DIGESTIVE AIDS IN HORSE FEEDS

What are the Benefits?

BY MARTY ADAMS, PHD, PAS - EQUINE NUTRITIONIST FOR PURINA CONNECT

We continue to learn more about the benefits of digestive aids formulated into horse feed and supplements. Equine nutrition research is continuing to learn more about the effects that probiotic bacteria, live yeast, yeast culture or postbiotics, and marine calcite have in the horse’s digestive tract. Some of these benefits go beyond supporting gut health to improve digestion and absorption, and have been shown to support the immune system, reduce inflammation and provide a more stable microbiome for even more benefits for the horse to perform to their full genetic potential. These digestive aids could be helpful to horses as they face stressors and challenges associated with the phases of the horse’s active life including training, feed changes, competition, breeding, trailering, and weather changes. Following is a discussion of these digestive aids and how they can benefit the horse.

Other supplements may be a consideration for the horse at work, such as Omega 3 to reduce inflammatory reactions, and pre/probiotics to stabilize the intestinal flora and strengthen the immune system.

It is essential to serve your horse a balanced ration yearround. When work decreases, so do their nutritional needs, but they do not disappear. Deficiencies accumulated during the winter can take up to three months to be filled, which will take you to about the end of the competition season before your horse is at its maximum potential.

Probiotic Bacteria

Probiotic bacteria added to horse feed and supplements are live microorganisms that can help to maintain the normal healthy bacterial population of the large intestine. The equine microbiome consists of all the microorganisms and their interactions in the large intestine or hindgut. Changes in the equine microbiome are known to occur in colic and laminitis, with a reduction in diversity of the bacterial species residing in the hindgut, and these two problems are the leading causes of mortality in horses. A research study found that horses requiring colic surgery had significantly less microbial diversity than horses having non-colic, elective surgery at a large veterinary clinic. Other studies have shown microbial diversity lower in older horses compared to younger horses, horses fed high-starch compared to low-starch concentrate meals, and in stressful situations where horses were trailered for six hours compared to horses that weren’t trailered. In two separate studies, horses fed a probiotic supplement showed a significantly greater microbiome diversity. A more diverse equine microbiome due to probiotic bacterial supplementation may provide more stability and resistance to age, stress, and dietary changes that could decrease digestive health issues.

Live Yeast

Live yeast cells, which have the scientific name Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, are another digestive aid provided in horse feed and supplements. Live yeast can provide beneficial effects as active metabolizing cells and through the metabolites provided to other microbes when those cells die and break down. These metabolites can have beneficial effects in two ways: increasing growth of other beneficial microbes and providing metabolites that can have positive effects in other areas of the horse aside from the digestive system. Studies have shown that shifting of the microbiome population and significant increase in fiber digestibility with dietary addition of live yeast allows the horse to get more calories from its feed. Since the main portion of the horse’s diet consists of high fiber ingredients such as hay and pasture, obtaining more calories from the fibrous portion of the diet can be especially beneficial for performance horses that have greater energy requirements. Research with feeding live yeast has shown other benefits in actively trained horses including increased protein metabolism, increased red blood cell production, deceased inflammatory stress, less weight loss (probably due to increased fiber digestibility), and increased performance or speed due to horses reaching maximal heart rate more quickly.

Yeast Culture Or Postbiotics

Diamond V® XPC is a microbial fermentate made with Saccharomyces Cerevisiae produced from a proprietary anaerobic fermentation process that starts with live yeast cells. Several nutrition studies have shown increased fiber digestibility using this feed additive that is similar to the effects of live yeast when added to diets of horses. More recent studies have shown other benefits due to the many bioactive compounds or metabolites produced that can improve the immune system, support a more efficient digestive system, and promote a healthy and diverse microbiome. The recognition of these benefits has allowed a revision to the name of this digestive aid from “yeast culture” to “postbiotics” in recognition of the bioactive compounds that provide significant benefits to the horse. A study found that exercised yearlings fed Diamond V® XPC had a significantly reduced inflammatory response after training compared to control horses whose diet didn’t include this postbiotic supplement. Two other research trials, one with senior horses, and another with yearlings, showed improved immune system function when fed Diamond V® XPC compared to control groups not receiving Diamond V® XPC. Including this postbiotic supplement in horse feeds and supplements can provide many benefits to all horses, especially horses involved in travel, training, and competition.

Marine Calcite

Also known as calcified red seaweed, this natural ingredient has a porous structure and is a highly available source of calcium. When gastric pH gets too acidic (pH < 4.0), conditions become prime for gastric ulcers in the horse. This marine calcite has over twice the buffering capacity, compared to calcium carbonate, in raising pH or reducing acidity in the equine stomach. Maintaining higher gastric pH in the horse supports decreased incidence of gastric ulcers, which are most common in heavily exercised performance horses.

Some of these digestive aids have been selectively included in our premium Purina® horse feed formulas to benefit your horse’s health and performance. Purina® Horse-Shield® contains live yeast and Diamond V® XPC and is recommended for horses in travel, training, and competition. Marine calcite and Diamond V® XPC has been formulated into Purina® Digestive Balance, which can provide digestive and immune support.

As always, if you have any questions about making changes to your horse’s diet or our horse feeds or supplements, contact an Equine Nutrition Consultant. Purina has Equine Nutrition Consultants available through Purina Connect. Go to Purina Connect at www.purinaconnect.com, call us at 1-888-4586914 or email us at connect@equipurina.ca. AB