Baileys Better Biome 1.5kg

Baileys Better Biome brings together three valuable digestive enhancers in the form of a prebiotic, a probiotic yeast and postbiotics which work synergistically as a unique support package for the horse’s microbiome to help promote optimum gut health.

Prebiotic – Baileys Digest Plus, a short chain Fructo-Oligosaccharide (sc-FOS) acts as a food source for beneficial gut bacteria helping them to flourish at the expense of pathogenic species.

Probiotic yeast – Saccharomyces cerevisiae stimulates fibre-digesting bacteria, helps increase their numbers and also helps reduce the risk of excess acidity in the hindgut.

Postbiotics - These are defined as inanimate microorganisms and/or the end products of microbial fermentation, like metabolites, that confer a health benefit on the host.  The natural microbial population of the horse’s gut are continually producing these metabolites, which include volatile fatty acids from fibre, B vitamins and other compounds, which are beneficial to health and well-being.  Better Biome supplies an additional source of these metabolites in the diet daily to help ensure the horse always has a consistent supply, regardless of any stress factors which may affect the microbiome.

Stress can upset the horse’s microbiome and impact on their health and well-being.  Feeding a combination of pre- and probiotics helps support the hindgut microflora through these times of stress, while the addition of postbiotics means the horse is less reliant on its microbiome to produce these beneficial metabolites while it becomes reestablished.

Why Use Better Biome?  

Better Biome is suitable for horses and ponies, of any age:

• Digestive upsets or hind gut acidity
• After/during a course of antibiotics
• Seasonal grass fluctuations
• Scouring foals (consult your vet)
• Loose or watery droppings
• Sick or on box rest
• Reduced fibre intake
• Stressy or excitable
• Older equines
• Travelling or competing

Loose Droppings - Diarrhoea or really watery or foul-smelling droppings are good indications that all is not well in the horse’s digestive tract. Better Biome should help improve the health and balance of the microbiome resulting, in due course, in healthier looking (and smelling!) droppings.

Underweight - If the horse has been underfed, especially it it's not been receiving sufficient fibre, then it is likely that the friendly bacteria will have been too, with numbers of fibre-digesting species being depleted, leading to a gut which can’t work efficiently, and a horse that won’t put on weight whatever he is fed.  Giving Better Biome should help the fibre-digesting bacteria reestablish so the horse gains more from what he eats.  Poor fibre-eaters or those on limited fibre rations should ideally have their diets reviewed to ensure levels are optimal for equine and microbiome health.

Stressy/Excitable - Excitable horse may pass droppings more frequently, flushing out good microorganisms and upsetting the balance in the gut, which can lead to increased acidity, inflammation and discomfort, with the potential for unwanted behaviour.  Better Biome is designed to help improve the balance of the microbiome, helping stabilise gut pH, reducing the risk of discomfort and, potentially, helping the horse feel more at ease.  Where gastric ulcers are suspected, these should be clinically diagnosed and treated accordingly.

“My Thoroughbred soon seemed more relaxed when I fed Better Biome. I stopped for a period, and he became more fractious  but settled again when I reintroduced it.”

Routine Changes - If a horse, changes yard, is injured or suddenly becomes ill, the resultant changes to diet and routine make them vulnerable to digestive upsets, but giving Better Biome before, during and for a period after, times of stress, can help the microbiome remain stable.

“My horse seems more settled and his droppings have improved in consistency.”

Antibiotics - By definition, antibiotics are designed to kill bacteria and, even though they may not ‘target’ those friendly species in the hindgut, it’s highly likely that some will suffer a depletion in numbers, especially from oral antibiotics.  Feeding Better Biome while the horse is on antibiotics and continuing for a period, once the treatment is finished, should help beneficial microbe populations recover.

“My yearling was a little dull while on antibiotics as was his coat. Since being on Better Biome, that has completely reversed and he is brighter, is putting on weight and his coat is nice and shiny again.”

Mares and Foals - Supporting the mare’s microbiome, with Better Biome, throughout pregnancy and lactation should help her get the full nutritional benefit from her diet, which may be reflected in milk quality.  Because some gut microorganisms are involved in the horse’s immune response, ensuring they are healthy and thriving is of benefit to the health and well-being of the host.  Scouring foals and those who have received antibiotics may benefit from Better Biome, which can be administered via an oral syringe to suckling foals.  (Always consult your vet and our Nutrition Team for advice and guidance on feeding sick or recovering equines of all ages.)

Feeding Instructions    

Ponies – 20g (1 x 25ml scoop) per day.  A 1.5kg tub lasts 75 days.     

Horses – 40g (2 x 25ml scoops) per day.  A 1.5kg tub lasts 38 days.

Better Biome is designed to be added to a horse’s daily bucket feed and, provided it is stored in a cool dry place, out of direct sunlight, will keep well so can be used as and when the need arises.  It can be given as a short-term solution in response to a more acute disruption to the microbial population, such as after a course of antibiotics or, if the microbiome is likely to be compromised indefinitely, such as with old age, it may be used long term to counteract the problem.  For extreme cases, up to double the suggested quantities may be given, for a short 'loading' period.  For guidance, contact the Baileys Nutritional Helpline

If giving in soaked feeds, add Better Biome just prior to feeding, especially in warmer weather, otherwise the live yeast may begin to ferment in the feed bucket.