The continuous demand of consumers for low cost pork
resulted in the intensification of pig production methods
during the last decades, and the extensive administration of
antimicrobials for growth promoting purposes (NRC, 1980;
Fuller, 1992). The antibiotics as growth promoters appear to
act by reducing the pathogenic bacteria and modifying the
microflora in the gut of the animal (Radostits et al., 1994).
However, concern regarding the presence of drug residues
in edible animal products and the potential transfer of
antibiotic resistance to human pathogens has lately been
raised by such administration. For these reasons, alternative
solutions, aiming at both the safety of the consumer and the
profitability of the farmer, are required.
Probiotics are live cultures of harmless bacteria or yeast
species (e.g Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Saccharomyces
etc.) that equilibrate intestinal microflora to the benefit of