Project

Problem

Infectious diseases of the small ruminants intestine caused by pathogens are one of the most serious problems in livestock, causing reduced productivity, ailing health and necessitating heavy chemical drug use. In view of the recent criticism on synthetic drugs, the use of probiotics or other alternative substances such as plant secondary metabolites (PSM) in food to promote animal production, health and welfare are gaining ground. The program will focus on the conversion of agro-industrial waste resources into value added products such as high nutritional value animal feed.

What to do

Solution

To this perspective, isolation and identification of indigenous bacterial strains (such as lactic acid bacteria) that exhibit probiotic properties, in combination with/or PSMs (such as tannins) to control microbial infections of the intestine in lambs, will lead to decreasing unwanted drug residues, while promoting the function of the gastrointestinal track, the absorbance of food substances, the response of the immune system and overall the animal health. Innovative analytical tools will be used to test the efficacy of selected PSM-rich resources and/or probiotic resources as antiparasitic/antibacterial agents and to unveil their mode of action on gastrointestinal parasites and coccidia (Eimeria spp.) and bacteria (Escherichia coli/Salmonella spp.) of sheep/goats.

How to do it

Methodology

During on-farm studies, the efficacy of waste/by-products recourses and probiotics will be measured on animals’ growth performance and nutrition, gut parasites and microbiota, to assess their effects on animals’ health and welfare and confirm their activity. Comparisons will be made with parasitological, microbiological and production results to previous applied approaches when control of parasites and bacteria was relying solely on commercial veterinary drugs. The social and economical impact of the developed technological innovation on the communities of stakeholders will be analysed, and the results will be translated in impact (economic, social), decision support tools, and dissemination activities through training courses.

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