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Equine Research and Innovation Team

Synthesizing all of the research we conduct with the nutritional information on ingredients that our labs collect daily around the world, and turning it in to products that benefit horses, is a critical job. The following individuals are responsible for leading the research, development, and trials behind every Nutrena horse feed product that goes on the market.

Russell Mueller, M.S., PAS received his Master of Science degree in Equine Nutrition from Kansas State and is published in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science.  He was an annual guest instructor for the KSU Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital Equine Clinical Nutrition Course and has presented to clinical rounds at KSU and CSU Veterinary Schools as well.  Russell has conducted equine nutrition seminars in KS, MO, TX, CO, FL, OK, WY, NM, MI, WI, MN and IA.  He is certified with the American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists and a member in good standing with the Equine Science Society.

Dr. Marty Adams is an equine nutritionist for Cargill Animal Nutrition. He was formerly the equine nutritionist and horse feed manager for Southern States Cooperative. Dr. Adams served as an assistant/associate professor at Louisiana Tech University after graduate school, and then was the equine nutritionist for Seminole Feed before taking the position at Southern States. Dr. Adams has two B.S. degrees from Missouri State University, M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Missouri (Animal Science/Equine Specialty) and an ARPAS Equine (American Registry of Professional Animal Science) certification.

Dr. Holly Spooner leads our R&D strategy and execution, aligned to the equine portfolio innovation roadmap and positions to own. Holly earned a B.S., Agricultural Development/Leadership and M.S., Animal Science from Texas A&M and her Ph.D., in Animal Science from Michigan State University. She was previously an Associate Professor & Chair in Equine Health at Middle Tennessee State University where she directed the nation’s only Master of Science in Horse Science graduate program. Holly has performed extensive research in equine nutrition, exercise physiology, and equitation science including product development, data collection, laboratory analyses, statistical analysis, and interpretation of results.