Two decade-long innovations define the launch of the new Purina® Microbiome Quotient™ platform.
Editing a press release
Arden Hills, Minnesota [June 3, 2024] – Today, Purina Animal Nutrition launched Purina® SystemIke™ Probiotic Supplement, a live, active probiotic to support horse gut health, and the Purina® MQ™ Equine Microbiome Test Kit, giving horse owners easy access to personalized nutritional advice to support and optimize their horse’s microbiome. The two innovations are part of the new Purina® Microbiome Quotient™ (MQ™) platform, designed for horse owners seeking research-backed insights and solutions to proactively optimize their horse’s gut health.
Home to millions of microorganisms that work together to fuel a horse’s vital functions, the microbiome is crucial to a horse’s gut health. Nearly every aspect of a horse’s health and wellbeing, from digestion to immune function and even performance, can be attributed to the microbiome.
Innovation Realized Over 10 Years
Systemiq™ probiotic supplement is specially formulated to remain live and active through the pelleting process and into the horse’s hindgut where it’s needed most, making it a key differentiator in supporting post-exercise recovery and occasional gastrointestinal stress. Research shows that our patented probiotic technology optimally supports digestive and immune function in horses when fed daily.
Until now, horse owners have had to make educated guesses when assessing their horse’s gut health. Now, with the MQ™ Equine Microbiome Test Kit, all they need to do is take a simple swab sample from their horse and complete a health history questionnaire, and Purina’s team of equine PhD nutritionists will use next-generation sequencing and analysis to provide results and nutritional recommendations via an online portal.
“With the launch of our MQ™ platform, which includes our MQ™ Equine Microbiome Testing Kit and Systemiq™ probiotic supplement, we are empowering horse owners to make health decisions tailored to their horse’s individual needs,” said Kiri Heckman, innovation marketing manager, Purina Animal Nutrition. “This innovation in equine microbiome science is changing how we think about the relationship between equine nutrition, health and performance.”
Doug Payne, Purina® Ambassador and U.S. Eventing Team member, had the opportunity to pre-test his horse for Quantum Leap using the MQ™ Equine Microbiome Test Kit.
“The microbiome plays such an important role in horse performance so it’s fantastic to be able to look at it in more detail,” Payne says. “The amount of detail provided in the report is really quite incredible.”
Payne has also started feeding Quantum Leap a Systemiq™ probiotic supplement, which he sees as part of a broader responsibility to provide the best possible care for his horses.
“As horse owners, whether it’s a five-star competition horse or a backyard pet, I think it’s our duty to help our horses feel their best,” Payne says. “No matter what the job is, a horse’s life can be stressful, and I think Systemiq™ probiotic supplements can be of great benefit to helping them adapt well to their environment, especially for horses that travel long distances.”
Unlocking the mysteries of the microbiome
The Purina® MQ™ platform is the result of 10 years of Purina research, which included building a highly robust equine microbiome database containing thousands of microbiome samples from horses across all 50 states. This database has given Purina researchers the keys to unlocking the mysteries of the equine microbiome.
“Through the samples we had the opportunity to analyze, we learned what a healthy balance of a horse’s microbiome is, something that was previously a mystery. As a result, we are now able to develop innovative new ways to support every horse’s unique microbiome whether they’re at pasture, competing, recovering at home, or whatever other part of their life and work requires,” said Dr. Robert Jacobs, equine innovation manager, Purina Animal Nutrition.
“We now know that every aspect of a horse’s health and physiology is linked to its microbiome,” Jacobs added. “Supporting an optimized and balanced microbiome can promote things like recovery after exercise and better responses to inflammation and gastrointestinal disorders.”
To learn more about the Purina® MQ™ platform, purchase Systemiq™ probiotic supplements, or purchase MQ™ equine microbiome testing kits, visit PurinaEquineMQ.com.
About Purina
Purina Animal Nutrition LLC (www.purinamills.com) is a national organization serving producers, animal owners and their families through more than 4,700 local cooperatives, independent dealers and other retail locations throughout the United States. With a mission to maximize the potential of every animal, the company is a leading innovator in providing a valuable portfolio of complete feeds, supplements, premixes, ingredients and specialty technologies for the production and lifestyle animal markets. Purina Animal Nutrition LLC is headquartered in Arden Hills, Minnesota and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Land O’Lakes, Inc.
Check out Purina’s article on “Knowing Your Microbiome” here.
