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Dr. Paolo Bosi
University Of Bologna,
Italy
Alternatives to Antibiotics in Livestock Management
Monday, September 13, 2010
2:30 - 3:00 pm
Abstract:
The EU ban on
in-feed antibiotics
and the worldwide
trend to reduce
their use, increase
the microbial
disease pressure on
the gut of farm
animals. This
stimulates research
on dietary tools to
manipulate gut
microbial
colonisation and to
strengthen the
intestinal barrier
function, robustness
and immunological
competence of young
animals. New dietary
solutions are urgent
for animals more
exposed to stress,
like in early life,
weaning and abrupt
changes of
environment.
Better knowledge on
the nutrient
requirements,
particularly for the
gut requirements
during stress, is
emerging for weaning
animals. Essential
or conditionally
essential amino
acids of interest
are Tryptophan,
Threonine, Arginine,
and Glutamine.
The dietary use of
organic acids to
control bacteria is
already an
established
solution, but more
knowledge on their
action and on their
possible
manipulation to
delay the release in
the gut could
improve their
effectiveness and
reduce possible
drawbacks. Studies
on plant extracts
are frequent,
however, problems
related to their
variability, their
metabolism in the
animal, and their
action should be
extended before use
is advised.
Scientific and
practical evidences
indicate that zinc
oxide can be a
substitute for
in-feed antibiotics,
however more
detailed knowledge
on its action could
help to design zinc
sources effective at
lower doses in order
to reduce zinc
losses and
environmental
concern. Probiosis
is a well known and
biologically sound
practice, but
beneficial bacteria
provided with the
diet should overcome
the resilience of
resident microbiota,
to help the
maturation of the
intestinal barrier
function. Finally
the interaction of
dietary solutions
with animal
genotypes should be
better explored and
appropriate models
of stress
incorporating
different genotypes
are welcome to
evaluate
alternatives to
antibiotics in
livestock.
Biography
Prof. Paolo Bosi was born 3 March, 1953 in Bologna (I), received his degree in Veterinary Medicine in 1978, since 1990 he is Full Professor of Animal Nutrition and Feeding at the University of Bologna. He coordinates the PhD course of Animal Science since 1994.
He published more than 140 scientific reports mainly on the subjects: effects of genetic and environment factors on chemical composition and of milk and its attitude to cheese making; effects of genetic and environment factors on meat quality of the pig; nutritive value of forages for ruminants and its prediction with chemical and physical methods; nitrogen and phosphorus requirements of the heavy Italian pig; high quality diets for the early weaned pig.
He was scientist in charge, as participant, of many research programs granted by European Union or by privates, as an expert of piglet nutrition. In these researches he examined the potential of using beneficial bacteria, plant extracts and other natural substances not considered harmful for human or animal health, as alternatives to antibiotics, used as prophylactic and growth promoting agents in livestock. Now he is involved in the EU project INTERPLAY that will study the kinetics of colonisation by commensal as well as potentially pathogenic microbiota along the GIT of young pigs, and concomitant impact on gastro-intestinal function throughout life.
