In America’s cattle regions, a revolutionary change is happening that might transform the feedlot industry. It’s centered around a special kind of probiotic, a tiny hero in the world of biology.

Clostridium is a genus of anaerobic, gram-positive, spore-forming bacteria. These organisms can be found in soil and in the intestinal tracts of many, if not all, animals, birds and humans.

While many nutritionists and producers are aware of probiotics and the potential benefits of feeding them in commercial animal operations, it is not clear to all how to distinguish proven and effective probiotic products from costly, ineffective microbial feed additives.