<i>Bacillus subtilis</i> natto as a potential probiotic in animal nutrition

Abstract

The growing global demand for animal products and processed meat has created a challenge for the livestock sector to enhance animal productivity without compromising product quality. The restriction of antibiotics in animal feeds as growth promoters makes the use of probiotics a natural and safe alternative to obtain functional foods that provide animal health and quality and to maintain food safety for consumers. To incorporate these additives into the diet, detailed studies are required, in which in vitro and in vivo assays are used to prove the efficacy and to ensure the safety of probiotic candidate strains. Studies on the use of Bacillus subtilis natto as a spore-forming probiotic bacterium in animal nutrition have shown no hazardous effects and have demonstrated the effectiveness of