Probiotics as a Promising Additive in Broiler Feed: Advances and Limitations

Abstract

Feed additives have a strong influence on the production cost of broilers as growth-promoter’s to cover variations in profits due to fluctuation in feed costs. Antibiotics as additives were fundamental and indispensable, however, studies have shown their connection with the emergence of resistant strains of pathogens in animals and humans, therefore in recent years they have been less encouraged. Research is in progress concerning additives that can replace antibiotics as growth promotors and also as prophylactics. It was demonstrated that probiotics, which are living microorganisms and without residual effect’s have a potential to be used as microbials. However, they are not always guaranteed as growth promoters, as there are mechanisms of action regarding their interaction with the host that cannot yet be properly understood. The main advances in the use of probiotics in broilers in recent years, as well as the gaps, challenges, and future perspectives were carefully discussed and analyzed in this study. It was considered as a future premise, the possibility of reviewing the traditional methodologies used to test the hypotheses related to the effect of probiotics in broilers, which may also be extended to other animal species.