As antibiotic-resistant infections continue to rank among the world's most pressing health threats, Evonik says a major advance in poultry probiotics could help curb one of the key drivers behind the crisis: the widespread use of antibiotics in livestock production.

 

According to the World Health Organization, antibiotic-resistant bacteria are among the greatest global health risks facing humanity. More than one million people died directly from antibiotic-resistant pathogens in 2021, and experts warn that annual deaths could climb to nearly two million by 2050 if current trends continue.

 

A significant contributor to the rise of resistance is the excessive use of antibiotics, particularly in agriculture.

 

“Seventy-three percent of all antibiotics used worldwide are administered in livestock farming – therapeutically, prophylactically, and as growth promoters. Hence, this is the most effective point of intervention to counteract the further development of resistance,” explains Stefan Pelzer, Head of Microbiome Research at Evonik.

 

To reduce dependence on antibiotic growth promoters, Evonik Animal Nutrition has developed a portfolio of feed additives, including butyric acid, plant-based ingredients and probiotics. The market for animal-feed probiotics is already worth approximately US$4 billion globally and is expanding at around seven percent annually.

 

Now, Evonik researchers say they have achieved a significant breakthrough with Ecobiol, the company's established poultry probiotic, creating a next-generation product designed to deliver faster and more consistent performance in the animal gut.

 

The breakthrough emerged from research conducted at Evonik's Biotech Hub in Halle (Westphalia), where scientists focus on understanding biological systems and improving biotechnology-based products.

 

Ecobiol supports gut health and immune function while helping suppress harmful pathogens such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella and Clostridium. 

 

Among the most damaging poultry pathogens is Clostridium perfringens, which causes subclinical necrotic enteritis, a disease that damages the intestinal lining, stunts growth and can lead to premature death. The disease is estimated to cost the poultry industry between US$4 billion and US$6 billion each year.

 

Researchers focused on improving the performance of Bacillus velezensis CECT 5940, the spore-forming bacterial strain at the heart of Ecobiol.

 

“With spore-forming bacteria such as Bacillus velezensis CECT 5940, which Ecobiol® is based on, the key factor is how quickly and at what point in the digestive system they transform into active, vegetative cells,” says Pelzer.

 

Using DAISy, Evonik's proprietary Dynamic Avian Intestine in vitro System, scientists tracked how the spores behave during digestion and identified a critical factor: the manufacturing process itself significantly influences how quickly the bacteria become active in the gut.

 

Those findings led to the development of Ecobiol PRO, a reformulated product that achieves faster germination in the intestine without altering the bacterial strain.

 

The accelerated outgrowth allows beneficial bacteria to multiply sooner and more effectively compete against disease-causing microbes in the small intestine.

 

Independent research conducted at Oklahoma State University demonstrated the impact. In broiler chickens challenged with Clostridium perfringens, the enhanced probiotic improved survival rates by 50 percent compared with a standard market probiotic and significantly reduced intestinal damage.

 

Evonik also tested Ecobiol PRO across a broad range of feed formulations used in different regions and stages of poultry production. According to the company, the product consistently delivered rapid germination and bacterial growth, while competing probiotics showed slower or more variable performance.

 

The company believes the implications extend well beyond poultry production.

 

With Ecobiol PRO, Evonik aims to provide producers with a more effective tool to maintain flock health while reducing antibiotic use.

 

“These findings are not only relevant for animal nutrition but also for a wide range of other applications involving Bacillus-based products – whether in nutrition, personal care, oral hygiene, agriculture, or cleaning products,” says Pelzer.