Gut Health in Horses: Postbiotics Shouldn’t Be an Afterthought

While many horse owners use prebiotics and probiotics to maximize a horse’s gastrointestinal tract, the potential benefits of postbiotics may not be known well.

Postbiotics are nonliving microorganisms or their components that confer a health benefit to the host. These products can be, but are not necessarily, derived from probiotics (i.e., living organisms), but they must contain an unpurified mixture of inanimate organisms and their metabolites.

“Colonization resistance ranks high among many beneficial functions of a healthy horse’s intestinal microbiome. This means that the microbes that make up a vigorous microbiome prevent the growth of pathogenic or disease-causing organisms,” explained Catherine Whitehouse, M.S., a nutrition advisor for Kentucky Equine Research. “In contrast, an unstable microbiome serves as a gateway for opportunistic infections that can be life-threatening to horses.”

The exact mechanisms by which postbiotics exert their beneficial effects are not fully understood but may include microbiome optimization and improvement in immune function.

“Horses are frequently exposed to a variety of stresses—nutritional, exercise, environmental, social, and transport, for example—and each of these can result in alterations in the population of microbes that make up the intestinal microbiome. Being able to stabilize the microbiome during times of stress will help maintain a horse’s overall health,” Whitehouse explained.

Whether or not postbiotics have a beneficial effect on the equine intestinal microbiome, like they do in other species, remains unknown, though researchers are closing in on a possible answer.

“Evaluating the exact types, numbers, and functional profiles of the microbes within the microbiome requires more study, but we know that a robust microbiome benefits horse health,” Whitehouse said.

Total Wellness, a supplement formulated by Kentucky Equine Research, contains a blend of yeast cultures and fermentation products shown to improve the digestibility of nonstructural carbohydrates, fiber, and key minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, copper, and zinc.

“Total Wellness is a comprehensive supplement developed to support digestive health and allow horses to get the most out of their diets, while also supporting the health of joints, muscles, skin, and hooves,” summarized Whitehouse.

Several other Kentucky Equine Research products contain postbiotics, including Triacton and some vitamin and mineral supplements. Further, many feeds formulated by Kentucky Equine Research and manufactured by its brand partners contain postbiotics. Look for a Kentucky Equine Research partner near you.