• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.12
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• pp.1657-1667
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• 2010

Direct-fed microbials (DFM) are dietary supplements that inhibit gastrointestinal infection and provide optimally regulated microbial environments in the digestive tract. As the use of antibiotics in ruminant feeds has been banned, DFM have been emphasized as antimicrobial replacements. Microorganisms that are used in DFM for ruminants may be classified as lactic acid producing bacteria (LAB), lactic acid utilizing bacteria (LUB), or other microorganisms including species of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Enterococcus, Streptococcus, Bacillus and Propionibacterium, strains of Megasphaera elsdenii and Prevotella bryantii and yeast products containing Saccharomyces and Aspergillus. LAB may have beneficial effects in the intestinal tract and rumen. Both LAB and LUB potentially moderate rumen conditions and improve feed efficiency. Yeast DFM may reduce harmful oxygen, prevent excess lactate production, increase feed digestibility, and improve fermentation in the rumen. DFM may also compete with and inhibit the growth of pathogens, stimulate immune function, and modulate microbial balance in the gastrointestinal tract. LAB may regulate the incidence of diarrhea, and improve weight gain and feed efficiency. LUB improved weight gain in calves. DFM has been reported to improve dry matter intake, milk yield, fat corrected milk yield and milk fat content in mature animals. However, contradictory reports about the effects of DFM, dosages, feeding times and frequencies, strains of DFM, and effects on different animal conditions are available. Cultivation and preparation of ready-to-use strict anaerobes as DFM may be cost-prohibitive, and dosing methods, such as drenching, that are required for anaerobic DFM are unlikely to be acceptable as general on-farm practice. Aero-tolerant rumen microorganisms are limited to only few species, although the potential isolation and utilization of aero-tolerant ruminal strains as DFM has been reported. Spore forming bacteria are characterized by convenience of preparation and effectiveness of DFM delivery to target organs and therefore have been proposed as DFM strains. Recent studies have supported the positive effects of DFM on ruminant performance.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.819-828
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• 2007

Two experiments were conducted to observe the effects of direct fed microbials on metabolic characteristics in sheep and milking performance in dairy cows. A metabolic trial with four ruminally cannulated sheep(60±6kg) was conducted in a 4×4 Latin square design to investigate the supplementation effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Clostridium butyricum or mixed microbes of S. cerevisiae and C. butyricum on ruminal fermentation characteristics and whole tract digestibility. Sheep were fed 1.25 kg of total mixed ration(TMR, DM basis) supplemented with S. cerevisiae (2.5g/day), C. butyricum (1.0g/day) or its mixture(S. cerevisiae 1.25g/day+C. butyricum 1g/day), twice daily in an equal volume. But control sheep were fed only TMR. A feeding trial with 28 lactating Holstein cattle was also conducted for 12 weeks to investigate the effects of the same microbial supplements as for the metabolic trial on milking performance. The cows were fed the TMR(control), and fed S. cerevisiae(50g/day), C. butyricum(15g/day) or its mixture (S. cerevisiae 25g/day + C. butyricum 7.5g/day) with upper layer dressing method. Total VFA concentration and the digestibility of whole digestive tract in the sheep increased by supplementation of S. cerevisiae, C. butyricum or their combined microbials compare to control group. The proportion of propionic acid at 1h(P<0.039) and 3h(P<0.022) decreased by supplementation of S. cerevisiae while tended to increase acetic acid proportion at the same times. Daily dry matter intake(DMI) was not influenced by the microbial treatments, but milk yield(P<0.031) and feed efficiency(milk yield/DMI, P<0.043) were higher for the cow received C. butyricum than those for other treatments. The milk fat content was higher (P<0.085) when cows fed S. cerevisiae(4.11%) than that fed the control (4.08%), the diets with C. butyricum (3.85%) and the microbial mixture. Based on the results obtained from the current experiments, supplementation of C. butyricum or mixture with S. cerevisiae might be increased milk fat content and milk productivity of lactating daily cows. (Key words:Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Clostridium butyricum, Fermentation characteristics,

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.85-91
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• 2004

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary direct-fed microbials(DFM) on the growth performance and nutrient digestibility in broiler chickens. A total of two hundred eighty eight broiler chickens were randomly allocated into six treaments with four replications and fed for five weeks. Dietary treatments included 1) CON (basal diet), 2) DFM-1(basal diet + 0.2% Enterococcus sp. ＆ Lactobacillus reuteri), 3) DFM-2(basal diet + 0.2% Enterococcus sp. ＆ Lactobacillus plantarum), 4) DFM-3(basal diet + 0.2% Enterococcus sp. ＆ Lactobacillus reuteri ＆ Lactobacillus plantarum), 5) DFM-4(basal diet + 0.2% Enterococcus sp. ＆ Lactobacillus reuteri ＆ Lactobacillus plantarum ＆ Yeast), 6) DFM-5(basal diet + 0.2% Enterococcus sp. ＆ Lactobacillus reuteri ＆ Lactobacillus plantarum ＆ Bacillus subtilis). During the period of 1∼3weeks, average daily gain (ADG) and Feed/Gain were not significant different among treatments. In the later(3∼5weeks) and overall period(l∼ 5weeks), ADG and Feed/Gain tended to be improved in DFM treatments compared to the control. However, there were no significant differences among DFM complexes and between control and DFM treatments. The broilers fed DFM-3 diet was showd poor growth performance compared to the broilers fed DFM-l diet and similar to the broilers fed DFM-2 diet but there was no significant differences. The treatments of DFM-4 diet added Yeast and DFM-5 added Bacillus subtilis were improved in ADG and Feed/gain but no significant differences were found and also there was no specific DFM treatments in experiment period. In digestibility, the broiler chicks fed DFM treatments tended to improve N digestibility compared to control treatment. However, they were not significantly different among the treatments. In conclusion, DFM tended to improve growth performance in later stage of broiler.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.441-445
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• 2001

For the developement of probiotics, three strains haying psychorophilic and salt tolerant characteristics were isolated from Kimchi. Among the isolated strains, MGl9, MG89 and MG208 were identified as Lactobacillus brevis, Enterococcus faecium and Lactobacillus plantarum, respectively. The relationship between cryoprotectant and the viability of freeze dried strains has been studied. The most effective cryoprotectant for MGl9 was found to be 10% skim milk contained 1% soluble starch haying the survival rate of 71.4%. In MG89, 10% skim milk contained 1% sucrose and 10% skim milk contained l% fructose in MG208 were showed effective cryoprotectant having the survival rate 68.9% and 64.7%. respectively These results suggest that these isolated strains can play an important role as probiotics in aquaculture.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.87-95
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• 2008

Probiotics are live organisms that when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on hosts. The administration of direct-fed microbials (DFM) such as lactobacilli and bacillus, may be a more direct approach to beneficially alter gastrointestinal microflora than altering dietary ingredients or supplementing with growth-promoting levels of antibiotics. It is apparent that microbes have an important influence on immune development and resistance to infection; that microbes are not static colonizers of our bodies, but are dynamic, symbiotic coresidents. And it can improve the surrounding environments; decrease the malodor caused by degrade the excrement. Recently, new paradigm such as environment protection and safe food have been settled. In domestic farm house, there is a great demand for probiotics as a substitute of antibiotics for the improvement of environmental quality and the production of a competitive goods. Probiotics circulated in a country have three categories: an animal medicine permitted by national veterinary research quarantine service (NVRQS), a support feed registered in city or country house, and not-registered goods. However, lots of unqualified goods were produced and circulated. And thus, it is in urgent need of evaluating the present situation and effect of probiotics. This study was conducted to evaluate the system of a probiotics as a livestock-environment improving agents for the alternation of antibiotics and quality control of it.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.18 no.sup
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• pp.47-54
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• 2012

Effect of commercial Direct Fed Microbials (DFM) or protease treated feed (PTF) supplementation on growth rate and biogenic substances such as BUN, glucose, IgG, GOT, GPT and Vitamin A, C, E from Holstein steers was studied for 7 months. Thirty two steers aged 2~3 months were separated with 4 groups for control, DFM (PS), protease (ES) and their mix (PS + ES) supplementally fed 0, 100, 100 and 50 + 50 g/day respectively. Weight gain was averagely higher in PS than any others, although there were no differences significantly. All treatments enhanced to 3~8% of control in dry matter, crude protein and total digestible nutrient (P>0.05). Metabolic diseases with veterinary cure had not shown in this study. Plasma GOT and GPT were lower in the PS and ES than control. Plasma glucose concentration was also lower in PS than the others. Total cholesterol of ES was higher than the others but that of PS is the lowest. Plasma vitamin C was higher in PS than the others. It was shown that dietary PS affected change from glucose to vitamin C with not overloading liver. Conclusionally, PS and ES were shown to enhance metabolic health of steers during growing period.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.493-499
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• 2011

The objective of this study was to find the way to prolong the storage time of sawdust-based oyster mushroom (Pleurotus osteratus) spent substrate (OMSS) by fermenting with potential probiotic microorganisms to recycle the otherwise waste of mushroom farms. To this purpose, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were screened to select the best lactic acid-producing strains. Three strains of LAB (Lactobacillus plantarum Lp1', Pediococcus acidilacticii Pa193, L. plantarum Lp2M) were selected and in mixture they lowered the pH of the fermented OMSS to 3.81. fOMSS (fermented sawdust-based oyster mushroom spent substrate) could be stored at room temperature for at least 17 days without any deterioration of feed quality based on the pH, smell, and color. In dry matter disappearance rate in situ, commercial TMR (total mixed ration), OMSS and OMMM (oyster mushroom mycelium mass) showed no significant differences between the samples after 6, 12 and 24 h incubation except for 48 h. Two separate field studies were performed to test the effects of fOMSS supplement on the growth performance of postweaning Holstein calves. Field trials included groups of animals feeding calf starter supplemented with: Control (no supplement), AB (colistin 0.08% and oxyneo 110/110 0.1%), fOMSS (10% fOMSS) and fConc (10% fermented concentrate) and DFM (direct-fed microbials, average $10^9$ cfu for each of three LAB/d/head). Growth performance (average daily gain and feed efficiency) of the fOMSS supplement group was higher than that of AB followed by fConc and DFM even though there was no statistically significant difference. The Control group was lower than any other group. Various hematological values including IgG, IgA, RBC (red blood cell), hemoglobin, and hematocrit were measured every 10 days to check any unusual abnormality for all groups in trial I and II, and they were within a normal and safe range. Our results suggest that sawdust-based OMSS could be recycled after fermentation with three probiotic LAB strains as a feed supplement for post-weaning calves, and fOMSS has the beneficial effects of an alternative to antibiotics for a growth enhancer in dairy calves.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.307-314
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• 2006

To search direct fed microbials, we isolated a Candida sp. from kefir grain. The isolated Candida sp. strain showed 99.8% of identity to the species of Candida kefyr by API 20C kit. Enzyme activity of Candida kefyr was higher in amylase (0.33±1.12μmol/min/mg) than that in phytase (0.052±0.98μmol/ min/mg) cellulase(0.051±μmol/min/mg) and xylanase (0.011±0.98mol/min/mg). The maximum numbers of Candida kefyr in growth curve were reached at 30 h fermentation. Candida kefyr showed high resistances to acidic environment, which was not perfectly extincted even at pH 2.0. And it showed high tolerance to bile salt which had almost 97.2% of survival in the presence of 1.0% bile salt.Especially, Candida kefyr showed high heat stability which remained 10% of initial microorganisms at 60℃. Candida kefyr was not generally inhibited by most of 11 antibiotic agent which contained tetracycline groups. These results suggest that the isolated Candida kefyr has a useful properties as probiotics.