The invention includes methods and compositions for treating an animal to inhibit the incidence and growth of E. coli O157:H7 and other pathogenic bacteria. The treatment method comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of Lactobacillus animalis or one or a combination of a number of other probiotic bacteria to an animal. An alternative treatment method comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a lactic acid producing bacterium such as Lactobacillus animalis in combination with a lactate utilizing bacterium such as Propionibacterium freudenreichii.

The present disclosure generally relates to compositions and methods for inhibiting pathogenic growth, thereby reducing the severity of diarrhea episodes and also improving health and growth performance of ruminants. More specifically, the disclosure relates to compositions and methods for inhibiting pathogenic growth through the use of a novel combination of probiotic strains.