Baileys Better Biome review: prebiotic, probiotic and postbiotic in one tub

Baileys Better Biome is a gut supplement from Essex-based Baileys Horse Feeds, described by the company as a support package for the horse's hindgut microbiome. This is a desk review: we have not fed or tested it. It is based on the manufacturer's published product information, checked on 11 November 2026, and on the wider research into its ingredient types. Always read the label on the tub you buy, as formulations can be updated.

What it is

Better Biome brings together three types of digestive enhancer: a prebiotic, a probiotic yeast and postbiotics. Baileys says these work together to support a healthy microbiome and help maintain droppings of a healthy consistency. It comes in a 1.5kg tub with a 25ml scoop that holds 20g.

The manufacturer targets it at sensitive horses, stressy or excitable horses, those who travel and compete, horses affected by seasonal grass changes, older horses, and horses on box rest or antibiotics. That is a broad list, which reflects the fact that it is designed as a general hindgut support product rather than for one specific situation. For a refresher on how the three ingredient types differ, see prebiotics and postbiotics.

Declared key ingredients

The composition is listed as inactivated yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) postbiotic fermentation product, and fructo-oligosaccharides (scFOS, sold by Baileys as Digest Plus). The additive declared is the live yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae MUCL39885 (4b1710) at 2,500 x 10 to the power of 9 CFU per kg, which is 2,500 billion CFU per kg. Analytical constituents are given as crude protein 17.8%, crude oil 1.9%, crude fibre 14%, crude ash 6.2% and sodium 0.04%.

Short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (prebiotic)

Baileys describes its scFOS as a food source for beneficial gut bacteria, helping them flourish at the expense of pathogenic species. FOS is one of the most common prebiotics in equine products. The page does not state how much FOS is in each serving.

Live yeast (probiotic)

The manufacturer says the yeast stimulates fibre-digesting bacteria and helps reduce the risk of excess acidity in the hindgut. At 40g a day, the declared count works out at roughly 100 billion CFU a day for a horse, and about 50 billion for a pony at 20g. That is our own arithmetic from the label, and counts are not comparable like for like between different strains.

Postbiotic yeast fermentation product

Baileys defines postbiotics as inanimate microorganisms or the end products of microbial fermentation that benefit the host. Its argument is that supplying these metabolites directly means the horse relies less on its own microbiome to produce them while that microbiome recovers from stress. It is an interesting rationale, but the page does not specify which metabolites the product supplies or in what amounts.

What the research says

Live yeast has the deepest evidence base of the three ingredient types, although the published studies used various strains and not this product. A University of Glasgow study in ponies found that adding a live yeast supplement produced small increases in the digestibility of dry matter and fibre fractions on both high-fibre and high-starch diets (Garber and colleagues, 2020). The improvements were modest, in the order of half a percentage point to one and a half percentage points for fibre, which is a useful reminder that effects in healthy animals tend to be small.

Other work found no change in fibre digestion in healthy horses given yeast (Mackenthun and colleagues, 2013), and a review of equine probiotics concluded that the peer-reviewed evidence behind commercial products is limited (Schoster and colleagues, 2014). Postbiotics are a newer category in horse feeding and we could not find a controlled equine trial of this type of ingredient to cite. On FOS, a laboratory study raised the question of whether fermentation products from FOS could affect the stomach lining in horses at risk of ulcers (Cehak and colleagues, 2019), though it was a tissue study rather than a feeding trial.

How it is fed

Baileys gives these rates: ponies 20g (one 25ml scoop) a day, and horses 40g (two scoops) a day. A 1.5kg tub lasts 75 days for a pony and 38 days for a horse at those rates. The company says it is designed to be added to the daily bucket feed and, stored cool and dry, can be kept for use as and when needed. For more serious disruptions, up to double the suggested amount may be given for a short loading period, and Baileys recommends contacting its nutrition team for guidance.

If you feed soaked feeds, the manufacturer advises adding Better Biome just before feeding, especially in warm weather, because the live yeast may otherwise start to ferment in the bucket. Baileys also says it can be given to suckling foals by oral syringe, but asks owners to consult their vet. Our guide on how to feed a probiotic covers practical handling.

Who it may suit

Better Biome is a reasonable fit for owners who like the idea of covering prebiotic, probiotic and postbiotic support in one product, particularly around antibiotics, box rest or spells of stress. Its higher daily live yeast count, on paper, may appeal to owners who want a more concentrated yeast intake than lower-dose powders provide. Owners of older horses may also find our senior horse section helpful, as Baileys lists older equines among its target groups.

Limitations

• The amounts of scFOS and postbiotic product per serving are not stated.
• No product-specific trial is cited on the product page.
• Postbiotic evidence in horses is still at an early stage.
• The daily serving for a horse (40g) is larger than some rivals, so a tub runs out sooner.
• It contains no declared vitamins or minerals and does not replace a balanced diet.

Things to check before choosing it

BETA NOPS and competition rules

The product page we checked does not mention BETA NOPS. BETA runs NOPS as a company scheme and offers an online web checker, so look up the manufacturer before relying on it for a competition horse, and check your governing body's rules as well.

Cereals and sugar

No cereals are declared in the composition. FOS is a carbohydrate, but the page does not give a sugar or starch figure for the product. If your horse needs a tightly controlled sugar and starch intake, ask Baileys' nutrition team for the figures.

Cost per day

Work out the cost per gram by dividing the tub price by 1,500, then multiply by 20 for a pony or 40 for a horse. Compare that daily figure with alternatives rather than the tub price alone, as serving sizes vary widely across gut balancers.

Our verdict

Baileys Better Biome stands out for combining three ingredient types and for a relatively high declared live yeast count per daily serving. The company is open about its feeding rates, tub life and the role of its nutrition team, and the page sensibly flags when a vet is needed. The trade-offs are unstated prebiotic and postbiotic amounts, limited equine evidence for postbiotics and the need to check NOPS status yourself. It is a credible option for owners who want broad hindgut support, and you can see how it compares in our UK horse probiotics comparison.