Advances on Probiotics Utilization in Poultry Health and Nutrition

Abstract

Poultry is one of the most rapidly expanding food production sectors, especially in developing countries. The poultry birds are safe and in good health due to the antibiotic supplemented feeds. However, the increasing awareness regarding antibiotic resistance has led to a dire need for the development of antibiotic-free poultry. Therefore, in addition to the daunting challenge of sufficing the need for poultry food of the increasing population, the industry should also ensure that the production is based on sustainable practices. In poultry farming there are several alternatives to the antibiotics, and one of them is probiotics. Probiotics are beneficial and safe micro-organisms for preservation of the host’s health and well-being. There are convincing experimental shreds of evidence that discuss the impact of probiotics on the positive modulation of poultry’s immunity, growth performance, feed utilization and general health condition. Therefore, this review shed light on the concept, impact and mode of action of probiotics in sustainable poultry production. By discussing the results obtained from the recent studies about the ability of probiotics to maintain the poultry animal’s performance level, this chapter condensed the valuable information and open several avenues for further investigation and development of the probiotic applications in the poultry industry with a special focus on its effect in improving poultry’s’ health and nutritional value.