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ARS Home » Plains Area » College Station, Texas » Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center » Food and Feed Safety Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #305876
Title: The role of direct-fed microbials in conventional livestock production

Author
item BUNTYN, J - University Of Nebraska
item SCHMIDT, T - University Of Nebraska
item Nisbet, David
item Callaway, Todd

Submitted to: Review Article
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/5/2016
Publication Date: 2/18/2016
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/62068
Citation: Buntyn, J.O., Schmidt, T.B., Nisbet, D.J., Callaway, T.R. 2016. The role of direct-fed microbials in conventional livestock production. Annual Review of Animal Biosciences. 4:335-355.

Interpretive Summary: Low-dose supplementation of antibiotics has been a valuable tool for American food production by improving growth and feed efficiency and increasing the overall health of livestock. However, this has come under scrutiny due to the increased prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Companies worldwide are investing capital and resources to identify probiotic preparations or “Direct Fed Microbials" (DFM) that can be utilized to replace low-dose antibiotics. The data reported in this review identifies the various benefits of animal health, food safety, and current use of DFM in livestock agriculture. We will continue to observe an increase in DFM utilization as pressure from the consuming public to move away from low dose antibiotics increases and as new, more effective, and specifically tailored DFM are identified.

Technical Abstract: Low-dose supplementation of antibiotics has been a valuable tool for American food production by improving growth and feed efficiency and increasing the overall health of livestock. However, this practice has been under scrutiny due to the increased prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Consumers have begun to demand a reduction or ban on the use of low-dose antibiotics. Companies worldwide are investing capital and resources to identify probiotic preparations or “Direct Fed Microbials" (DFM) that can be utilized to replace low-dose antibiotics. The data reported in this review identifies the various benefits of animal health, food safety, and current use of DFM in livestock agriculture. While the amount of DFM’s commercially utilized within livestock agriculture is difficult to determine, it is clear that we are seeing a surge in acceptance and use in the animal industry. We will continue to observe an increase in utilization as pressure from the consuming public to move away from low dose antibiotics increases and as new, more effective, and specifically tailored DFM are identified.