"We are continuously working to provide our customers with increasingly comprehensive solutions for efficient, sustainable and healthy animal nutrition," says Torben Madsen, head of the Sustainable Healthy Nutrition product line in Evonik's Animal Nutrition business line. "Probiotics have proven to be a good alternative to the use of growth-promoting antibiotics in the barn."

With Ecobiol® and Ecobiol® Plus, Evonik already has two effective products for chickens based on the bacterium Bacillus amyloliquefaciens that are added to feed or feed premix. However, the feed is used on the farm as a ready-mix. Fast, situational reaction is hardly possible. Ecobiol® Fizz is different: farmers can apply the product flexibly during periods of stress for animals via the water line or add it as continuous support to their operation.

Stress can be caused by feed changes, infections or vaccinations. In such cases, a resilient immune system is required, based on a balanced intestinal microbiota.

The additional administration of the probiotic via water is then suitable. "Especially when animals are not doing well, they eat less, but drink more," says Dr. Stefan Eils, who is responsible for Gut Health Solutions in the Animal Nutrition business line.

The novel formulation of Ecobiol® Fizz as an effervescent tablet has the advantage that bacterial spores are distributed homogeneously in water without stirring. One effervescent tablet is sufficient for 1,000 liters of water. The homogeneity is proven for at least 24 hours. The formulation of the effervescent tablet also does not contain sugar or other additives that promote biofilm formation or clogging in the water line system.

Ecobiol® Fizz can be combined with common feed additives.

The product is now available in Europe. Marketing in other regions is scheduled to follow in spring 2021.