Bacillus subtilis

Bacillus subtilis Feed Grade

Bacillus subtilis is a Gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium that has significance as a probiotic feed additive. It is widely recognized for its ability to enhance growth performance, improve intestinal health, and support immune function in livestock, poultry, and aquaculture species .

Specifically, Bacillus subtilis produces a variety of bioactive metabolites, including antimicrobial peptides (such as subtilin and surfactin), enzymes (protease, amylase, lipase, cellulase), and vitamins . These substances contribute to its multiple modes of action: competitive exclusion of pathogens, modulation of gut microbiota composition, stimulation of immune responses, and improvement of intestinal barrier function by upregulating tight junction proteins . The spore-forming nature of B. subtilis offers high stability during feed processing and storage, as well as resistance to gastric acid and bile salts during gastrointestinal transit .

Bacillus subtilis has been recognized as safe by major regulatory authorities, including the FDA (Generally Recognized as Safe) and EFSA (Qualified Presumption of Safety) . Research has demonstrated that B. subtilis supplementation improves growth performance, increases average daily gain, enhances feed conversion ratio, and reduces mortality in poultry, swine, and aquaculture species . It is compatible with various anticoccidials and is widely used as a feed additive in poultry, swine, ruminant, and aquaculture operations.

Bacillus subtilis is carefully manufactured under strict quality control, typically available as a brown powder with a guaranteed minimum viable cell count (e.g., ≥1×10⁹ CFU/g). It is widely used in poultry, swine, ruminant, and aquaculture operations to support gut health, enhance disease resistance, and improve overall production performance.