DIRECT-FED MICROBIALS

Assessing the Benefit Direct Fed Microbials on Food Animal Production

Abstract

The paper describes about the use of antibiotics in livestock and the conditions in animals that require antibiotics. It then describes the issues related to antibiotic use in animals. It describes the concept of DEM, its mode of action, its use in animals and and benefits of DFM in animals in preventing diseases. It also defines the drawbacks of DFM.

Table of Contents

Introduction and Discussion 4

Use of Antibiotic in Livestock Production 5

Effects of Beneficial Bacterial in Animals 6

Direct-Fed Microbials 7

Modes of Action of Direct-Fed Microbials 8

Role of Direct-Fed Microbials in Disease Prevention in Animals 12

Drawbacks of Using Direct Fed Microbials…………………………………………… 14

Drawback of Using Direct Fed Microbials…………………………………………….. 14

Usage of DFM products in Farms……………………………………………………......15

Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………….17

Assessing the Benefit Direct Fed Microbials on Food Animal Production

Introduction

There are many types of antibiotics, which are used in livestock, agriculture, and industry. In agriculture, it is sprayed to eliminate harmful bacteria. In industry, antibiotics are used to inside of pipelines to eliminate harmful bacterial growth. In livestock, antibiotics are used in animals for disease treatment, prophylaxis and their growth promotion. Firstly, the administration of these antibiotics to livestock is a significant cause of emergence of resistant forms of bacteria, which are spreading from one animal to another. The question arises that whether the use of antibiotics in livestock production is causing harm to animal and human health? Secondly, the resistant forms of bacteria are spreading from animals to humans and causing antibiotic resistant-diseases in humans making them susceptible to life-threatening infections.

The effects of antibiotic resistance can be addressed by the use of beneficial bacteria, which can be useful in preventing animals from diseases.These are used as probiotics or direct- fed microbials. The technology of DFM technology is a natural solution for increasing efficiency and decreasing disease problems in animals.

Discussion

Use of Antibiotic in Livestock Production

Antibiotic is a substance that is used in humans and animals to treat diseases and destroying bacteria, thus help in controlling infection. For many decades, various types of antibiotics are added to the food of animal according to their condition and diseases. The use of antibiotic in livestock is necessary to get healthy supply of food and to protect animals from diseases. The antibiotics increase the growth in animals due to:

Inhibition of organisms that compete with the animal host for essential nutrients.

Inhibition of pathogens that are harmful as they produce toxic compounds.

Increased synthesis of stimulatory growth factors by bacteria.

Some bacteria found in the intestinal tract of animals are harmful. For example, chicks grow faster when they get germ-free environment (Phillips, et. al., 2004, 28-52). There are some advantages of using the antibiotics such as

It regulates and promotes animal growth.

It stabilizes the health condition of animal.

It helps in preventing infection.

Clostridium perfringens and E. coli are the commonest causes of disease in calves. Cryptosporidium and coccidia also cause gastrointestinal infections. Viruses such as corona or rotavirus can cause enteritis. Different antibiotics treat calves affected by any of these ...