An energetic and beautiful dog is the pride of every dog owner.
Feeding selected
cultures of lactic acid-producing bacteria and yeast boosts the health and performance
of dogs, according to many owners.
Understanding the benefits of direct-fed microbial
cultures, also known as probiotics, can help you decide when to use these products with
your dog.
Key organism in these foods was identified as Lactobacillus acidophilus, a
lactic acid-producing bacteria . The lactic acid-producing bacteria are so named for
their ability to produce lactate. However, lactate production is only one of many benefits
derived from this collection of bacteria. The lactic acid-producing bacteria most
frequently featured in direct-fed microbial products include Lactobacillus acidophilus,
Streptococcus (Enterococcus) faecium and Lactobacillus lactis.
For many centuries, people have observed that their animals were healthier when fed
feedstuffs resulting from yeast fermentation.
Yeast are fungi, or one-cell organisms that reproduce by budding, or producing daughter cells. The yeast species most utilized by the direct-fed microbial industry are Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Aspergillus oryzae.
Based on the work of Metchnikoff and others, scientists developed the idea of directly
feeding live, lactic acid-producing bacteria and yeast to animals for improving their
health and performance.
The observed benefits may result from:
1. Competition for
attachment sites in the digestive tract
2. Competition for essential nutrients
3. Production of antimicrobial substances
4. Increasing the growth of beneficial bacteria
and
5. Stimulating the immune system.
Competition For Attachment Sites In The Digestive Tract
Some disease-causing bacteria reduce an animal’s ability to absorb nutrients by
disrupting the lining of the small intestine.
Studies indicate that the lactic acid producing bacteria attach to the small intestine and produce a substance to prevent
disease-causing organisms from binding to the intestinal wall
. In addition, the
attachment of the beneficial bacteria may increase the absorptive surface area of the
small intestine and enhance enzyme activity for greater nutrient absorption by the animal.
Competition for Essential Nutrients
Bacteria, both health-promoting and disease-causing, require certain nutrients for
growth.
Lactic acid-producing bacteria could utilize vitamins, amino acids or other
nutrients that might otherwise support the growth of harmful bacteria.
Production Of Antimicrobial Substances
Considerable research has focused on the ability of direct-fed microbial cultures to
produce substances that inhibit disease-causing organisms. Lactic, acetic and formic.
