ABSTRACT
This chapter summarizes the use of probiotics for prevention of bacterial diseases in poultry, as well as demonstrating the potential role of probiotics in the growth performance and immune response of poultry, safety and whole-someness of dressed poultry meat evidencing consumer's protection. The poultry industry has become an important economic activity in many countries. In large-scale rearing facilities, where poultry are exposed to stressful conditions, problems related to diseases and deterioration of environmental conditions often occur and result in serious economic losses. The impact of biotechnology in poultry nutrition is of significant importance. Biotechnology plays a vital role in the poultry feed industry. Probiotics are 'live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host'. Thus, the concept of probiotics constitutes an important aspect of applied biotechnological research and therefore as opposed to antibiotics and chemotherapeutic agents can be employed for growth promotion in poultry.
