Probiotics and prebiotics offer safer alternatives to antibiotics in animal agriculture

A new study by researchers at Shinshu University highlights the essential role of gut microbiota in livestock health and productivity. The researchers show how probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics can safely enhance growth and immunity, and balance the growth of intestinal microbes, offering practical alternatives to antibiotics. As global restrictions on antibiotic use intensify, the findings support sustainable livestock management and contribute to reducing antimicrobial resistance risks.

Maintaining a healthy gut microbiota is increasingly recognized as a cornerstone of livestock productivity. A balanced gut microbiota enables efficient nutrient digestion, optimal immune function, and overall improved performance in livestock. However, for decades, antibiotics have been widely used as growth promoters and disease preventives—an approach that has contributed to the rise of antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) bacteria. AMR poses a global public health challenge, as resistant strains can spread from livestock to humans through food, water, or the environment. This concern has led to the approach of promoting safer food systems, enhancing overall public health and minimizing environmental hazards.

Against this backdrop, a new study led by a Ph.D. student, Mr. Rayhan Chowdhury and Dr. Takeshi Shimosato from the Graduate School of Medicine and Technology, Shinshu University, Japan, demonstrates that probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics (P/P/S) can play a transformative role in improving growth, strengthening immunity, and reducing antibiotic dependence in animal agriculture. Their study was published in Volume 49 of the journal Veterinary Research Communications on October 20, 2025.

Mr. Chowdhury shares the motivation behind the study, “Promoting gut health through targeted microbial interventions is a safer and more sustainable strategy than depending on antibiotic growth promoters, and we wanted to explore microbe-based options.”

To understand the effects of P/P/S, the researchers conducted a literature review of articles published between 2015 and 2025. The review highlights multiple real-world applications of P/P/S in livestock systems. Probiotics supply beneficial live microorganisms, prebiotics provide nutrients that selectively stimulate good bacteria, and synbiotics combine both for a synergistic effect. Their use as natural growth promoters can help increase weight gain and improve feed efficiency, while also enhancing nutrient digestibility. Regular supplementation may reduce the incidence of gastrointestinal infections, support immune development, and maintain microbial balance during stress or disease outbreaks. Importantly, these interventions also minimize antibiotic residues in meat, milk, and manure, helping prevent environmental contamination and ensuring safer food systems. Overall, this study outlines how P/P/S can be tailored to different livestock species and production environments, offering flexible and scalable solutions for farmers.

According to the study, the implications for society and industry are significant. By reducing antibiotic use in livestock production, P/P/S strategies help lower the selection pressure that drives antimicrobial resistance. This contributes to global health protection efforts while promoting more sustainable and ethical farming practices. With regulatory policies tightening restrictions on non-therapeutic antibiotic use, the adoption of P/P/S is likely to gain further momentum worldwide.

“We hope our work encourages farmers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to adopt microbe-based solutions that benefit both animal and public health,” says Mr. Hassan, co-author of this publication.

The researchers were motivated by the urgent need to address AMR while ensuring continued productivity in the livestock sector. Their findings offer a scientific foundation for integrating P/P/S into animal feeding systems, providing natural, safe, and effective tools to promote livestock growth, protect immunity, and safeguard the food chain. This study further underscores the strong societal implications for promoting safer food systems and protecting public health.

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About Shinshu University

Shinshu University is a national university founded in 1949 and located nestling under the Japanese Alps in Nagano known for its stunning natural landscapes.

Shinshu University was selected for the Forming Japan’s Peak Research Universities (J-PEAKS) Program by the Japanese government. This initiative seeks to promote the formation of university consortia that will enhance research capabilities across Japan.

Our motto, "Powered by Nature - strengthening our network with society and applying nature to create innovative solutions for a better tomorrow" reflects the mission of fostering promising creative professionals and deepening the collaborative relationship with local communities, which leads to our contribution to regional development by innovation in various fields. We’re working on providing solutions for building a sustainable society through interdisciplinary research fields: material science (carbon, fiber and composites), biomedical science (for intractable diseases and preventive medicine) and mountain science, and aiming to boost research and innovation capability through collaborative projects with distinguished researchers from the world. For more information visit https://www.shinshu-u.ac.jp/english/ or follow us on X (Twitter) @ShinshuUni for our latest news.

About  Mr. Rayhan Chowdhury from Shinshu University, Japan

Mr. Rayhan Chowdhury is a Ph.D. student at the Graduate School of Medicine, Science and Technology, Shinshu University, Japan. His research spans public health, the COVID-19 pandemic, molecular breeding, plant physiology, and microbiology. With strong skills in polymerase chain reaction and molecular genetics, he works as a Research Assistant in Sujat Ahmed’s Molecular Genetics Laboratory. He has 23 publications and 75 citations, reflecting active scientific engagement and collaboration.