Table 4 Examples of trials regarding the effect of probiotics on animal health

Absorption and utilisation of feed, diarrhoea, body weight gain

 [87]

114 Piglets

E. faecium DSM 10,663 NCIMB 10415

From birth to weaning (24 ± 3.2 days)

Reduced portion of subjects suffering from diarrhoea, improving performance as indicated by a higher daily weight gain

 [53]

118 Turkeys

Probiotic FM-B11 (Lactobacillus)

For 3 days post birth and after approx. 6 weeks of life

Use of the selected commercial probiotics resulted in increased market BW and reduced cost of production

 [54]

308 Broiler chickens

E. faecium NCIMB 10415

21 days

Confirmed efficacy of supplementation in relation to chicken body weight gain and FCR

 [57]

20 Growing maltese goat kids

L.acidophilus, L. salivarius, L.reuteri

7 months

Improved metabolic activity, body weight and proportions in animals receiving a probiotic

 [64]

400 Broiler chickens

Lactobacillus (2 strains), Bifidobacterium, Enterococcus, Pediococcus

6 weeks

Stimulated growth, comparable to the avilamycin-containing product (ASW)

 [62]

33 Sows

E. faecium DSM 7134

From the 90th day of pregnancy to the 28th day of lactation

A significant improvement of feed consumption, offspring size and weight of studied animals

Intestinal ecosystem imbalance, pathogenic infections

 [88]

153 Healthy piglets and 26 sows

E. faecium NCIMB 10415

17 weeks (sows), 6 weeks (piglets)

Reduced pathogenic bacterial (E. coli) load of healthy piglets and sows

 [89]

6 Piglets

L. plantarum Lq80

21 days

Increased total gut populations of lactobacilli in weaned pigs

 [56]

15 Pigs

2 strains of L. murinus, and one of each: L. salivarius subsp. salivarius, L. pentosus, P. pentosaceous

30 days

Animals treated with probiotics showed reduced incidence, severity, and duration of diarrhoea. The administered probiotic bacteria improved both the clinical and microbiological outcome of Salmonella infections

 [77]

210 Chickens

CE culture MCE culture

No data

Significantly lower colonisation of the intestinal microflora of experimental animals fed with CE by Salmonella Typhimurium and Campylobacter, compared to the group of animals fed with MCE

 [39]

Sows and piglets

E. faecium NCIMB 10415, B. cereus toyoi

6 weeks

Modification of microflora as a result of the action of the E. faecium strain caused a significant reduction of frequency of diarrhoea in comparison to the control group. The probiotic had also effect on the function of epithelial tissues and on immunological response (significantly reduced level of cytotoxic T cells (CD8+) in piglets’ jejunal epithelium)

Improved quality of meat, milk, eggs

 [90]

Lambs

Probiotic YEA-SACC-1026

During pregnancy and milk-feeding

A positive effect on the quality of milk (fat and protein content) and increased body weight of lambs

 [65]

Lambs

B. licheniformis, B. subtilis

During pregnancy and milk-feeding

A positive effect on the quality of milk (fat and protein content) and increased body weight of lambs

 [66]

109 Sows during milk-feeding

Probiotic Bio Plus 2B (B. licheniformis, B. subtilis)

From the day of allocation (14 days prior to the expected farrowing) up to the weaning day

A significant improvement of blood parameters (higher cholesterol and total lipid level) and of milk parameters (higher fat and protein content) during milk feeding in sows

 [67]

32 Cows

A. oryzae

70 days

The effect on the increased ratio of protein and SNF in milk

 [70]

480 Chickens

Probiotic Bio Plus 2B (B. licheniformis, B. subtilis)

90 days

Increased production of eggs and reduced ratio of damaged eggs in probiotic-fed animals. At appropriate doses: reduced level of serum and egg-yolk cholesterol. Reduced serum triglyceride levels compared to the control and a positive effect on FCR