At last week’s Aquafeed Horizons conference, Dr. Benedict Standen, Biomin, discussed the benefits of in-feed probiotics and summarized results from recent trials, including probiotic application at the feed mill.

Extensive scientific studies document the advantages of using beneficial bacteria as feed additives. Amongst other benefits, probiotics can boost immunity, improve disease resistance, reduce feed conversion ratio, improve growth performance and survival and improve water quality.

“If you are successful in getting the probiotics into the diet itself, there are a number of opportunities for using them, which depend on the specific strain of probiotics,” stated Dr. Standen. “Bacillus probiotics are very good at producing different enzymes which can help with feed conversion, digestibility, and proven growth performance. Lactic acid bacteria can attach to the epithelia, improving immunity, fighting pathogens, and improving disease resistance.”

In terms of challenges related to probiotic use, Dr. Standen mentioned four specific issues to consider.

“The first challenge is the efficacy of the product,” he stated. “Sometimes this is related to the probiotic species strain itself, sometimes it’s related to the environment or human error.”

“There are also issues surrounding intestinal colonization, with literature demonstrating that colonization is difficult,” he continued. “Registration is a problem, especially for innovative and novel strains.  Last but not least, heat stability and survival throughout the production process.”

Dr. Standen advised the solution Biomin has come up with to address these challenges and in particular the last one is post-pellet application.  Learn more about their Aquastar probiotics range to address needs in hatchery and grow out, as well as two bioremediation probiotics to improve the growing environment.