Table 9 Examples of trials regarding the effect of synbiotics on animal health
From: The role of probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics in animal nutrition
Reference | Subjects | Composition of synbiotic | Time | Main outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Absorption and utilisation of feed, diarrhoea, body weight gain | ||||
[140] | 320 Turkeys infected with Salmonella | Lactobacillus spp., lactose | 14 days (trial 1–3), 18 days (trial 4) | The effect of a synbiotic on improved feed conversion and increased body weight of experimental animals |
[141] | 720 Broiler chickens | B. subtilis, FOS | 6 weeks | Improved average daily growth, FCR, reduced incidence of diarrhoea and mortality, compared to animals treated with aureomycin |
[142] | 600 Broiler chickens | E. faecium, FOS | 5 weeks | A significant increase of the average daily body weight gain, carcase ratio and FCR compared to the control |
Intestinal ecosystem imbalance, pathogenic infections | ||||
[146] | 33 Conventional healthy sucking piglets | L. plantarum, maltodextrin and/or FOS | 7 days | Reduced counts of E. coli O8:K88 in the jejunum and colon of piglets, and it was associated with increased acetate concentrations in the ileum and colon |
[138] | 150 Pigs during weaning | A probiotic of anaerobic microflora (bacteria/yeast/moulds), MOS, sodium acetate, ammonia citrate | 16 days | Improved digestion of nutrients, reduced emission of harmful gases and prevention of bacterial infections during the weaning period |
Improved quality of meat, milk, eggs | ||||
[147] | 58 Holsten dairy cows | L. casei, dextran | 1 year | Significant increase in Holstein cow milk production; including total milk, fat, protein and solids-non-fat production |