' (little fingers), which normally exist in the small intestine, can be lost. Villi slow the movement of food as it passes through so that nutrients can be absorbed through the intestinal wall. The term 'going light' can occur when villi are lost.
Increasing good gut bacteria through the use of probiotics will compete against the bad bacteria, change the ph environment, allow nutrient absorption, and prevent infection. Probiotic treatment has also shown an ability to stimulate appetite - a valuable thing when trying to maintain the weight of an ailing bird. Above: Ko Shamo broody with her chicks. Photo: Pauline van Schaik. If you're not inclined to use probiotics on a daily basis, then at least consider their use immediately following antibiotic treatment. When your bird is treated with antibiotics, all bacteria are killed off - good and bad. Treating with probiotics immediately after the use of antibiotics, help to repopulate the gut with the good bacteria. In many cases, this can ward off a secondary infection, such as E Coli. E. Coli has been shown to exist in virtually all manure samples, but only becomes a problem when the digestive environment is friendly to its reproduction. Right: Cochin hen. Photo: Bobo Athes.
Note from the editor: The EU (and US) food law describes that all ingredients should be properly listed. If you are not sure about label information, you will find some examples of well defined probiotic bacteria on which much scientific literature is available, on this website: http://www.food- info.net/uk/ff/probiotics.htm - a project, initiated and run by the Wageningen University and supported by the Food-Info Foundation. Here are two ways you can introduce probiotics into your birds' diet. If you have a very small flock, GNC (in most shopping malls), sells a flavored liquid version of L. Acidophilus. I've used that at the rate of.7cc per bantam per day in their drinking water. If you have a large flock, consider a powdered version that you also mix into the drinking water. This version is better because it contains several other beneficial bacteria besides the L. Acidophilus. (Of all of the beneficial bacteria though, L. Acidophilus is the most important.) First State Veterinary Supply, which advertises in the Poultry Press, has a good powdered product, but I would call the other suppliers as well to see if they carry an equivalent product. Left: Black Shumen hen. Foto: Hristo Lukanov. This very interesting multilingual website provides you background information about Food but not about animal nutrition. Still probiotics may benefit both human and animals. Right: Brakel hen. Photo: Jan Schaareman. Identifying anti- microbial proteins in chickens that kill pathogens is one method being used by US Department of
Agriculture (USDA) scientists to find alternatives to the use of antibiotics to control infectious poultry diseases. The beneficial effects of probiotics, which are live, nonpathogenic bacteria that promote health and balance of the intestinal tract microbiota, have been demonstrated in past research. The probiotic products can be used for poultry and pigeons. Also phytochemicals derived from peppers, plums, safflower, green tea and other plants have been shown to be effective in enhancing the immune system of chickens. [Source: Agricultural Research Service of the USDA United States Department of Agriculture one of the world's premier scientific organizations.] We published an article on phytotherapy in our 2010 April issue h ttp://www.aviculture-europe.nl/nummers/10e02a12.pdf Below: Faverolles rooster. Photo: Dirk de Jong. Below: Luzerner Gold collar. Photo Mick Bassett. Copyright 2012 Aviculture-Europe. All rights reserved by VBC.