How Prebiotics & Probiotics Help Your Horse
It can be overwhelming for any horse owner with the number of supplements available on the market. It has led to much confusion on which, if any, supplements to feed. It also has owners asking how they will benefit their horses. This is especially true with pre- and probiotics. Since they have arrived on the market for horses, many have asked what they are and if they even work. Fortunately, research studies are beginning to show the multiple benefits of feeding pre- and probiotics to horses.
What Is the Microbiome in the Horse?
Within the gut of animals (and humans!) resides microorganisms that help aid in the digestion of food. Microorganisms make up the microbiome. Scientists estimate that the horse’s gut microbiome contains over 1 quadrillion (10¹⁵) bacteria, yeast, fungi, and other cell types.Bacteria is the most dominant cell type in the horse, with most of the microbiome residing in their hindgut.
For horses, the microbiome is critical in the digestion of fiber in the hindgut, where the microbiome aids in fermentation of forages (hay/pasture) and produces useful nutrients, including B-vitamins and volatile fatty acids. Further, research has shown the microbiome throughout the horse’s digestive tract has important immune system functions and can impact equine behavior and cognitive function. Thus, it is very important to ensure horses maintain a healthy and functioning digestive tract. One way to help ensure this is through the use of pre- and probiotics. Research has shown that pre- and probiotics help maintain, or even restore, a healthy population of microorganisms in the digestive tract.
What Are Pre- and Probiotics?
Prebiotics are non-living ingredients that help “feed” and maintain the beneficial microorganisms in a horse’s digestive tract. They are not able to be digested by the horse, but help nourish, maintain, and even grow the beneficial microorganisms. The two types of commonly fed prebiotics include:
- Mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS) are non-digestible sugars that bind harmful bacteria, like E. coli, and are then passed in the feces. They help reduce the population of the “bad” microorganisms in the digestive tract, allowing the more beneficial bacteria to flourish.
- Fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) help to nourish and feed beneficial gut bacteria and the other microorganisms so they can prosper.
Conversely, probiotics are living bacteria and yeast that help repopulate the gut of the horse with beneficial microorganisms. These are also called direct-fed microbials. Since various factors can easily disrupt the horse’s hindgut and its microbiome, studies show that feeding probiotics improves overall gut health. Horse owners commonly feed these probiotics:
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae: This live yeast improves fiber digestion, especially in lower-quality grass hays. Research has also identified other benefits, such as better phosphorus absorption and faster growth rates in foals.
- Live bacteria: Owners feed various bacteria species, including strains of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. While research is ongoing, experts believe these microorganisms play a beneficial role in the horse’s hindgut.
How to Feed Prebiotics and Probiotics
Feeding prebiotics and probiotics together is the best way to maximize your horse’s digestive health. These supplements work synergistically, offering greater benefits when combined rather than fed separately.
Thanks to advancements in feed formulation, you no longer need to top dress prebiotics and probiotics separately. Many high-quality horse feeds now include these supplements in their recipes. For example, all Tribute® feeds contain Equi-Ferm XL®, a microencapsulated prebiotic and probiotic designed to improve fiber digestibility and support gut health. If your chosen feed doesn’t include prebiotics and probiotics, you can still top dress with a supplement.
When choosing a prebiotic or probiotic for your horse, always select a microencapsulated product. Horses are hindgut fermenters, meaning feed must first pass through their highly acidic stomach and long small intestine before reaching the cecum (hindgut) for fermentation. Non-encapsulated supplements won’t survive the stomach, making them ineffective for the rest of the digestive system.
Which Horses Benefit from Prebiotics and Probiotics?
Generally, any horse will benefit from the addition of pre- and probiotics to their diet. Because the horse’s digestive system is sensitive to change, consistently feeding pre- and probiotics can help reduce chances of digestive upset.
Specifically, the horses most likely to benefit from pre- and probiotics are our young and aged horses, as well as those under stress, like high performance horses. The reasoning is:
- Young horses generally do not have a full and stable population of microorganisms in their gut.
- Aged horses are less efficient at digesting their feed and need help to maintain their microbiome.
- Stress can lead to disruptions in hindgut health and the microbiome.
Finally, any horses that have been treated with antibiotics should be fed pre- and probiotics. Antibiotics can often kill off beneficial gut bacteria and it is important to help reestablish healthy populations.
Summary
It is generally accepted that pre- and probiotics help your horse. As more research emerges, it is clear that these supplements are playing a vital role in maintaining the digestive health of horses. If you have any questions about your feeding program, please contact us for a free, personalized feeding plan!
Article Source: Chris Mortensen, Ph.D. written for Tribute Equine Nutrition