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Bio-Ag Enews#2.....10/2002........Probiotics
Agriculture : A Vision for the Future - Bio-Ag Enews Letter
Probiotics 'What's the Hype'
Through the enormous use of antibiotics within the Livestock Industry
we
have become much more knowledgeable about Probiotics.
Probiotics are the usual bacteria that all animals need for their digestive
well being but they have been eliminated along with the pathogenic
bacteria
thru the use of antibiotics.
History - What are Probiotics?
One of the many ways of categorizing animals is based on their diet
and
digestive physiology.
Carnivores eat meat, frugivores eat fruit, omnivores eat a variety
of foods
from both animal and plant sources, and so on. Non-ruminant herbivores
derive their nutrient requirements from plant sources, the majority
of which
is comprised of fibrous plants such as grasses. Roughages such as grass
contain varying amounts of both soluble carbohydrates and insoluble
carbohydrates. Individual species have varying abilities to digest
these
carbohydrates. Ruminant species (such as cattle and sheep) can digest
and
survive very well on extremely fibrous foods.
In order to digest the insoluble carbohydrates in a fibrous roughage
diet,
non-ruminant herbivores have evolved a digestive tract with an enlarged pouch called a cecum. Ingested food is first ground by the teeth, mixed
with
digestive juices in the stomach, then move into the small intestine.
In the
SI, most soluble carbohydrates are absorbed, along with minerals, vitamins,
fats and proteins. Insoluble carbohydrates which are not so easily
digested,
as well as any undigested soluble carbohydrates, are then passed into
the
fermentative vat of the cecum.
Both soluble and insoluble carbohydrates are made up of long strings of
glucose molecules, but the bonding in soluble vs. insoluble carbos
is
different. Animals possess the enzymes to break the bonds between *soluble*
sugars, but do NOT possess the enzymes to break the different bonding
between the glucose molecules in structural carbos.
So as animals have evolved, they developed a symbiotic relationship
with
hundreds of different species of microorganisms that DO produce the
enzymes
capable of breaking this particular bond, thereby making the food available
to both the "bug" and the host animal.
Specifically, the breakdown products of this microbial fermentation
are the
volatile fatty acids (from which the animal derives the majority of
its
energy requirements), carbon dioxide, microbial proteins, digestive
enzymes
and some vitamins, such as K and B-complex. This concept of microbial
fermentation occurs to one extent or another in any animal that eats
foods
of plant origin, including humans. The species of herbivores that depend
largely or entirely on fibrous plant materials enlarged the parts of
the
gastrointestinal tract where all this fermentation and microbial breakdown
occurs---the rumen in cattle, sheep, goats, etc and the cecum and large
colon in the horse, rabbit, hippo, elephant and many other species.
This symbiotic microbial population is not a stable one. Fluctuations
in the
internal environment (such as changes in temperature, pH, dehydration,
substrate availability or the presence of antibiotics or other medications
or chemicals) may all affect or even destroy the microorganism population.
At the very least, shifts in the population can affect digestive efficiency.
At worst, large die-offs of certain species can release endotoxins,
which
may in turn contribute to numerous diseases.
Probiotics are the "friendly" species that normally exist in the GI
tract
and are likely to be disturbed by stress. The concept is that even
everyday
stresses can affect the microbial population, and that to maintain
maximum
digestive efficiency, you should try to keep the bug population on
as an
even keel as possible. So by regularly adding small additional populations
to the existing population, you hopefully fill in the gaps left by
small
daily upsets, and avoid major shifts in the population that can decrease
efficiency and cause associated problems.
The word probiotic is derived from the Greek meaning "for life". Probiotics
are "mono- or mixed cultures of live microorganisms which, when applied
to
animal or man, beneficially affect the host by improving the properties
of
the indigenous microflora". The common terms for probiotics are "friendly",
"beneficial" or "healthy" bacteria.
Probiotic bacteria are generally, though not exclusively, lactic acid
bacteria and include Lactobacillus acidophilus, bifidobacterium, L.
casei,
L. bulgaricus, L. plantarum , L. casei, L. salivarius, L. rhamnosus,
L.
reuteri, bifidum, B. longum, B. infantis and S. thermophilus.
LACTOBACILLI AND BIFIDOBACTERIA
Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria are Gram-positive lactic acid-producing
bacteria that constitute a major part of the normal intestinal microflora
in humans and animals. They play an important role in resistance to
colonization against exogenous, potentially pathogenic organisms.
Lactobacilli: Lactobacilli are Gram-positive, non-spore forming rods
or
coccobacilli. They have complex nutritional requirements and are strictly
fermentative, aerotolerant or anaerobic, aciduric or acidophilic.
Lactobacilli are found in a variety of habitats where rich,
carbohydrate-containing substrates are available, such as human and
animal
mucosal membranes, on plants or material of plant origin, sewage and
fermenting or spoiling food
Microflora benefits the host by increasing resistance to new colonization
as
well as by protecting against the overgrowth of already-present potentially
pathogenic organisms. Another function important to the host is the
high
metabolic activity of the intestinal flora. The extent of this activity
has
been claimed to be similar to that of the liver. Administration of
antimicrobial agents is the most common cause of disruption of the
balance
of the normal microflora and leads to decreased resistance to colonization
and to alterations in the metabolic activities of the intestinal flora.
Microorganisms had been tested in the 19th century to prevent and cure
diseases, and have been added to domestic animal feed to enhance growth.
However, it is probably from the work of the Russian Nobel Prize Laureate
Elie Metchnikoff in 1908 that the first scientific assessments of probiotics
were made. He first hypothesized that a high concentration of lactobacilli
in intestinal flora were important for health and longevity in humans.
Indeed, we now know that the gut flora plays an important role in health:
stimulating the immune system, protecting the host from invading bacteria
and viruses, aiding digestion and assimilation of food. Yet, the importance
of these bacteria in the GI tract has been neglected for a long time,
while
the focus was merely placed on enteric pathogens and other factors
leading
to gastrointestinal "disorders".
The composition of the gastrointestinal flora differs among animals,
and
also during the life within the same animal. Many factors, such as
diet or
climate, aging, medication (especially antibiotics), illness, stress,
pH,
infection, environment can upset this balance. Interactions of typical
intestinal bacteria may also contribute to stabilization or destabilization.
A state of balance within the microbial population within the GI tract
can
be called "eubiosis" while an imbalance is termed "dysbiosis". For
optimum
"gut flora balance", the beneficial bacteria, such as the gram-positive
Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria, should predominate, presenting a barrier
to
invading organisms. The more this balance is reversed, the more the
symptoms. The use of probiotics may be the most natural, safe and common
sense approach for keeping this balance.
HOW DO PROBIOTICS WORK?
Probiotics need to be ingested regularly for any health promoting properties to persist. It is possible to manipulate the composition
of the gut microflora in animals through dietary supplementation with probiotics. This concept is gaining popularity throughout the
world.
Probiotic effects may be due to direct action, modulation of local immunity, modifications of gut ecology or a combination of these
effects.
Listed below is a brief description of mechanisms by which probiotics may protect the host against intestinal disease:
Production of inhibitory substances. Probiotic bacteria produce a variety of substances that are inhibitory to both
gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. These include organic acids, hydrogen peroxide and bacteriocins. These
compounds may reduce not only the number of viable pathogenic organisms but may also affect bacterial metabolism and
toxin production.
Competition for nutrients. Probiotics may utilize nutrients otherwise consumed by pathogenic microorganisms.
Stimulation of immunity. The underlying mechanisms of immune stimulation are not well understood, but specific cell
wall components or cell layers may act as adjuvants and increase humoral immune response
Antibiotics and probiotics
Chemotherapeutics in general and antibiotics in particular have been used as feed additives for years. Unfortunately, these
nonselective drugs kill nonpathogens as well as pathogens. Because certain strains of bacteria become resistant to antibiotics, the
positive effect of antibiotics is dynamic. There is also a growing consumer demand to ban antibiotics and other chemotherapeutic
agents as feed additives because of their connection with residues in food and transferable antibiotic resistance through bacterial
resistance (R) factor.
The extensive use of antibiotics and other agents in treating bacterial enteritis is somewhat paradoxicaI. Although these agents
might be successful initially, their benefits are often nullified by postantibiotic diarrhea. Diarrhea can severely compromise an
animal's health and prolong its time to market weight.
Diarrhea occurs because antibiotics suppress the normal intestinal bacteria and allow abnormal overgrowth of pathogens, which
cause disease. By removing the producers of volatile fatty acids, antimicrobial agents also remove an important restraint on the
growth of yeast and fungi, making them more invasive." AIthough the pathogenesis of antibiotic-associated diarrhea is poorly
understood, studies evaluating gastrointestinal and fecal composition during antibiotic therapy have demonstrated a decrease or
disappearance of L. acidophilus."
Regarding the efficacy of antibiotics as growth promotants, any improvement in growth rate and feed efficiency is inversely related
to the performance level of untreated control groups. This suggests that growth promotants work to palliate the depressing effects
of unbalanced diets, microbial disease, poor environment, and other stressful conditions, rather than actually promoting growth
The discovery that antibiotics included in the feed of chickens and pigs would improve their growth rate implies the existence of an
intestinal microflora that depresses growth. This observation was confined by demonstrating that antibiotics added to the diet of
germ-free chicks did not increase their growth rate. A number of trials have been conducted contrasting the effects of feeding
probiotics versus antibiotics. Probiotics offer the same benefits in animals as low dose antibiotics when used as growth promotants.
In addition, they aid in feed conversion, and in some countries are used as prophylactics against enteritis.
Using preparations of live, naturally occurring microorganisms helps restore and maintain the proper balance of beneficial
microflora in the intestinal tract during times of stress, disease, and following antibiotic therapy.
An effective probiotic dietary supplement should:
1) (must)Be of host animal origin
2) Exert a beneficial effect on the host,
3) Be nonpathogenic and nontoxic,
4) Contain a large number of viable cells,
5) Be capable of surviving and metabolizing in the gut,
6) Remain viable during storage and use,
7) Be antagonistic to pathogens.
Beneficial effects of probiotic strains: demonstrated and proposed are:
1. Increased nutritional value (better digestibility, increased absorption of vitamins and minerals).
2. Promotion of intestinal lactose digestion.
3. Positive influence on intestinal and urogenital flora (antibiotics and radiation induced colitis, yeast infections).
4. Prevention and reduction of intestinal tract infections (bacteria or virus induced, Candida enteritis, Helicobacter).
5. Regulation of gut motility (constipation, irritable bowel syndrome).
6. Decreased incidence and duration of diarrhea (antibiotic associated).
7. Maintenance of mucosal integrity.
8. Improvement of immune system.
9. Reduction of catabolic products eliminated by kidney and liver.
10. Better development (growth).
11. Anti-carcinogenic, anti-mutagenic and anti-allergic activities.
12. Feeling of well-being.
Two areas in which the intestinal inoculant effect of probiotics is strongly documented are in suppressing neonatal scours and
improving the growth of young or stressed animals. According to the growing database of research, such observations are similar
across animal species.
As long as active bacteria are administered through feed or water, there is no question that the microbial population can be shifted
away from toxin-forming E. coli and other diseases, toward beneficial lactic acid producers.
Health is probably the most important attribute because almost all disease inevitably results in a degree of metabolic
inefficiency.
Disease affects the animal's performance by depressing the rate of growth, either through low-grade toxicity or
impaired physiologic or metabolic activities. How much the performance is depressed by sub clinical or chronic disease is variable.
Animal performance in response to feeding probiotics is influenced by the inoculant level fed, the animal species tested, and the
animal's stage of maturity, plane of production, level of stress, and rearing environment. The speed with which the gut becomes
inoculated with a given bacteria depends on environmental contamination and probiotic administration.
Summary:
Probiotics used on a regular basis replenishes the microflora of the gut with necessary bacteria which has proven to enhance the
health of the animal both immunologically as well as physically.
For more information you can go directly to the Probiotic section of our web site.
Email an associate who you think would like to receive this Enews letter.
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We are a company dedicated to enhancing the agricultural industry through
working with nature naturally.
Bio-Ag has supplied the North American Agricultural Market since 1982
with
products and services of
appropriate sustainable technologies. Our research has assisted thousands
of
farmers in appreciating the
principles of ecological sound agriculture. Some have adapted themselves
towards the fastest growing
industry in North America: organic / safe foods, however...
95% of our customers are conventional farmers, only 5% are
organic farmers.
We are suppliers of natural agricultural products for feed, soil, livestock,
manure additives, mold inhibitors,
health care, water and we service our customers with healthy solutions
for a
financially successful farm
operation.
We manufacture a line of probiotics which is quickly replacing the
use of
antibiotics and which there is no
other comparable product in the market.
Enzolac is a probiotic feed supplement and unique in that it combines
both
the probiotic (a lactic acid lactobacillus fermentation product) and
live
plant enzymes on a GMO free (genetically modified organisms) wheat
shorts
carrier. The enzymes enhance the efficiency of the probiotic and creates
a
balance in the digestive system to ensure optimum health and productivity.
Patrick Wey
Bio-Ag Consultants & Distributors Inc.
Internet Marketing
Bio-Ag Enews Research
: Agriculture : A Vision for the Future - Enews Letter....http://www.bio-ag.com/
mailto:bioag@patrickwey.com
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