Feed compositions and methods for inhibiting focal ulcerative dermatitis

Abstract

The present disclosure describes animal feed products formulated to inhibit focal ulcerative dermatitis, and methods of feeding such products to the animals. Feeding methods involve providing poultry with a feed product that includes a base feed and a direct-fed microbial composition. The direct-fed microbial composition includes one or more strains of Bacillus pumilus. The poultry can include cage-free layer hens at risk of developing, or already diagnosed with, focal ulcerative dermatitis. Inhibition of focal ulcerative dermatitis can increase the egg production of the layer hens relative to layer hens fed the same base feed but lacking the direct-fed microbial composition.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.