Low/high dose probiotic supplements and methods of their use

摘要

Methods and compositions are hereby disclosed for reducing the numbers of E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella or other pathogens in an animal. The methods include administering to the animal a lactic acid producing bacterium at a relatively low dosage in combination with a lactate utilizing bacterium, followed by administration of the lactic acid producing bacterium at a relatively high dosage. The disclosed methods help achieve pre-harvest food safety and enhance feed performance while keeping the total cost relatively low. The preferred lactic acid producing bacterium is Lactobacillus acidophilus/animalis and the preferred lactate utilizing bacterium is Propionibacterium freudenreichii.

主权项

1. A method for reducing the numbers of pathogens and/or for enhancing feed efficiency in cattle, said method comprising:
(a) administering to said cattle at least one lactic acid producing bacterium for at least 30 days, wherein said lactic acid producing bacterium is administered to said cattle at a dosage of between 1×105 and 5×107 colony forming units (CFU) per day; and (b) administering to said cattle at least one lactic acid producing bacterium for at least 20 days, wherein said lactic acid producing bacterium is administered to said cattle at a dosage of between 5×108 and 5×109 CFU per day, wherein step (a) precedes step (b), said step (a) being started 120-360 days prior to harvesting said cattle and continued to 20-60 days prior to harvesting, wherein the time period between end of step (a) and start of step (b) is from 0 to 10 days.