Yes, I would Invest and Use Probiotics for Livestock Production
Probiotics are microorganisms that are usually administered to the host in adequate amounts, conferring the host with health benefits. These live microorganisms have capabilities of treating and preventing some diseases. They are commonly used for the promotion of healthy immune system and healthy digestive tract (Watson et al. 135). With these beneficial factors, yes, I would invest in microbes such as bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi as probiotics and use them in livestock production. However, it is important to note that the probiotics used are usually host specific.
The reason as to why I would invest and use probiotics for livestock is because livestock with probiotics use has several merits. One reason I would invest and use probiotics, is because there will be a boost in the production efficiency. Efficiency will be very important to my profitability as a farmer, on livestock industry as a whole. According to Pond et al., studies suggest that there may be beneficial changes in body composition of livestock, after feeding them with selected probiotics (754). For instance, in chickens, microbes like the Lactobacillus species, can be used to counter the lactobacilli that exist in chickens as well as inhibiting Salmonella in their tracts. In cattle, L. acidophilus can reduce the occurrence frequency of E. coli and improve calves weight (Hobson and Stewart 588). In pigs, the commonly used microbes include streptococci, yeasts, enterococci and lactobacilli. When pigs are feed on lactobacilli, lactic acid is produced in large amounts in their gut, that eliminates certain unwanted bacteria. In piglets, the acid prevents E. coli establishment.
There are several working mechanisms of probiotics. The first one is antagonism against unwanted microbes (Friedmann et al. 27). The second one is whereby the probiotic competes with pathogens for sites of adhesion (Charalampopoulos et al. 27). The third and fourth mechanism involves immunomodulation of host (Liong 307) and the inhibitory effect on the pathogens (Cao and Roberto 129). Therefore, probiotics selection depends on gastrointestinal tolerance conditions, pathogens competitive exclusions and adherence to gastrointestinal mucosa. During stressed conditions, direct-fed of microbes’ use may minimize severity or risk of scours, which is due to optimum environment disruption of the intestines. Since the optimum working conditions and storage varies for different antibiotics, instructions about the should be followed as per the manuals or documentations that come with them, for the purpose of maximum results in livestock production.
Applications of probiotics are fundamentally for production purposes. The use of probiotics in livestock improves their microflora in their gut. This will lead to better intake of food, daily gain in weight and the total weight in chicken, cows and pigs. This, will, therefore cause growth rate improvement, which will be beneficial to me as a farmer. Milk production in cows will increase, coming with other additional advantages such as increased protein and fat content in milk. The demand for qualitative and safe meat has considerably increased in the market nowadays. With the use of microbes on livestock, meat production will be boosted. Probiotics also will increase egg production as well as decrease the contamination in eggs.
The meaning and use of probiotics is very unfamiliar to many farmers. However, recent research provides approaches to make this understandable to farmers and all the interested individuals. Soon farmers will familiarize with probiotics. Recently, safe and qualitative livestock product has increased on markets. I, therefore, conclude that yes, I would invest and use probiotics as the used microbe will have positive effect on livestock production by improving milk production in cows, growth rate in pigs and eggs production too in chicken.
Works Cited
Cao, Giacomo, and Roberto Orrù. Current Environmental Issues and Challenges. N.p., 2014. Print.
Charalampopoulos, Dimitris, and Robert A. Rastall. Prebiotic and Probiotic Science and Technology. New York: Springer New York, 2009. Print.
Friedmann, Theodore, Jay C. Dunlap, and Stephen F. Goodwin. Advances in Genetics: Vol. 78. Oxford: Academic, 2012. Print.
Hobson, P N, and C S. Stewart. The Rumen Microbial Ecosystem. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands, 1997. Print.
Liong, Min-Tze. Probiotics: Biology, Genetics and Health Aspects. Berlin: Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2011. Print.
Pond, Wilson G, and Alan W. Bell. Encyclopedia of Animal Science. New York: Marcel Dekker, 2005. Print.
Watson, Brenda, and Leonard Smith. The Detox Strategy: Vibrant Health in 5 Easy Steps. New York: Free Press, 2009. Print.
