| | The Nutrition Physiology Co. LLC., (NPC) is actively promoting PoultriMax® as an integrated solution to the control of foodborne pathogens. Their products comprise both a hatchery-administered spray or gel to colonize the intestinal tract of chicks and poults with a viable suspension of a specific strain of Lactobacillus animalis (commercially-L.acidophilus) and a complementary probiotic feed additive. |
Colonization of the beneficial organism established in the hatchery is then reinforced and extended by administration in feed during the growing period. Effective administration of PoultriMax® which incorporates a live Lactobacillus animalis in feed for growing flocks is achieved by using a patented post-pelleting application process.
The introduction of “beneficial” microorganisms into the pioneer flora should enhance protection against pathogenic food-borne bacteria and enhance production. The Food and Agricultural Organization defines probiotics as live micro-organisms, which when consumed in adequate amounts, can elicit beneficial health effects for the host.
The FAO has determined the following characteristics of acceptable probiotics to achieve a beneficial effect:-
- The probiotic strain must remain stable during preparation, reconstitution and administration and retain inherent beneficial metabolic characteristics after ingestion.
- The strain must reach the intended site in the intestinal tract to achieve beneficial effects, despite exposure to an acid environment in the stomach and potential degradation by digestive enzymes.
- Probiotics must exert a beneficial effect without any deleterious side effects.