For decades, Premarin was the most popular drug in the United States, with an estimated 22 million woman taking the drug to treat menopausal symptoms. Because Premarin is made with estrogen extracted from pregnant mare's urine (PMU), thousands of mares are used to produce this bitter pill, contributing to the unnecessary overbreeding of horses.
What Happens To PMU Mares?
For approximately six months from fall through spring, the pregnant mares live in the "pee barns" forced to stand in stalls with urine collection devices strapped to them. The stalls are deliberately narrow to prevent pregnant mares from turning around and detaching the collection cups. In the last month of their 11th month pregnancy,the mares are put out to pasture to have their foals. The mares are put in a herd with a stallion so they quickly become pregnant again. In the fall their foals are quickly taken away from them to be sold, whether or not they are fully weaned. The next month they are back in the barns,and the cycle starts again.
Currently, approximately,000 PMU mares live on 73 contracted ranches in Manitoba,Canada. The minimum stall width specified in the regulations (even for the largest draft breeds) is a mere 5 feet. A typical PMU ranch consists of a small family and one hired hand responsible for feeding,cleaning and exercising nearly 100 mares at a time!
What About The Foals That Are Born Each Year?
The manufacturers of PMU drugs would like us to believe that every single foal born as a result of these pregnancies is sold to be used for companionship, recreation, ranching, shows and competitions--what they call "productive markets". In reality, the fillies grow up to replace their worn-out mothers. The colts fates are already sealed. The horse market is over saturated as it is, and there aren't enough homes for another estimated 5,000 born from this industry every year. As a result, PMU foals are at risk for slaughter, their meat shipped to Europe and Japan for human consumption.
This has to stop!!
For more information, please read more at www.uan.org
