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Are probiotics used in
animal feed?
Many people will be surprised to learn that animals consume probiotics regularly. Probiotics (mainly bacteria and yeasts) take part of foods produced for "pets" (dogs and cats) and farm animals (birds, pigs, fishes, crustaceans, sheeps, goats, beef and dairy cattle). The probiotic market for animal feed was valued at $ 3.25 billion in 2016 and is expected to grow 7.7% from 2017 to 2022, reaching $ 5.07 billion by 2022 (Market Research Report, 2016). The main functions of probiotics include maintaining the balance of the intestinal microbiota, improving the animals welfare, their development, and productivity. Probiotics can stimulate the immune system and prevent infections by pathogenic microorganisms, becoming an alternative for the use of antibiotics (Di Gioia and Biavati, 2018; Markowiak and Śliżewska, 2018). The demand for animal origin food and the requirement to maintain ecological systems, have demanded alternatives for production systems, making probiotics an efficient option. Therefore, research to select specific probiotic strains for each animal species is essential and has aroused the interest of science and the animal feed market.
Di Gioia, D., and Biavati, B. (Eds.). (2018). Probiotics and prebiotics in animal health and food safety. Springer International Publishing.
Markowiak, P., and Śliżewska, K. (2018). The role of probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics in animal nutrition. Gut pathogens, 10(1), 21.
Market Research Report (2016). Probiotics in Animal Feed Market by Livestock (Poultry, Cattle, Swine, Aquaculture), Source (Bacteria (Lactobacilli, Streptococcus Thermophilus, Bifidobacteria), and Yeast), Form (Dry and Liquid), and Region - Global Forecast to 2022", published by Markets and Markets.
Gustavo Felipe Correia Sales
Beatriz Ferreira Carvalho