The American Association of Equine Practitioners will honor a council of family ranchers dedicated to improving equine welfare through research, education, and innovative marketing with the 2009 Lavin Cup, its award for outstanding equine welfare initiatives.

The North American Equine Ranching Information Council (NAERIC), a non-profit association comprised of 64 family ranchers in Canada and North Dakota, will be presented with the Lavin Cup at the President's Luncheon, Dec. 8, during the AAEP's 55th Annual Convention.

Established in 1995, NAERIC member ranchers manage broodmares that produce quality horses of several breeds as well as provide pregnant mares' urine (PMU). Estrogens extracted from PMU are used to produce hormone therapies for menopausal women.

NAERIC ranchers have organized programs and marketing campaigns to ensure quality breeding and promote advanced animal husbandry techniques that include at least twice-a-year veterinary herd health reviews as well as third party veterinary oversight. The association is heavily involved in serving its members and the public as an agribusiness resource, providing the latest information on ranch management, equine care, and breeding practices