Prebiotics and gut microflora in Poultry
The focus of Poultry Nutrition is on feed additives which improve performance and health of the birds by modulating gastrointestinal tract. Prebiotics fit into this category.
Prebiotics are feed additives which help in improving overall performance of bird by improving gut health.Prebiotics are non-digestible carbohydrates that selectively stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria and improve the overall health of the host.
Prebiotics serve as substrates for microbial population residing in GI tract. They help microbes to increase their number and generate metabolites which are antagonistic to unhealthy pathogens in poultry. Prebiotics also stimulate certain mechanisms which improve immune response of host.
Prebiotics as defined by Gibson and Roberfroid (1995) are non-digestible food ingredients that promote one or more number of beneficial bacteria in the GIT, enhance GIT health and potentially improve host health.
Prebiotic reaches the intestine of the chicken without being digested in the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract and are selectively utilized by certain bacteria considered beneficial to the host.
Prebiotics helps in generation of short-chain fatty acids and lactic acid as microbial fermentation products, a decreased rate of pathogen colonization, and potential bird health benefits.
A prebiotic must have following characteristics.
- A prebiotic must not get hydrolyzed or absorbed in upper GI tract.
- A Prebiotic serve as nutrient source which supports growth and/or metabolic activity of benficial gut microflora.
- A Prebiotic is part of process which improves health and performance of host.
Non-digestible carbohydrates such asfructo-oligosaccharides (FOS),galactooligosaccharides (GOS), mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS) falls in category of prebiotc.
Prebiotics are expected to have some impact on the bird’s immune system. Some prebiotics such as MOS are directly interactive as antigens and are considered capable of increasing immune signals in birds.
