Ensuring digestive comfort is important to allow our horses to thrive and perform to the best of their ability. Ultimate Ease® is a unique blend of ingredients that supports comfortable and efficient digestion by providing complete support from the stomach to the hindgut. The mineral salts Calcium carbonate, Dicalcium phosphate, Magnesium hydroxide and Magnesium carbonate work synergistically with the body to support a healthy gastric pH and soothe the mucosal lining of the stomach and small intestine. Lecithin is highly hydrophobic (water hating) whilst Pectin forms a gel-like substance that binds to bile acids when exposed to an acidic environment (Venner et al., 1999; Ferrucci et al., 2003). When combined, Lecithin and Pectin support the natural protective mucosa of the stomach which is known to become irritated by high concentrate diets, medications, and stress (Lo Feudo et al., 2021; van der Boom, 2022).
Support for the sensitive microbial population in the hindgut is provided by the unique combination of pre-, pro- and postbiotics in Ultimate Ease®. The prebiotics Fructooligosaccharide (FOS) and Mannan oligosaccharide (MOS) provide food sources for beneficial bacteria that are responsible for fermenting fibrous foodstuffs the horse eats. The probiotic YeaSacc® provides a supply of live yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) which is an important component of the microbial population, and which stimulates the cellulolytic activity of bacteria within the hindgut, optimising fibre fermentation (Medina et al., 2002). Saccharomyces cerevisiae also promotes activity of bacteria that utilise lactate (Rossi et al., 1995), and so help to stabilise the hindgut. Postbiotics are the next generation of fermentation products and are now included in Ultimate Ease®, strengthening the gastrointestinal support you can provide to your horses.
Postbiotics are defined as “inanimate microorganisms and/or their compounds that confer health benefits to the host” (ISAPP Consensus, 2021). The postbiotic used in Ultimate Ease® includes cell components and metabolites* which have been shown to positively benefit the bacteria within the horse’s gut.
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Research has shown increased volatile fatty acid production by horses fed the postbiotic, demonstrating a positive outcome on fibre fermentation, especially of high-fibre forages (Morgan et al., 2007), making it particularly beneficial for horses and ponies fed low calorie, high fibre diets for metabolic or weight management reasons. Bacteria species within the hindgut were also more consistent in horses fed the postbiotic compared to those fed a control diet (Ganda et al., 2022), making it beneficial for keeping the hindgut stable and reducing digestive disturbance. Research has also shown improved immunity in horses fed postbiotics, making the new Ultimate Ease® formulation beneficial for all horses and ponies (Trench et al., 2021).
Further supporting immunity are Kaolin and specialised beta glucans which bind to pathogens**, helping to keep the gut healthy. The amino acid Glutamine also provides an energy source to immune cells ensuring optimal function.
With an aromatic and settling mint aroma, Ultimate Ease® provides a highly palatable unique combination of ingredients suitable for all horses and ponies with additional digestive, gastric and hindgut needs.
*Bioactive compounds produced by yeast and bacteria that are used by the animal to support health
** Disease causing organisms
References
Ferrucci, F., Zucca, E., Croci, C., Di Fabio, V. & Ferro, E. (2003). Treatment of gastric ulceration in 10 standardbred racehorses with a pectin-lecithin complex. Veterinary Record, 152: 679-681.
Ganda, E., Chakrabarti, A., Sardi, M., Bobel, J.M., Kozlowicz, B., Norton, S.A., Warren, L.K., & Khafipour, E. (2022). A Postbiotic from Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Fermentation Improves Microbiome Robustness in Young Stress-Challenged Horses in Training. Journal of Animal Science, 100(S3): 292.
ISAPP (2021). A roundup of the ISAPP consensus definitions: probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, postbiotics and fermented foods. Available at: https://isappscience.org/a-roundup-of-the-isapp-consensus-definitions-probiotics-prebiotics-synbiotics-postbiotics-and-fermented-foods/
Lo Feudo, C.M., Stucchi, L., Conturba, B., Alberti, E., Zucca, E., & Ferrucci, F. (2022). Effects of a nutraceutical supplement in the management of mild equine squamous gastric disease in endurance horses. Vet Record, 189(11): e942.
Medina, M., Girard, I.D., Jacotot, E., & Julliand, V. (2002). Effect of a preparation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae on microbial profiles and fermentation patterns in the large intestine of horses fed a high fibre on a high starch diet. Journal of Animal Science, 80: 2600-2609.
Morgan, L.M., Coverdale, J.A., Froetschel, M.A., & Yoon, I. (2007). Effect of Yeast Culture supplementation on Digestibility of Varying Forage Quality in Mature Horses. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 27(6): 260-265.
Rossi, F., Cocconcelli, P.S., & Masoero, F. (1995). Effect of Saccharomyces cerevisiae culture on growth and lactate utilisation by the ruminal bacterium Megasaphera elsdenii. Annales of Zoologici, 44: 403-409.
Trench, M., Bobel, J.M., Bazurto, C., Dolly, J., Hansen, T.L., Kirk, N., Lopez, C., & Warren, L.K. (2021). Dietary Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentate affects mucosal immunity in young stress-challenged horses in training. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 100: 103503.
van der Boom, R. (2022). Equine gastric ulcer syndrome in adult horses. The Veterinary Journal, 283-284: 105830.
Venner, M., Lauffs, S., & Deegen, E. (1999). Treatment of gastric lesions in horses with pectin-lecithin complex. Equine Veterinary Journal, supplement (29): 91-96.
