Pruex was founded by Aled Rhys Davies as a result of his 2015 Nuffield Scholarship with a clear ambition: to prove that it is possible to ensure prudent as opposed to excessive antibiotic use and improve agricultural production while simultaneously reducing pollution. In a sector often forced to choose between profitability and sustainability, we set out to demonstrate that better animal health and performance can go hand-in-hand with cleaner air, water, and soil. Our work has since become a blueprint for how intensive farming can be both environmentally beneficial and economically viable.
One of our most impactful achievements has been in the broiler sector, where the application of Pruex bacteria to water, litter, and air systems has resulted in a 3% improvement in feed conversion ratio (FCR). This gain has been consistently linked to reductions in environmental ammonia and methane—two major pollutants in confined poultry operations. By replacing opportunistic pathogens and fermentative microbes with structured healthy biofilm-forming bacteria, Pruex interventions maintain bird health and energy efficiency within sheds. Lower stress, improved feed intake, and fewer disease challenges mean birds convert feed into growth more efficiently.
In dairy farming, Pruex has demonstrated that reducing pollution improves not only the environment but the productivity of cows and the land that supports them. Our treatment protocol improves housing hygiene by replacing fermentative breakdown in slurry with controlled bacterial respiration. This retains more plant-available nitrogen as ammonium and significantly reduces ammonia volatilisation. Treated slurry applied to land supports better soil biology, resulting in higher biodiversity, earthworms, and improved silage quality. On trial farms, treated slurry led to increased sugar and true protein levels in silage, with no need for synthetic fertiliser.
Beyond the slurry pit, Pruex also improves air quality in housing, reducing respiratory stress in dairy cows and calves. Healthier animals have lower vet bills, reduced lameness, and better milk yields. Clean water troughs treated with Pruex prevent biofilm formation by harmful bacteria, improving hydration and feed intake. The knock-on effects on animal behaviour, fertility, and welfare are clear.
In each case, the environmental benefits are not trade-offs—they are the pathway to improved performance. By applying science to prevent pollution at its source, we reduce disease pressure and unlock animal potential. This is a profound shift in the way agriculture views sustainability: from burden to opportunity.
Pruex has also worked internationally to ensure its innovations are accessible. We are established in the EU, the UK and Africa, tailoring solutions to local farming systems. Whether it's poultry farming in Zimbabwe or dairy operations in Poland, the core principles—prevent pollution, promote health—remain the same.
This work, backed by trial data and delivered in partnership with forward-thinking farmers, has demonstrated that a greener future for agriculture is not just desirable—it is achievable now. Pruex is proud to contribute to this transformation. We believe that by enabling cleaner, safer, and more productive farming systems, we are not only protecting the environment—we are shaping the future of agriculture itself.
Our journey proves that farming doesn’t have to compromise: with the right science, we can grow more by polluting less.
