Effect of Vivaflor 03 on the colonic ecosystem of horses fed a high forage diet

The present study aimed at testing the effect of a daily dose of 4 g of Vivaflor 03, a product containing 5×108 minimum cfu/g live Lactobacillus farciminis / Lactobacillus rhamnosus, on the colonic ecosystem of horses fed a high forage diet and a large meal of starch. The significant increased total VFA, propionate and butyrate concentrations (P≤0.01) associated with the 26% higher acetate concentration and the 13% higher cellulolytic bacteria concentration in the supplemented group suggested higher forage fermentation when Vivaflor 03 was fed.