Use of probiotics in livestock. A systematic review.

Abstract

There is an increasing interest in sustainable and animal production practices, where probiotics have emerged as a potential solution for improving animal health and performance while reducing the reliance on antibiotics. However, despite the widespread use of probiotics in the livestock industry, there is still a need to consolidate and evaluate the existing scientific evidence regarding their use. For this reason, a systematic review of probiotic interventions in different livestock species (cattle, pig, poultry and small ruminants), considering factors such as probiotic species selection, administration route and delivery methods was performed in order to evaluate the main probiotic species used in livestock, the predominant clinical use of probiotics in livestock and the predominant route and duration of administration of probiotics in livestock. A systematic review following PRISMA guidelines was performed, using PubMed as the source of information. 2474 articles were initially selected, although after strict analysis and fulfilment of the exclusion/inclusion criteria, a total of 92 full text articles were analysed. The results obtained highlighted the relevance of probiotics for tackling digestive disorders in livestock. The overall results demonstrated a high effectivity of treatments based on these microorganisms and limited adverse effects, although no clinical randomised trials were found as part the study. Further studies should focus on the development of set guidelines for the clinical use of probiotics in livestock, so veterinarians and professionals of the farming sector can obtain the highest benefit from this relevant therapeutic strategy.