Probiotics in Poultry Farming and their Effects on Gut Microbiota, Immunity and Productivity: A Review
Bruna Brasil Oliveira
National Rural Apprenticeship Service, Alagoas, Brazil.
Saul de Campos de Melo Almeida
National Rural Apprenticeship Service, Alagoas, Brazil.
Arthur Costa Pereira Santiago de Almeida
Engineering and Agricultural Sciences Campus, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Alagoas, Brazil.
Lívia Ribeiro da Silva
Engineering and Agricultural Sciences Campus, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Alagoas, Brazil.
Yamina Coentro Montaldo
Engineering and Agricultural Sciences Campus, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Alagoas, Brazil.
Tania Marta Carvalho dos Santos
Engineering and Agricultural Sciences Campus, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Alagoas, Brazil.
João Manoel da Silva *
Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia de Alagoas, Campus Santana do Ipanema, Alagoas, Brazil.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Poultry farming in Brazil is one of the agricultural activities that is gradually evolving, making the country the third largest producer and exporter of chicken meat in the world. Antibiotic supplementation has traditionally been used to stabilize the intestinal microbiota, accelerate production, and prevent poultry diseases. However, due to the emergence and spread of resistant bacteria, viable alternatives to antibiotics, such as probiotics, have been sought. While existing studies have explored the benefits of probiotics in poultry, there is a lack of comprehensive reviews that systematically analyze their mechanisms of action, effects on gut microbiota, immunity, and overall productivity. This review aims to fill this gap by compiling and analyzing recent research on the use of probiotics in poultry farming, focusing on their role in enhancing nutrient utilization, improving gut health, and modulating immune responses. A total of 364 articles were reviewed, with 206 selected for detailed analysis. The findings demonstrate that probiotics promote metabolic processes of digestion and nutrient utilization, influence enzymatic activities, increase the absorptive surface of microvilli, and enable optimal nutrient use. This review provides a comprehensive understanding of how probiotics can be effectively integrated into poultry farming to improve productivity and health, offering insights for future research and practical applications in the industry.
Keywords: Gastrointestinal tract, intestinal microbiome, animal health, antibiotic, probiotics