Microbes

Microbes are microorganisms such as bacteria, micro-algae, fungi and protozoa (single-celled animal organisms). Millions of microbes live both on and in the human or equine body, as well as on and in our food, and on practically all surfaces we come into contact with.

In horses, particularly high numbers of microbes are found in the large intestine. They assist with fibre digestion, for example by breaking down hard-to-digest cellulose. This produces what are known as “volatile fatty acids” (acetate, butyrate and propionate; or acetic acid, butyric acid, propionic acid), which are essential for the horse. This is because they are the main energy substrate for crude fibre consumers. One of the volatile fatty acids, butyrate (butyric acid), specifically nourishes the gut cells and supports their healthy maintenance.

When beneficial gut bacteria die off, other crude fibre consumers, such as ruminants (cattle, sheep, etc.), digest this so-called microbial protein. This makes ruminants largely independent of the supply of essential amino acids.

Unfortunately, the exact opposite is true for horses. They excrete the valuable microbial protein unused. As a result, they lose many essential amino acids. This is also the reason why, when it comes to the horse’s protein or amino acid supply, only protein digestible in the small intestine counts.

Incidentally: alongside the beneficial microbes involved in digestion, the bacteria in the gut also support the immune defence. Other microbes, on the other hand, are parasites and pathogens.