Potential probiotic compost as a protective substitute against pathogens in fish, chicken, pig, and cattle

Natural circulation with decomposition of organic matters is important in ecosystem, and it is desirable not to use extremely artificial antibiotics there. Compost is worldwidely used as an organic fermented fertilizer, but its effects on the animals as a step of ecosystem are poorly understood. Here we show that oral administration of compost itself and its included specific thermophile Bacillus can regulate the prophylactic activities of various industrial animals, i.e. fish, chicken, pig, and cattle. In this regulatory process, their fecal inhabitant microbial diversities altered with reduced pathogenic microbiota despite little additional antibiotics. Additionally, biological defensive responses and/or efficient utilization of fecal metabolites were in consistent with the alteration of the fecal microbiota dependent upon animal species and environmental conditions. These results highlight the importance of biological potentials of compost with probiotic candidate Bacillus, owing to sustainable productive control of agriculture, fishery and livestock industry with reduction of artificial-chemical stresses.