Development of probiotic for livestock feeds

Drawing on gut microbiome research findings to help ensure safe and secure livestock production

Asahi’s portfolio of microbe-based technologies is the work of many years of research, and is being used to create techniques for helping ensure healthy livestock farming. Calsporin® is a probiotic developed for use in livestock feed. Asahi’s vets and other specialist technicians visit livestock production sites and work on technical solutions that assist sales while helping producers solve any issues they are facing. These activities are currently being expanded throughout Japan, the Western nations and elsewhere.

Calsporin® assists health maintenance by regulating livestock gut microbiomes.

The gut environment plays a major role in livestock health. A continuous supply of Calsporin® has been found to create a preponderance of beneficial bacteria varieties that are vulnerable to stress (lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria). Optimizing the gut microbiome makes it possible to maintain livestock health, promote weight gain and improve feed efficiency without relying on antibiotics.
These benefits have been officially recognized, earning Calsporin® a designation as a feed additive by Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. The product was designated as a livestock probiotic for use in cattle and pig feed in 1995, and for use in chicken feed in 1996.
Calsporin® is a livestock probiotic that has been designated as a feed additive for cattle,horses, swines, chickens,and quails by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

Technical solution activities to address issues at livestock production sites

The gut microbiome constantly changes depending on livestock type, age and farming environment. To maximize Calsporin®’s benefits, Asahi’s vets and other specialized technicians visit livestock production sites. They examine the state of livestock gut microbiomes while maximizing probiotic effectiveness by providing advice on livestock farming and feeding. Asahi has created labs in Japan, the US, China and Thailand that are used for gut microbiome analysis and development of applications designed to address site-specific challenges. These field-specific activities help the Group gain experience and gather data, while also helping livestock producers improve their knowledge and adopt new attitudes. The gains made in feed efficiency and bedding recycling efficiency also help reduce environmental impact.