Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Yeasts of the strain saccharomyces cerevisiae are used in many different ways. In living form, they serve as brewer’s or baker’s yeast. During baking or after brewing, the yeasts are killed off. Inactivated, “dead” brewer’s yeast is palatable for the horse and a valuable source of nutrients (small intestine digestible, essential amino acids, B vitamins, minerals, trace elements). Since it remains inactive even after feeding, when it is in the gut, brewer’s yeast is also called “dead yeast”. Purified cell wall components of brewer’s yeast (mannan-oligosaccharides or ß-glucans) have prebiotic and other positive properties in the gut.
As live yeast, certain strains of saccharomyces cerevisiae (specifically approved for feeding) are fed in living form, i.e. as a probiotic. These yeast cells live in the gut and help to stabilise or restore the physiological gut biome. It is important that only approved live yeast strains are fed, as they can live in the gut but cannot multiply there! Feeding live baker’s yeast (including dried baker’s yeast) could lead to fermentation in the gut.
For more information, see: Mannan-oligosaccharides and ß-glucans, Brewer's yeast and Live yeast
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