Yogurt and intestinal bacteria

[Roger]

Years ago, I read somewhere that giving a horse plain yogurt would help the horse's intestinal bacteria bloom after being stressed. Have any of you seen any modern research on the blooming bacteria or is that the blooming of the blooming gut bacteria
Is there anything to adding brewers yeast to the rations of a stressed horse?

[Intrinsic Worth]

Years ago, I read somewhere that giving a horse plain yogurt would help the horse's intestinal bacteria bloom after being stressed. Have any of you seen any modern research on the blooming bacteria or is that the blooming of the blooming gut bacteria
Is there anything to adding brewers yeast to the rations of a stressed horse?

Where I worked, we used to give yogurt to horses if they had the runs etc. and I never did see much difference. We had better results with Probios.

[AscotStud]

We've had fairly good success with Probiotic yogurt, also Pepto Bismal

[Strategic Maneuver]

I've used Fast Track and Probios. I like Probios best. Start with paste for a few days and then go to granules for maintenance.

[Shammy Davis]

I remember that a horse ran in the KD some years back who had periodic bouts w/colic and had trouble gaining weight. My memory is decreasing w/increased age, but as I recall the yogurt was left unrefrigerated for a couple of days before it was fed to the horse. The reason for this was to allow bacteria to grow in the culture before it was administered. It worked.

[Laurierace]

That was the horse Invisible Ink and it was buttermilk that they let ferment, not yogurt. There is some benefit to be gained from feeding an adult horse yogurt but it would have to be in such huge amounts that it would not be cost effective or very palatable. You might be able to get a foal to eat enough to be beneficial since they are so much smaller. You are much better off using a commercial probiotic such as fast trac or probios.

[larrygene]

The best and most cost effective is to feed yeast cultures. Several companies make it, one is Diamond V. We feed it to all our horses. Never, ever have any colic or intestinal problems. You will find it at most feed stores, especially if they're a lot of dairy cattle in the area. If not, then ask your feed man to order you some. Get the triple strength which cost about $30 for a 40# sack. Feed a handful once daily. Product is not dosage critical.

[Gerry]

We stand Invisible Ink's 1/2 brother Inklet and I didnt know that Invisible Ink was prone to colic and thinness....Inklet doesnt have colic issues but weight was a problem initially as he let down from the track. As soon as I started double dosing his feed with Fastrack he blossomed...maybe it runs in the family? I can remember doses foals when I was younger with yougurt and it was messy and a pain to get them to eat it..so much easier with the probiotic gel, 2ccs in the mouth and done..love it!

[Roger]

A happy ending to this story, I fed my mare120cc of yogurt the first day and left th yogurt out and I fed her 120cc each day for the next 4 days and by the last day that stuff was rank. She picked up her appetite and I ran her Sunday and she broke her maiden. I'm not sure yogurt had anything to do with her win, but when she goes off feed again, I can now afford peach and strawberry yogurt. Thanks for your ideas.

[MINNOW]

Glad to hear of your win Roger,I think the yogurt was a miracle cure,
we ran our first horse on Sunday she ran well for a while but tired,it didn't help being in the 9th hole.I was a little disappointed at first then one of the sayings someone on here has came to mind,'' bring them back last but bring them back sound''She came home sound.