What is a PMU?
A PMU is a horse that is the by-product of making hormonal medications from a Pregnant Mare's Urine.
*The pharmaceutical company, Wyeth, as well as NAERIC, have banned ANY and ALL rescue groups from helping active PMU farms find loving homes for their horses. We still help the farms that have recently been cut by Wyeth, but are not allowed to help active PMU farms. This places a heavy burden on those farms to place their un-needed horses as thousands of foals are born each year to produce the Pregnant Mare Urine in which Wyeth needs to extract the hormones to make their hormonal medications (ie. Premarin). Most of the active PMU farms do not have a web-site but even if they did they do not have the time to keep it maintained. Sending these un-needed foals and horses (mares and stallions included) to auction is simply easier, therefore that is where most are ending up. And as we all know auction in the end means slaughter. Please help us by contacting these companies and demanding answers as to why they will not allow active PMU farms to work with rescues. Wyeth contact page: http://www.wyeth.com/contact and to contact NAERIC (notice they have no contact info on their site) via e-mail CLICK HERE or call them at (502)245-0425. We have helped over 300 PMU's find loving homes in the past 2 years! Why are we no longer allowed to help them???*
The following was obtained from another web site. The author is unknown however the information given is believed to be, to the best of our knowledge, factual.
"The term “PMU” stands for pregnant mare’s urine. The urine is collected then contracted by Wyeth Ayerst Laboratories where a 125-step process, tests and quality control checks are performed to manufacture a hormone replacement drug called Premarin®. Premarin was introduced in its present form in 1942 and is now one of the leading prescribed medications for estrogen replacement. It’s long-term use aids in the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis, decreases the risk of coronary heart disease in older at risk women and can help to alleviate the discomfort and medical complications of menopause. Horse urine is used because of the obvious quantities that can be collected. More importantly it is because of the conglomeration of estrogens that are present in the urine are vital to producing an effective hormone replacement drug.
The PMU industry has been primarily based in Canada originating in Eastern Ontario and Quebec. There are now some 482 farms in operation, of these 460 are in Canada located in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta the remaining ranches can be found in North Dakota. The present day PMU farms are mostly family operated with strict regulations and guidelines to ensure the appropriate and humane treatment of both mares and foals.
Wyeth Ayerst along with organizations such as Canfact (Canadian Farm Animal Care Trust), The Canadian Government, PMU producers and veterinary practitioners require that each rancher is contractually-obligated to adhere to the Recommended Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Horse in PMU Operations. According to the information provided on the Canfact web site an inspection team was formed in 1996 consisting of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Equine Practitioners and the International League for the Protection of Horses they were satisfied with the way the farms were being run. Here are their comments: "The ranchers took pride in their animals, and Wyeth-Ayerst showed a commitment to continuing to improve the standards of equine welfare on the farms. Based on our inspections, the allegations of inhumane treatment of horses involved in PMU ranching are unfounded. Generally, the horses are very well cared for. The ranchers and the company have responded in a progressive and proactive manner to both professional and public interest. Observations for improvement have been taken seriously and continue to be acted upon by Wyeth-Ayerst and the PMU ranchers. The public should be assured that the care and welfare of the horses involved in the production of an estrogen replacement medication is good, and is closely monitored."
If you would like to learn more about the PMU industry and how it is run please use the links listed below:
Recommended Code Of Practice For Care and Handling of Horses in PMU Operations:http://www.carc-crac.ca/english/codes_of_practice/horse.htm#top
Wyeth Ayerst Laboratories: http://www.wyeth.com
Premarin®: http://www.premarin.com/
CANFACT (Canadian Farm Animal Care Trust) : http://www.canfact.ca
Equine Veterinarians Consensus Report: http://www.canfact.ca/consensus.htm
PMU Industry…(Article- Draft Horse Journal): http://www.horsescoops.com/pmu.htm
Naeric(North American Equine Ranching Information Council) : www.naeric.org
Manitoba Livestock Industry Profile: http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/statistics/aac02s05.html
Power Surge-Interview With Wyeth-Ayerst : http://www.power-surge.com/transcripts/wyeth-ayerst.htm