Primary Benefits of Probiotic Health

PrimaLac products have been field tested and developed over the past four decades by a laboratory focused on one set of products for animals, unlike the competition that develops for wider use. PrimaLac products are designed to benefit poultry, livestock including swine and cattle, pigeons, aquaculture and many other animals. The benefits are achieved through several distinctive features:

• Bacteria that colonizes the gut
• A viable system of cultures grown together, kept viable through Thermo-Positive processing
• The most stable probiotic on the market, with a 2 year shelf life

The Cultures

An essential PrimaLac distinction is in the viable organisms delivered to the animal. Only PrimaLac organisms attach to the wall of the animal intestinal tract, implanting, colonizing, and crowding out bad pathogenic bacteria. Other probiotics offered in the animal agriculture industry are transient, spore-forming bacteria that pass through the system and have limited effects.

What are Direct-Fed Microbials?

An innovative feature of PrimaLac products is their processing into a Direct-Fed Microbial (DFM), which makes for ideal bioavailability in the animal system. Most Direct-Fed Microbial products are based on a combination of Lactobacillus and Streptococcus products, but they are not all created equal. Veterinarians, feed companies, and animal agriculture producers face a market flooded with DFMs offering varying effectiveness.

The range of effectiveness includes:

• DFMs with non-viable, dead microorganisms
• Freeze-dried DFMs which will die rapidly unless cold-stored, and do not survive pelleting
• Fermentation products with low shelf life, low bacterial count, and often the wrong bacterial sub-species

PrimaLac is the most research proven effective DFM on the market today

With a select sub-species of primary Lactobacillus and Streptococcus bacteria, the PrimaLac culture is the most effective probiotic for animal gastrointestinal health. A proprietary culturing method— transferring a viable liquid medium to dry medium— together with rigid quality control standards at every step, create a highly viable product which will survive warmer storage temperatures and deliver a reliably high number of beneficial organisms to animals.

PrimaLac Direct-Fed Microbials are available in a variety of delivery methods and formats.

Viability and stability from unique processing

In addition to its exclusive cell formulations developed for internal and environmental microbial balance, PrimaLac cultures are the most stable cultures on the market, with an extended shelf life of two years. This is accomplished using a proprietary Thermo-Positive System that keeps the live PrimaLac product viable during the heat and pressure of pelleting and extrusion.

Field, lab, and university research testing have proven PrimaLac to be the only probiotic with all of the following:

• A stabilized gram count of live organisms per gram
• Viable microorganisms with the ability to implant
• Rigorous heat-resistance of microorganisms to feed-pelleting
• Microorganism viability in the field when stored at room temperature and when mixed with all types of feed and other supplements
• Direct-Fed Microbial processing

How Probiotics Benefit Pigeons

Like most animal agriculture, pigeons benefit from help maintaining the proper microbial balance of good and pathogenic bacteria. Since 1974, Star-Labs has worked to improve avian health and performance. PrimaLac microbial cultures are the industry leader for Direct-Fed Microbial probiotics for pigeons, offering breeders an edge in raising healthier and better performing birds.

Probiotic health up close

In pigeons and performing birds, PrimaLac has been shown to colonize the intestinal tract with beneficial bacteria, crowding out pathogenic E. coli and Salmonella and reducing infections. PrimaLac probiotic use also creates a beneficial acidic gastrointestinal environment and produces more disease-fighting immunoglobulin proteins

Due to improved immune function, young bird mortality after weaning and viral infection in younger birds is also reported at lower rates. Fertility, egg production and bird growth improved. Pigeons also produce firmer droppings and improved feather quality.

PrimaLac Pigeon Water Soluble is compatible with other medications.

Why Feed PrimaLac to Pigeons ?

PrimaLac is a probiotic also referred to as a Direct Fed Microbial (DFM).
Probiotics are defined as microorganisms that contribute to intestinal microbial balance.
(R.Fuller, Probiotics in man and animals, 1989).
Dr. Mercola states in “Total Health” that eighty percent of the human immune system is
located in our digestive system. Dr. Mercola further states that there are 100 trillion
bacteria, weighing three pounds lining the human intestinal tract to protect our body from
invasions. Maintaining a balance of more good bacteria than bad bacteria is the goal.
Pigeon fanciers can do the same for their birds.
PrimaLac DFM contains Lactobacillus acidophilus, L. casei, Enterococcus faecium, and
Bifidobacterium thermophilum. All of these organisms are good bacteria like those
found in yogurt. Add the good bacteria to fight the bad bacteria. By establishing the
proper micro-flora, essential bacteria acidify the intestinal environment. They also aid
in the breakdown and fermentation of feed, and absorption of nutrients.
How do DFM’s work in the intestinal tract? They inhibit pathogen growth in the GI
tract by attaching to the gut wall and crowding out the bad bacteria (competitive
exclusion). DFM’s increase mucosal villus heights, increase digestive enzyme activity,
and they increase antibody formation. The villi form a brush border of the gut lining
where particles of digested feed and water are absorbed into the body. Good and bad
bacteria compete for space to live on the brush border villi. Good bacteria prevent the
attachment of pathogenic (bad) bacteria to the the brush border membrane and
destruction of the villi. Again, fight the bad bacteria with the good bacteria. By
controlling the pathogens, such as E. coli, salmonella, and clostridia, gut health is
improved. Improved gut health promotes improvement in nutritional absorption and
decreased nutrient excretion.
Not all DFM’s are the same. When choosing the correct DFM, pick the one that can
insure stability of the organisms, especially in extreme temperatures or extreme
environmental conditions. The DFM should have been tested by a university or qualified
researcher to document its effectiveness. PrimaLac has been tested by different
universities in the U.S. and other qualified researchers. For further information, I can be
reached at 570-482-2451.

By: Bob Adams
Star Labs
National Accounts Manager