Amid increasingly stringent global restrictions on antibiotic use in the livestock industry, a research team led by Professor Chen, Kuo-Lung of National Chiayi University has successfully isolated a high-yielding Bacillus subtilis strain, LYS1, from a micro-anaerobic high-pressure fermentation system. This breakthrough offers a promising alternative to traditional fishmeal and antibiotics in animal feed.
The LYS1 strain not only produces more than 2% surfactin in a remarkably short period but also demonstrates exceptional heat resistance and stability in acidic and alkaline environments—significantly outperforming commercially available probiotic strains. In particular, its production of long-chain cyclic surfactins (C18-C19) shows potent antimicrobial activity, effectively inhibiting common poultry pathogens such as Salmonella and Escherichia coli. This innovation positions LYS1 as a core microbial platform for developing efficient and eco-friendly poultry feed, laying a solid scientific foundation for antibiotic-free farming and enhanced food safety.
Breakthrough in Plant-Based Fermentation Formulas Boosts Broiler Growth and Economic Benefits
Using LYS1 as the primary fermentation strain, the team developed two types of plant-based functional feed products: FPA (a vegan fermented product) and FPB (a medicinal fungi-based complex ferment). These novel feed additives offer a sustainable replacement for fishmeal and antibiotics. Experimental data confirm that supplementing broiler feed with 12.5% FPA improves production efficiency by 14.8%, effectively replacing high-quality fishmeal. Even at a low inclusion rate of 0.2%, FPB significantly enhances growth performance and increases overall profitability by 5.76%.
In addition to being rich in active enzymes and antimicrobial surfactin, LYS1-derived products exhibit outstanding thermal stability and resistance to gastric acid and bile salts, ensuring sustained activity during feed processing and in the gastrointestinal tract. Compared to expensive and inconsistent commercial probiotics or additives, this technology offers high yield, high efficiency, and cost-effectiveness, making it a vital tool for promoting sustainable livestock farming and carbon reduction in the industry.
Building a Blueprint for Antibiotic-Free Farming with Global Market Potential and Environmental Sustainability
Professor Chen emphasized that the team’s vision extends beyond product development to creating a comprehensive antibiotic-free animal farming system aligned with future global trends. The team has already secured a patent in Taiwan and published their findings in two Q1 international journals, demonstrating strong academic and technical capabilities. The technology is now fully scalable, with monthly production capacities of 100 metric tons for FPA and 20 metric tons for FPB, supporting commercialization.
Several feed manufacturers, poultry farmers, and marketing companies have expressed interest in collaboration, and the team plans to expand both domestic and international markets. Professor Chen noted that as the European Union further tightens its antibiotic bans, demand for natural alternatives is set to surge. With its highly differentiated and internationally competitive LYS1 product line, the team aims to extend applications to more animal species, integrating brand marketing and green farming principles to establish a new benchmark in intelligent animal husbandry—one that ensures food safety, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability.
Resource: 高效生產抗菌表面素 開啟無抗飼養新時代
