Blood farms: from Iceland to Italy and Parma ham

PMSG, costing around €1m per 100 grams, is derived from pregnant mare’s blood, making it one of the most expensive powders globally. Pharmaceutical companies in Europe purchase this hormone to produce veterinary medicines for use on farms, especially popular on pig farms to stimulate sow fertility. PMSG is also known as eCG (equine chorionic gonadotropin).