| abstract |
A defined probiotic or composition of anaerobic bacteria effective for controlling or inhibiting Salmonella colonization of fowl. The probiotic includes populations or cultures of substantially biologically pure bacteria, which bacteria include: (a) at least one Lactobacillus species; (b) one or both of: Lactococcus lactis, and Citrobacter freundii; and (c) at least one of: one or more Enterococcus species, one or more Bifidobacterium species, one or more Propionibacterium species, and one or more Escherichia species. In use, the probiotic is administered to the subject fowl in an amount effective for inhibiting Salmonella colonization thereof. The invention also relates to a novel method for isolating probiotics which are effective for controlling or inhibiting Salmonella colonization of fowl, from fecal droppings or cecal contents of adult fowl. The droppings or cecal contents are combined with a culture medium and incubated without dilution (i.e. batch culture) under anaerobic conditions. Following this preliminary incubation, the resultant culture is subjected to continuous flow conditions until a steady state is achieved, after which time the steady state culture may be recovered for use as a probiotic. |