Bacillus subtilis: applications in the livestock and poultry industry in recent years: review

Abstract

Probiotics, as an alternative to antibiotics, are one of the better choices for ensuring product quality and food safety. Bacillus subtilis is often used in different forms, such as powder, granule, and liquid, in the livestock and poultry industry to produce feed and food additives and other products due to its advantages of high stability, low pathogenicity, high protein secretion capacity, and developed fermentation technology. This article reviews the biological characteristics, physiological functions, and effects on livestock and poultry production, as well as their mechanisms of action, to enhance the positive impact of the rational use of Bacillus subtilis as an additive in animal husbandry, such as feed and livestock food. In addition, this article also evaluates the potential of Bacillus subtilis to mitigate the negative effects of livestock and agricultural cultivation on the environment.