Pre-and Probiotic Supplementation in Ruminant Livestock Production

Today, more than 3.6 billion domestic ruminant animals, primarily cattle, sheep, and goats, contribute significantly to the global economy (. Hackmann and Spain, 2009). In the last 30 years, there have been considerable improvements in ruminant production, and these advances must continue in order to meet growing demands. This chapter will review the current literature on the use of pre- and probiotic supplementation as a method for improving ruminant production and satisfying the demands associated with this industry. Recent studies suggest that integrating pre- and probiotics into ruminant feeds might improve various aspects of ruminant performance, mitigate disease, promote overall animal health and well-being, and reduce the environmental impacts of ruminant production. It is believed that pre- and probiotics provide these benefits by favorably modulating the microbial environment within the gastrointestinal tract of ruminant animals.