The microbiome is now mainstream. This year, gut health was featured on The New York Times list of health trends defining the year, McKinsey’s list of trends defining the wellness market, and amassed over one billion views on #GutTok TikTok videos. Even the more scientific term “gut microbiome” is used by the average person, seeing a Google search volume increase of 1400% between the years of 2007-2022.  

A gut microbiome is made up of trillions of microorganisms including over 1,000 species of bacteria, as well as viruses, fungi, and parasites. Each person’s microbiome is unique to them and impacts many of the body’s systems and functions, including the digestive, immune, nervous and endocrine systems.  

Just as with humans, research has shown that a horse’s microbiome can affect almost every aspect of its wellbeing, from digestion to performance and immune function.  

With its team of dedicated, highly trained equine experts and incomparable Animal Nutrition Center in Gray Summit, Missouri, Purina was well-positioned to help lead the industry in uncovering how to better understand and positively impact a horse’s microbiome, whether a performance athlete or a companion animal. 

“Horse nutrition tends to follow human nutrition,” says Dr. Robert Jacobs, Equine Innovation Manager at Purina. “With consumer curiosity around gut health at an all-time high and technological advancements in effectively studying a horse’s microbiome, we knew it would be a worthwhile investment of time and resources.”  

After amassing the largest equine microbiome sample collection in history, the Purina® Microbiome Quotient (MQ) platform was introduced in June 2024 as a new way for horse owners to connect their horse’s gut health to its wellbeing and performance. The platform consists of a comprehensive equine microbiome testing kit and subsequent digital report with insights into the horse’s microbiome along with a nutrition plan tailored to the individual horse.

Purina’s Systemiq™ probiotic supplement is one more piece of the puzzle in helping horses overcome challenges such as exercise or occasional gastrointestinal stress and is the first product launched within the MQ® platform. Its unique and patented probiotic technology survives when other bacteria strains don’t, remaining live and active through manufacturing and the horse’s gastric environment, an essential factor in probiotic efficacy.  

“We’re set up better than anyone else to do this work,” says Dr. Mary Beth Gordon, Senior Director, Equine Technical Innovation at Purina. “We have full confidence in our innovation, MQ platform products included, that come from our research farm because of the extensive front end work. But this post-launch stage is really fun. We are hearing from horse owners who have implemented changes based on MQ testing kit recommendations and using MQ Systemiq, and their horses are feeling and performing better than ever. It’s incredibly rewarding.”

Given its scope, launching the initial services and products within the MQ® platform was a collaborative, cross-functional effort. With research and development led by Mary Beth and Robert, the team required subject matter experts from a range of disciplines including IT, data intelligence, technical specialists, emerging technologies, marketing, supply chain, and legal.

“We have the capability to launch quality products quickly but a project like this required time,” says Robert. “We needed those years to collect and analyze microbiome samples from horse owners in order to get it right. Not to mention the many other components of creating a user-friendly, accessible platform that would be useful to horse owners. It was truly a team effort.” 

The team at the Animal Nutrition Center, affectionately referred to as “The Farm,” is continuing equine microbiome research trials in order to build on the MQ® platform and continue uncovering ways to optimize a horse’s microbiome and general wellbeing.  

“As a horse-lover, all I wanted to do was work with horses every day,” shares Mary Beth. “I’m so grateful to be part of a company that values and invests in research and the people doing the work. The team at The Farm is endlessly curious and finds great joy in uncovering the answers.”  

To learn more about MQ®, including pricing details and how to get an MQ® Kit for your horse, visit MQ.PurinaMills.com.