Probiotics, defined as live microorganisms that provide a benefit to the host, have been around a long time. As early as 10,000 BC, fermented milk products were being consumed with historical documents from ancient Rome noting the value of fermented milk for treating gastrointestinal infections.
However, it wasn’t until the mid-1800s to early 1900s that beneficial probiotic bacteria in fermented foods were discovered and linked directly to a healthier gut, reduced digestive upset and increased longevity. This led to development of the first probiotic on the market, Yakult®, released in 1935 and still on the shelves today.
When probiotics first entered the market, the development process was relatively rudimentary – selecting for specific purposes and health benefits was limited. However, with time and research, the probiotic landscape has dramatically changed.
The modern probiotic era
Probiotic bacteria now undergo extensive selection processes to ensure they are the best for the job. This may include testing for antibiotic resistance genes, ensuring maximum productivity in pH and temperatures encountered in the gut, stability in feed mixes or ability to carry out a specific function.
At Papillon, we get down to the nitty gritty when it comes to probiotic selection, particularly in our BaciFlex® product line. These regional probiotic blends are designed to aid in pathogen control and support gut integrity for healthier, more productive cows.
We start with the probiotic species Bacillus subtilis. This spore-forming probiotic stays in a stable form until it enters the cow’s digestive system where it begins to grow and exert its anti-pathogenic effects. This means it fits in all types of feed from pellets to tubs to traditional TMR.
Next, we focus on the specific strains within the Bacillus subtilis family. Every probiotic strain works a little differently in the cow. We want to utilize those that are best at inhibiting pathogens, but also provide additional benefits like increasing gut integrity, supporting immune function and optimizing growth of desirable native microbes in the gut.
This leads to a multistep process where those probiotic strains that provide both excellent pathogen inhibition, are then screened to determine which deliver the most comprehensive gut health support.
As the landscape changes, so should the probiotic
And Papillon goes one step further – rather than complete this analysis once, we repeat this process every 3-5 years. This is done through a regional feed and fecal sampling program that represents hundreds of thousands of cows. Not only can we see how pathogens in the environment have shifted over time, but we can also ensure our probiotic products are the most effective at inhibiting today’s pathogens.
What is the net advantage of all this research? The BaciFlex probiotic line delivers a minimum of 95% inhibition of the most prevalent Clostridia, C. perfringens and E. coli, strains, as well as Salmonella control. Across 11 trials it was demonstrated that BaciFlex was shown to increase energy corrected milk on average by 2.3 pounds, with 25% of herds increasing by at least 3.3 pounds.
Although probiotics have been used for thousands of years, recent advances have allowed us to create highly specific, stable and effective probiotic products to provide the most value to the cow of today.
To learn more about how BaciFlex can optimize your cows’ health, reach out to your local Papillon representative and ask about a complimentary on-farm analysis today.
