All About Digestive Health
What Is Digestive Health?
A HEALTHY DIGESTIVE SYSTEMS SERVES FOUR MAIN FUNCTIONS:
- Digests feed efficiently
- Absorbs and utilizes nutrients
- Contributes to the function of a more responsive innate immune system
- Allows for maximum performance
What Threatens Digestive Health?
COMMON THREATS TO DIGESTIVE HEALTH INCLUDE:
- Stress
- Inconsistency in diet, management and confinement
- Excess starch/sugar from grain-based diet reaches the hindgut
THREATS CAUSE:
- Colic, laminitis or the onset of gastric ulcers
- Reduced absorption of nutrients
- Suppressed immune response
- Performance issues
Signs Of Good Digestive Health
- Ability to maintain weight
- Full and well defined top-line
- Manure is solid and clear of undigested feed
- Can easily bend body to both sides
- Eats well – not off feed
- Hair coat shines
- Hooves are strong
![](https://vitalizeeq.com/wp-content/themes/vitalize-child.1.0/images/what-threatens-digestive-health.jpg)
What Are Prebiotics?
A prebiotic is a selectively fermented ingredient that promotes the growth and/or activity of the beneficial microbes that contribute to the well being of the horse.
Learn the Difference Between Prebiotics vs Probiotics
Mode of Action
- Supplies nutrients to the beneficial microbes
- Provides more surface area for beneficial microbes to work
- Creates natural enzymatic digestion
Why Amaferm?
AMAFERM is a natural feed additive that acts as a prebiotic to support the horse’s entire digestive system resulting in an increase in digestibility and absorption of nutrients.
![](https://vitalizeeq.com/wp-content/themes/vitalize-child.1.0/images/prebiotic-horse.jpg)
Why Amaferm?
Amaferm is a natural feed additive that acts as a prebiotic that supports the horse’s entire digestive system. Designed to eat small amounts of forage throughout the day, horses today are often fed large amounts of grain once or twice a day. This undermines the horse’s digestion and can ultimately lead to digestive imbalance and performance issues.
![](https://vitalizeeq.com/wp-content/themes/vitalize-child.1.0/images/what-is-digestive-health.jpg)
![](https://vitalizeeq.com/wp-content/themes/vitalize-child.1.0/images/control-illustration.jpg)
![](https://vitalizeeq.com/wp-content/themes/vitalize-child.1.0/images/amaferm-illustration.jpg)
The illustration above shows the branching of fungi (blue) and breakdown of the forage/fiber (green). The increase in fungal branching allows for more attachment sites for good bacteria to work to digest feed & supplements.
Foregut
Amaferm Works To:
- Keep the intestinal environment stable
- Enhance the response of the immune system
- Ward off a pathogenic challenge
Hindgut
Amaferm Works To:
- Stabilize pH to minimize digestive upset
- Maximize beneficial fiber digesting bacteria
- Increase surface area for increased nutrient utilization
- Increase microbial enzyme secretion for better overall digestion
- Increase production of volatile fatty acids for energy
What to Expect with Amaferm®
- Stamina Without Getting High / Hot
- Hardkeepers Eating and Gaining Weight
- Digestive Wellness
- Consistent Appetite
- Strong Solid Hooves
The Difference - Research Backed
![](https://vitalizeeq.com/wp-content/themes/vitalize-child.1.0/images/the-difference-chart.jpg)
Results are based on 50+ years of extensive published research.
Proven Performance with Amaferm
Amaferm Impacts Digestion
![](https://vitalizeeq.com/wp-content/themes/vitalize-child.1.0/images/amaferm-impacts-digestion.jpg)
Chart shows percentage change in fecal material from the controls indicating increased digestion and absorption of nutrients.
Amaferm Impacts VFA Production
![](https://vitalizeeq.com/wp-content/themes/vitalize-child.1.0/images/amaferm-impacts-vfa-production.jpg)
Chart shows more VFAs on both forages which translates to the horse as more energy to perform.
Source: McDaniel J. Anim Sci 71 2164-2172