Probiotics work with or without antibiotics

Feed additive antibiotics, including ionophores, are effective in broilers but concerns are increasing as a result of development of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Concurrently, interest in the use of probiotics in broiler production is on the rise. Probiotics can benefit poultry by modulating the microbiome without the negative connotations associated with antibiotics. There are regular debates over whether or not probiotics should be used only for raised without antibiotics (RWA) production s