What is it?
 
Gut Balancer INSTAFIXTM is a highly concentrated Prebiotic and Probiotic paste that works rapidly to re-establish the horses’ normal gut function. For use in times of stress or change, including travelling, worming, vaccination, hard training, diet change, forage change, spring grass, competition and antibiotic treatment. Suitable for foals and mature horses and ponies.
 
Gut Balancer INSTAFIXTM is guaranteed to deliver the highest levels of Pre and Probiotics compared to any other paste.
 
What’s in it?
A highly concentrated protected probiotic and prebiotic paste with MOS (Mannan oligosaccharides) and Beta-glucans to help maintain normal digestive function.
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae When feeding live yeast-based probiotics to horses it is essential that they are fed in a form which protects them from stomach acid so they reach the hindgut alive. We use a protected live yeast, which is capable of withstanding acidic conditions, but will then be broken down in the hindgut releasing the live yeast.
 
Supplementing encapsulated live yeast can have the following benefits for horses:
Supporting microflora in the caecum (hindgut)
Improved fibre digestion
Limiting the overproduction of lactic acid in the caecum
Improved body condition
 
We have carried out a number of clinical trials using encapsulated live yeast in horses. These studies looked at its use in combination with prebiotics. 
1. Hale, C.E. and Hemmings, A.J. Differences in dry matter digestibility (DMD) in horses supplemented with and without live yeast (NCYC Sc47), Unpublished manuscript, Royal Agricultural college, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 6LS.
2. Medina, B. et al. (2002) Effect of a preparation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae on microbial profiles and fermentation patterns in the large intestine of horses fed a high fiber or a high starch diet. Journal of Animal Science, 80(10), pp.2600-2609.
3. Lattimer, J.M. et al. (2005). Effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae on in vitro fermentation of a high concentrate or high fiber diet in horses. In Proceedings of the 19th Symposium of the equine Science Society, Tucson, AZ (pp. 168-173).
4. Mackenthun, E. et al. (2013). Effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae supplementation on apparent total tract digestibility of nutrients and fermentation profile in healthy horses. Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition, 97, pp.115-120.
 
MOS & Beta-glucans MOS and Beta-glucans are prebiotics, which means they create beneficial effects for resident microbes within the digestive tract. MOS is a large molecule which binds toxins produced by “bad” bacteria. Beta-glucans are able to interact with the immune system found in the digestive tract and stimulate it to improve its defence mechanisms. 
 
Research has been performed on these ingredients in the production animal sector as follows:
1. Benage, M.C. (2005) The Effect of Mannan Oligosaccharide (Bio-Mos©) on Horse Herd Health (Doctoral dissertation, West Texas A & M University).
2. Ott E. (2005) Influence of Bio-Mos®, a mannan oligosaccharide supplement, on the immune system of the mare and neonatal foal. In: Nutritional Biotechnology in the Feed and Food Industries, Proceedings of Alltech’s 21” Annual Symposium (T.P Lyons and K.A. Jacques, eds). Nottingham University Press, UK, pp. 447–454.
3. Spearman K. and Ott E. (2004) The effect of MOS supplementation on the immune response of mares and their foals. Journal of Animal Science, 82 (Suppl. 1): 61.
4. Soltanian, S. (2009) Beta-glucans as immunostimulant in vertebrates and invertebrates. Critical reviews in microbiology, 35(2), pp.109-138.
 
FAQ’s:
Q: Can this be fed to foals?
A: Yes, it is safe to administer to foals.
Q: Can this be fed to mares in foal?
A: Yes, it is safe to administer to mares in foal and lactating mares.
Q: How long before I should start to see any changes?
A: You should begin to see changes within 48-72 hours
Q: Do I need to give this with feed?
A: No, it can be syringed without adding to feed.
Q: Is it safe to give to competition horses?
A: Yes, there are no prohibited substances in this product and all our products are manufactured and tested under our UFAS licence and NOPS scheme.
Q: How much should I give?
A: Please see our detailed feeding guide on the above tab.