A new probiotic discovered by poultry science researchers with the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station recently became commercially available through codevelopment with KENT Nutrition Group and a partnership with Life Products Inc. of Norfolk, Neb.
ARGIS, a new Bacillus-strain probiotic developed as an additive in both poultry and swine feed, has been shown to improve gut health and weight-gain efficiency, according to the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
The Bacillus strain behind ARGIS was isolated and characterized by former University of Arkansas postdoctoral researcher Kyle Teague, under the co-advisement of Billy Hargis, distinguished professor of poultry science with the research arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, and Samuel Rochell, formerly with the Division of Agriculture.
Advantages of a Bacillus-strain probiotic, compared to common probiotic microorganisms of the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species, include its ability to survive the higher temperatures and lower pH environments found in the intestinal tract, according to the news release.
“We’re proud to partner with Life Products Inc., a family-owned company that shares KENT’s core values,” said Kale Causemaker, senior director of Innovative Solutions at KENT Nutrition Group. “We’re especially excited to collaborate with Kyle Teague, one of the lead researchers behind ARGIS. This is an exciting nutritional technology because it helps animals utilize indigestible carbohydrates found in soybean meal — the primary protein source in poultry diets.”
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One of the major advantages of ARGIS is its ability to support digestion of these carbohydrates through enzyme production in the gastrointestinal tract, Causemaker said. This capability may eliminate the need for multiple enzymes produced from genetically modified fermentation organisms. The probiotic is also heat-tolerant and viable in low-pH environments, making it well-suited for commercial poultry operations.
Teague now serves as director of Poultry Nutrition at Life Products Inc., while Rochell is an associate professor of poultry nutrition at Auburn University. Hargis is director of the John Kirkpatrick Skeels Poultry Health Laboratory for the experiment station.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to see a research project I contributed to making a real-world impact,” Teague said. “ARGIS is another innovative probiotic that can help improve gut health and feed efficiency — with the potential for significant feed cost savings.”
Lisa Childs, assistant vice president of technology commercialization and patent attorney for the Division of Agriculture’s Technology Commercialization Office, said the product that KENT Nutrition Group is commercializing is just part of UADA’s large portfolio of inventions. In 2024, UADA had 28 invention disclosures and eight U.S. patents issued.
“We continue to be proud to have KENT as our commercialization partner for this technology. This strategic partnership between KENT and Life Products is an exciting opportunity for ARGIS to expand further into the marketplace and benefit both animals and producers,” said Parker Cole, associate director of technology commercialization with the Technology Commercialization Office.
The mention of brand or trade names does not imply endorsement by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
To learn more about the Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station uaex.uada.edu.
