Cross-posted from AgCanada
Another round of cutbacks may see the number of equine ranches in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and North Dakota slashed to around 25, down from 64 last year.
The decline in the local industry that produces pregnant mares’ urine for use by drug manufactur ing giant Wyeth in a range of medications since the turn of the century has been dramatic, with the number of ranches falling from 400 at the absolute peak in 2003. At that time, the total herd numbered some 40,000 brood mares; the latest cuts will bring it down to just 2,000.
Last year seven contracts were cancelled.
“We had our annual meeting last week and the company did indicate that they are going to have a resizing again this year,” said Norm Luba, executive director of NAERIC, the North American Equine Ranching Information Council.
