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  Discussion on Research Summary: Lack of support for yeast cultures and improved digestibility
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Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Jun 7, 2007 - 8:52 am:

In this experiment they first compare the similarities of a "artificial horse digestive system" with that of the actual horse and then once found to be a useful model use it to experiment with the effects of live yeast cultures commonly used in probiotics. Well artificial system worked pretty well but did not find any benefits to digestion of concentrate or forages from the live cultures. Though this is not proof there is not some benefit, it does make it hard to justify the expense of the routine use of these products, for more click on Probiotics and Yeast Culture Products on the navigation bar near the top of this page.

J Anim Sci. 2007 May 25;
Effect of yeast culture on in vitro fermentation of a high-concentrate or high-fiber diet using equine fecal inoculum in a Daisy II incubator.

Lattimer JM, Cooper SR, Freeman DW, Lalman DL.

Department of Applied Sciences, Black Hawk College-East Campus, Kewanee, IL.

Two separate experiments were conducted t o evaluate the use of a closed system fermentation apparatus (Daisy II incubator) and determine the effects of a yeast culture (YC) preparation (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) on in vitro microbial populations, diet digestion, and fermentation patterns in horses. In Exp. 1, 4 mature horses were fed a pelleted concentrate and alfalfa cubes in a 50:50 ratio. Fecal samples were taken from each horse to form the inoculum and placed in 4 separate incubation vessels. Twenty nylon bags (10 with 0.25 g and 10 with 0.50 g of the total mixed diet) were placed in each vessel, and in vitro fermentation was carried out for 48 h to determine DM, NDF, and ADF digestibility. In Exp. 2, fecal samples were taken from 4 mature horses consuming either a high-concentrate (HC) or high-fiber (HF) diet. Filter bags containing either the HC or HF diet were added to the 4 incubation vessels along with their respective inoculums. Yeast culture was added to 2 of the vessels containing either the HC or HF diet, while the other 2 vessels served as controls. Vessels were incubated as in Exp. 1 with samples taken at 24 h and 48 h. Filter bags were used to determine DM, NDF, ADF, and OM digestibility, while vessel fluid was analyzed for lactate, ammonia, VFA, and microbial concentrations. Results of Exp. 1 indicated that DM, NDF, and ADF digestibility were greater (P < 0.05), while the corresponding CV was lower (P < 0.05) for the 0.25 g vs. the 0.50 g sample size. In Exp. 2, YC tended (P = 0.10) to decrease ammonia concentrations in the HF diet and increased (P < 0.05) acetate production in the HC diet when compared to the control. There were no effects of YC on pH, lactate, or the measured microbial populations, as well as DM, NDF, or ADF digestibility. Results did, however, show that in vitro and in vivo DM digestibility estimates were extremely similar within a diet. Data from Exp. 1 indicated that the 0.25 g sample size provides a more accurate estimate of DM digestibility with less variation. Although YC had little, if any, effect in Exp. 2, results indicated that the Daisy II incubator does provide valid estimates of total tract DM digestibility in the horse. These data provide further evidence that this process would be an effective and practical means of approximating digestibility of diets with varying concentrate to forage ratios.
Member:
hwood

Posted on Thursday, Jun 7, 2007 - 9:16 am:

Dr. O, is the YC (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) the same thing that is in yogurt?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Jun 8, 2007 - 6:39 am:

Yogurt cultures are commonly Lactobacillus acidophilus, L. casei, L. reuteri and Bifidobacterium bifidum.
DrO
New Member:
acaslow

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 20, 2007 - 9:36 am:

Dr. O;

I have a 17 hand Irish Sport Horse who colic do to the natural space between the dorsal aspect of the spleen and the left kidney. Therenosplenic ligament, a strong band of tissue that connects the dorsomedial aspect of the spleen with the fibrous capsule of the left kidney. This ligament provides a “shelf” over which large colon can be displaced.

It was thought that maybe gas lead to this happening, anyway the vet hospital was able to medically convert him.

He does get gassy at times, they recommended Succeed to aid digestion. He never had a lot of grain. He eats 1 lb of Purina Horsemen's Edge (High Fat twice a day) and now we serve him 4 times a day 8 huge flakes of grass hay (pretty much free choice hay). He is out on pasture about 3-5 hours a day weather permitting.

In light of these findings, is Succeed aiding the digestion? Any other things I could do less expensive?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Jun 21, 2007 - 8:14 am:

Hello Amy,
Can you tell me what is in the Succeed and the dosage recommendations? Pretty gassy at times describes all horses really but does he seem less gassy since starting the product?
DrO
New Member:
acaslow

Posted on Monday, Jul 2, 2007 - 9:15 pm:

I give him the dosage recommended on the box, 1 scoop a day. Their scoop looks to be like 3 tablespoons.

He is very shiny, as far as reducing gassiness, maybe a little. I wonder if feeding him 4 meals a day, hasn't helped more.
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