The aim of this study was to select candidate probiotics for rabbits.Four Bacillus subtilis strains isolated from soil from Chinas Mount Tai were identified and investigated in vitro for their functional characteristics as potential new probiotic strains.After growth curves were drawn, the strains survival in acidic condition (pH 1.5 and pH 3.0) and bile salts were assessed in vitro, and their inhibition of pathogenic bacteria and antibiotic susceptibility were evaluated.Although all the strains showed a high survival rate at the pH value of 3.0, B.subtilis B5 showed greater resistance at lower pH values (1.5) and in bile salts, which indicates its good adaptability to gastrointestinal conditions.The strain also had a significant inhibitory effect on pathogenic bacteria, yet remained susceptible to common antibiotics.B.subtilis B5 was thus selected and added to dietary to evaluate how it effect rabbits growth performance.Results showed that adding B.subtilis B5 significantly improved rabbits average weight gain per day and feed conversion ratio, while reduced cultivable anaerobic Clostridium in cecum contents significantly compared with antibiotic and control groups.