In the previous part of this blog series we looked at the numerous problems associated with an imbalance in the equine gut microbiota. Sudden changes in the delicate ecosystem that thrives in the horse gut may result in colic, laminitis, and even gastric ulcers. These conditions affecting horses can be improved through a variety of approaches such as feedstuff selection, forage quality, feeding management, and inclusion of digestive aids. Experts increasingly believe that these digestive aids – namely prebiotics and probiotics - can restore the microbial community in the horse’s gut to a stable and healthy state.
The Food and Agricultural Organization and World Health Organization define probiotics as “live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host”. Probiotics commonly used in livestock include the bacterial groups Lactobacillus, Enterococcus, Bifidobacterium, and Streptococcus and the yeast Saccharomyces. They are essentially typical representatives of the microbial community in the animal gut which when used to supplement feed can provide numerous benefits such as improved digestion, better immunity, and increased stamina and strength. Many live yeasts and bacteria have been demonstrated to elicit an increase in fibre digestibility in the horse colon and modulate the balance of hindgut bacterial communities leading to a decreased risk of several gastrointestinal disorders. Probiotic supplementation of the horse’s diet can assuage symptoms of even gastric ulcers which commonly afflict horses of all breeds worldwide leading to decreased productivity and economic loss to the horse industry. Probiotics can also reduce stress experienced by the equine athlete during transportation and competitions. Amongst other benefits, they are also known to promote growth and reduce the incidence of diarrhoea in foals and improve milk quality and quantity in gestating mares. Overall, probiotic supplementation can impart real benefits to all-round equine nutrition and health.
Prebiotics are compounds that support the growth of natural microbial populations which could confer numerous benefits to the host. They are essentially indigestible fiber that acts as food for the probiotics. Common examples of prebiotics in the equine diets include beet pulp, oat hulls, soy hulls, and oligosaccharides (beneficial sugars). Prebiotics are often added to horse feed in order to stabilise the horse’s health.
All Immubiome formulae are rich in both probiotic and prebiotic ingredients. A wide array of probiotic organisms belonging to the various classes of bacteria naturally found in the horse’s gut, such as, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium longum, Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus plantarum, are included. These products also contain a proprietary blend of organic mushroom mycelia, primordia, fruiting bodies and extracellular compounds from a variety of beneficial mushrooms. Oligosaccharides and glucans from fruiting bodies of several mushrooms have prebiotic activity which can support probiotic colonization of the equine gut delivering the multitudinous benefits of a healthy colon. Immubiome supplements also supply bovine colostrum. This first milk produced by cows after calving has a very high level of oligosaccharides. These oligosaccharides are a very good energy source and also function as prebiotics. The unique combination of useful prebiotics and probiotics present in the Immubiome supplements can thus promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut, and help establish a healthy microbial environment in your horse’s gut.
