Feed Sources Develops New Innovative Probiotic for Organic Feed – Bactillus

Feed Sources is pleased to announce the release of Bactillus™—a feed additive approved by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) for organic use that is a safe and cost-effective alternative to antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs). Bactillus™ has been specifically formulated by Feed Sources for dairy and beef cattle, swine, and poultry to enhance their gut health, immunity, and growth.

The Challenge—Environmental Toxins

Nutritionists, feed mills, and other end users are asking for natural alternatives to AGPs to help improve the health and growth of their commercial agriculture. This has been motivated, in part, due to new regulatory requirements and pressure from consumers. In addition, these same consumers are increasingly seeking out organic products that minimize the risk to their health and wellbeing from perceived environmental toxins. 

The Solution– Bactillus™

One promising, health-promoting alternative to AGPs is probiotics that can improve overall gut health. Probiotics are live bacteria that promote an intestinal microbiota balance—resulting in the best environment to promote the absorption of nutrients, digestion, and the immune system. This, in turn, can lead to healthier livestock and optimal growth.

Feed Sources has developed Bactillus™—which is comprised of a proprietary strain of the healthy probiotic Bacillus subtilis. B subtilis is one of the most effective forms of healthy probiotics for commercial agriculture as it:

  • improves gut health by producing beneficial metabolites and antimicrobial peptides and helps prevent the growth of unhealthy bacteria.[i]
  • boosts animals’ immune systems by promoting levels of cytokines and chemokines.[ii]
  • promotes growth.[iii]
  • tolerates harsh environmental conditions, such as low pH and bile salts, which helps deliver live bacteria to the intestinal lining.[iv]
  • has been approved as an animal feed ingredient by both the Association of American Feed Control Officials[v] and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Animal Health and Production Feed Section.[vi]

Additional Benefits of Bactillus™

In addition, Bactillus™ has been specifically formulated and produced to be:

  1. ADDED TO ORGANIC FEED – Bactillus™ is OMRI-approved for organic use
  2. VERSATILE – the supplement can be added to the feed of dairy and beef cattle, swine, and poultry.

To learn more about how Bactillus™ can benefit your commercial agriculture, contact the Feed Sources team at info@feedsources.com or 972-996-6965.

[i] Lee, K., Lillehoj, H.S., Jang, S.I., Lee, S. H., Bautista, D. A. & Siragusa, G. R. (2013). Effect of Bacillus subtilis-based direct-fed microbials on immune status in broiler chickens raised on fresh or used litter. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences, 26, 1592–1597.

[ii] Ibid.

[iii] Gadde, U., Oh, S.T., Lee, Y.S., Davis, E., Zimmerman, N., Rehberger, T. & Lillehoj, H.S. (2017). The effects of direct-fed microbial supplementation, as an alternative to antibiotics, on  growth performance, intestinal immune status, and epithelial barrier gene expression in broiler chickens. Probiotics  and  Antimicrobial Proteins, 9, 1–9.

[iv] Barbosa, T., Serra, C., La Ragione, R., Woodward, M. & Henriques, A. (2005). Screening for Bacillus isolates in the broiler gastrointestinal tract. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 71, 968–978.

[v] Association of American Feed Control Officials (2016). 2016 AAFCO Annual Meeting Agenda Book. Retrieved from https://www.aafco.org/Portals/0/SiteContent/Meetings/Annual/2016/2016_Annual_Final_Agenda.pdf

[vi] Government of Canada (2019). SCHEDULE IV (Section 2, subsection 5(2), section 14 and subsections 22(2), 24(3) and 26(8)). Retrieved from https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-83-593/page-11.html