An economic model demonstrating the long-term cost benefits of incorporating fertility control into wild horse (Equus caballus) management programs on public lands in the United States.

The research article deals with an economic model to justify the cost benefits of integrating fertility control in the management of wild horses on public lands in the USA.

Economic Model and its Objective

• The goal of the economic model is to aid in the planning and implementation of effectual, cost-saving management programs for wild horses on public lands.
• The model provides a way to compute the costs and improve the results of different management situations.
• This tool can aid in combating the exponential increase in the costs of the BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Management program.

Implications of the Model

• Early test runs of the model indicate that by transitioning from “removal-only” programs to programs combining contraception and removal in a hypothetical Horse Management Area (HMA), the BLM could save about US$8 million over 12 years.
• Moreover, this cost-saving would be achieved whilst maintaining the target horse population of 874 in the specified area.

Prospects of Broad Execution

• If this economic model is implemented across all Horse Management Areas (HMA’s) in the US, it could result in a substantial fall in costs.
• Given the BLM’s estimate that over 38,000 wild horses dwell on 179 HMA’s, widespread application of this model could trigger cost savings amounting to tens of millions of dollars.