ISSUE FOCUS 60 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE February 2026 The use of microencapsulated multi-strain probiotic premixes is emerging as an effective strategy to improve feed utilization across different animal production systems. By delivering targeted combinations of beneficial microorganisms under simulated gastrointestinal conditions, the effects of probiotic supplementation on the degradation of forage- and grain-based substrates and their fermentation dynamics can be evaluated. While responses may vary depending on species' diet and gastrointestinal conditions, probiotic premixes show potential to improve substrate degradation, nutrient availability, and energy efficiency, particularly through favorable shifts in fermentation patterns. These findings highlight the growing role of probiotic-based feed additives as functional tools to support more efficient and sustainable animal nutrition. Improving feed efficiency and gut functionality remains a key objective in modern animal nutrition. Probiotic-based feed additives have gained increasing attention due to their ability to modulate gastrointestinal microbiota, enhance nutrient utilization, and support animal performance. Among these, multi-strain probiotic premixes are used across different species, showing efficacy that may vary depending on diet type, inclusion level, and animal physiology. Microencapsulated multi-strain probiotics can have a functional advantage as their use ensures the correct delivery of probiotics inside the gastrointestinal tract. This article presents the consolidated results of several in vitro evaluations of a commercial microencapsulated probiotic premix (FF), focusing on its effects on dry matter degradability and fermentation characteristics under simulated gastrointestinal conditions representative of pigs, ruminants, and poultry. IN VITRO STUDIES In vitro gastrointestinal simulation systems are widely used to reproduce key physicochemical and microbial processes occurring along the digestive tract of animals under controlled conditions. These models allow the evaluation of feed ingredients and additives by mimicking species-specific gastrointestinal environments while minimizing animal-to-animal variability. The data presented in this study correspond to a compiled analysis of multiple in vitro experiments in which gastrointestinal conditions of different animal species were simulated. The systems were inoculated with fecal material or ruminal fluid obtained from the ROLE OF MICROENCAPSULATED PROBIOTICS IN FEED DEGRADATION Juan Esteban Vásquez Fermentation Coordinator Bialtec
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