Understanding probiotics as AGP alternatives in poultry

The use of probiotics as substitutes for antibiotics in poultry production starts with the understanding of how they influence the health and performance of birds. The limited use or ban on the use of in-feed antibiotics increases the demand for alternatives to avoid a decline in animal health and performance and associated economic losses. Probiotics can be defined as live microorganisms which have beneficial effects on the host when fed in adequate amounts. They include microorganisms of di