{"id":55621,"date":"2020-06-09T09:00:05","date_gmt":"2020-06-09T14:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=55621"},"modified":"2020-06-02T08:57:37","modified_gmt":"2020-06-02T13:57:37","slug":"%ef%bb%bfprobiotics-instead-of-antibiotics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=55621","title":{"rendered":"\ufeffProbiotics instead of antibiotics"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Brittany Reynolds<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ansley, Neb., senior<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using probiotics instead of antibiotics on livestock? A person might think, \u201cOh. So instead of injecting an animal with a type of medicine to keep them from getting sick, we will feed them yogurt.\u201d Sort of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We would be feeding\nlivestock \u201cgood\u201d bugs \u2013 microorganisms that are best for their digestive\nsystem. The FDA defines direct-fed microbials (DFM) as \u201cproducts that are\npurported to contain live (viable) microorganisms (bacteria and\/or yeast) and\nare sometimes called probiotic products.\u201d The FDA requires feed manufacturers\nto use the term \u201cdirect fed microbial.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, the rumen\nin cattle have thousands upon thousands of unique types of microbes, so instead\nof giving them an antibiotic to keep them from getting sick we would feed them\na ration based on the microbes in their stomach to keep them from getting sick\nor to make them feel better when they are sick. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some livestock\nproducers may ask \u201cWhy would we switch to probiotics instead of continuing to\nuse antibiotics?\u201d Antibiotics have a withdrawal time to ensure there is no\nantibiotic residue in the animal\u2019s tissue by the time it is harvested. In spite\nof this, consumers still have fears of antibiotic residue. Since livestock\nproducers respect those fears, the use of probiotics would provide an\nalternative to using antibiotics. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Will producers ever be\nable to completely stop using antibiotics? Probably not, because antibiotics\nhave a true power to eliminate bacteria that cause disease. I believe that\nthere could definitely be a future with much less antibiotics being used. While\nthere is always more than one solution to a problem, we could start by giving\nour animals probiotics early on to protect them from bad bugs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scientists go through a\nlot of research to pick specific microorganisms in a probiotic that will help\nwhatever is wrong with that animal. Probiotics must be able to survive and grow\nin the host and adhere to and colonize wherever the pathogen may be. Often,\nthat will be in the epithelial cells of the gut. Probiotics are also researched\nto make sure they do not cause a resistance in the host. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advances in products to\noptimize gut health have led to using a feed additive such as mannan rich\nfractions, or MRFs, which remove unfavorable bacteria. MRFs are made from yeast\ncarbohydrates and prevent pathogens from binding to gut epithelia. A pathogen\ncauses a disease first by attaching itself to the gut lining, enabling it to\nreplicate, causing inflammation leading to reduced nutrient absorption. MRFs\nhave been shown to improve absorption of nutrients and thus improve\nperformance, according to an article in All About Feed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Will probiotics be able\nto work alongside with antibiotics? How are probiotics made for cattle? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Direct fed microbials\nhave been used for decades to improve intestinal health, but recently have been\nfound to improve conditions in the rumen, such as reducing acidosis in cattle\nwith bacteria such as Bifidobacterium and their effect on starch digestion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Probiotics, or DFMs,\nwork very well when animals are in stressful situations said an article in\nProgressive Cattle. For example, when feedlots or producers are receiving\nhigh-risk calves that have heat stress or are immune-compromised, probiotics\ncan help the animals immensely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Probiotics are usually\nmarketed as supplements and are not considered drugs that have to go through a\nformal approval process with FDA. Probiotics are just the \u201cgood\u201d bugs that not\nall animals have enough of in their digestive systems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Examples of probiotics\nand prebiotics (MRFs) already being used in livestock are mannan\noligosaccharides, fructooligosaccharides, and yeast. These all help enhance the\ngrowth of good bacteria. Oligosaccharides attach and bind to pathogens and\ntoxins, which then eventually will be eliminated from the animal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lactobacillus and\nBifidobacterium species of bacteria have been proven to protect animals from\ncertain infections. Some multi-strain probiotics also have a more\nbroad-spectrum effect so that they can decrease more strains of infections.\nProbiotics also help the animal to absorb more nutrients. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My father is a\nlarge-animal veterinarian and my mom stays at home to take care of the cattle.\nWe run a one-hundred head cow\/calf herd. My family and I feed a mineral\nsupplement called Vitaferm, which contains Amaferm and acts as a prebiotic.\nAmaferm helps deliver microbial protein and energy through increased\ndigestibility. Antibiotics are used occasionally when we have a sick cow or\ncalf. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marketing probiotics in\nour beef rather than antibiotics will help producers like us avoid dealing with\nwithdrawal times if we were feeding antibiotics. Instead of paying more for\nantibiotics, maybe probiotics will be more cost effective as long as they keep\nour livestock healthy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brittany Reynolds, a\n2017 Broken Bow High School graduate, is majoring in animal science at Fort\nHays State University. She is the daughter of Scott and Elizabeth Reynolds,\nAnsley, Neb.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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