ABSTRACT
In the last two decades, the use of probiotics for animals has been increasing exponentially. This new approach ranges from livestock, poultry, pets, and aquatic animals and has been applied to the diet of animals as feed additive. It positively affects the animal performance and welfare through the modulation of the gut microbiota which plays a critical role in maintaining host health. The most commonly used probiotic microorganisms in animal feed are those belonging to the lactic acid bacteria group, since they are considered safe by regulatory agencies in this area. Additionally, they are recognized by protecting animals against pathogens, enhancing their immune response, and reducing antibiotics use. Since 2006, the European Union has banished the use of antibiotics as growth promoters in animal production and the employment of probiotics as a natural and safer alternative to reduce their massive use was boosted. This chapter explores the main targets for probiotics’ use in ruminants (cattle, goat, and sheep), poultry, aquatic, and monogastric animals (dogs and cats). The mechanism of action and the current knowledge on the contribution of probiotic lactic acid bacteria to the well-being of the animal intestinal microbiota will also be discussed.
