Russian scientists have identified beneficial microorganisms in the digestive tract of pheasants that produce natural antibacterial substances called bacteriocins. These microorganisms may become the basis for creating new bioproducts for agriculture that will help increase animal productivity and strengthen their immunity, according to the Russian Science Foundation.
In modern poultry farming, more and more attention is being paid to reducing the use of antibiotics, increasing productivity, and strengthening the immunity of birds. One of the promising solutions to these problems may be the use of probiotics — preparations based on beneficial bacteria. As reported by the press service of the Russian Science Foundation, probiotics have a beneficial effect on the composition of the intestinal microflora, which contributes to the overall health of birds and other animals.
Beneficial bacteria are an integral part of the intestinal microflora of birds. However, their balance can be disrupted, which necessitates bioproducts containing these microorganisms. Isolating the dominant cultures of bacteria from the intestines of birds opens the way to creating probiotic preparations that effectively combat pathogenic microflora.
Previous studies have shown that the intestinal microflora of pheasants is characterized by a high diversity of symbiotic bacteria, which perform important functions in digestion and protect the body from pathogenic microorganisms. Therefore, the microflora of these birds can become a source of valuable strains with probiotic potential.
The project leader, supported by a grant from the Russian Science Foundation, Professor of the Department of Veterinary Medicine of the Russian State Agrarian University — Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy Albina Luneva said that the new study allowed for a better understanding of the diversity of the intestinal microflora of pheasants — birds popular for breeding on farms and in hunting farms. In addition, scientists have isolated pure cultures of lactobacteria, which may be used as probiotics to maintain the health of farm animals.
The researchers intend to analyze the safety of the isolated cultures, more thoroughly study their probiotic properties, and, based on this knowledge, create microbial compositions (probiotics, synbiotics) that can be used in the process of raising poultry.
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