Probiotics: The Beneficial Bacteria
Probiotics are live microorganisms, mainly from groups such as Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Bacillus, or specific yeast strains, which are added to feed or water. Once ingested, these helpful bacteria settle in the intestinal tract and compete with harmful pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli. This natural process, called competitive exclusion, helps keep disease-causing microbes under control and encourages a more stable gut environment.
Probiotics are also known to enhance the immune system. They encourage the body to produce more natural antibodies and immune cells, making the hens more resilient to infections. Studies have shown that birds on probiotic supplemented diets tend to suffer fewer digestive issues and have a reduced need for antibiotic treatments.
Prebiotics: Supporting Healthy Microbes
Prebiotics are non-digestible components found in feed, often coming from certain fibres or oligosaccharides. They work differently to probiotics. Rather than adding new bacteria to the gut, prebiotics serve as a food source for the beneficial microbes already present in the digestive system.
Once prebiotics pass through the upper digestive tract, they arrive in the lower intestine where they encourage beneficial bacteria to grow and thrive. This helps create a healthier gut environment by lowering pH levels and making it more difficult for harmful pathogens to establish themselves. Prebiotics can also lead to greater production of short chain fatty acids, which strengthen the gut lining and improve the uptake of nutrients from feed.
Improved Productivity in Laying Hens
A healthier gut directly leads to better feed efficiency. Hens with a balanced microbiome digest and absorb nutrients more effectively, which helps support higher egg production and stronger shells. Birds receiving prebiotics and probiotics often show more consistent laying patterns, better shell strength, and steadier egg weights.
Flocks also benefit from fewer digestive disorders, meaning lower mortality and fewer birds needing to be culled. This results in more even body condition across the flock, making day-to-day management simpler and production more reliable. Prebiotics and probiotics can also help birds cope better with common stress factors such as high temperatures, transport, or changes in housing, all of which can otherwise lead to dips in productivity.
With more consumers focusing on food health and sustainability the inclusion natural feed additives provide an effective solution. By supporting gut health and reducing disease risk in a natural way, prebiotics and probiotics help producers meet growing demands for animal welfare and sustainable farming while maintaining high production standards.