Economics of health management in the Michigan, USA equine industry.
Abstract: A study was developed to describe direct expenses, labor use, and performance days lost associated with health management in the Michigan equine industry. A prospective design with stratified, random sampling, was employed involving 77 operations from February 1992 through January 1993, and 61 different operations from May 1993 through April 1994. Data on the cost of health management were collected during monthly visits, and included monetary expenditures, death losses, days lost, and labor use. Median health care costs (when they were incurred) were $4.84 per horse per month for monetary expenditures plus death losses, 0.20 hours per horse per month for labor use, and 0.81 performance days lost per horse per month for therapy and prevention of all diseases combined. There were large variations both within and between specific disease groups, operation-size strata, and months. General linear models indicated that health-management costs (when incurred) were significantly higher (per horse per month) on smaller operations. The only disease group that showed a significant difference between months was respiratory disease. However, these differences did not appear to demonstrate a definitive seasonal pattern. Monetary expenditures and labor use for management of lameness tended to be lower on operations with more riding and showing activities. Also, monetary expenditures to manage lameness tended to be lower on operations with a higher proportion of conditioning activity. Our results are consistent with other studies, and implications for management and future research are discussed.
Publication Date: 1997-04-01 PubMed ID: 9234407DOI: 10.1016/s0167-5877(96)01106-3Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Research Support
- U.S. Gov't
- Non-P.H.S.
Summary
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The study seeks to explore the costs and implications of health management in the Michigan equine industry. It particularly investigates the monetary expenditures, labor use, and performance days lost due to various health-related issues across different horse-rearing operations.
About the Study
- The researchers adopted a prospective design with stratified, random sampling and carried out the study across two periods; February 1992-January 1993 involving 77 operations, and May 1993-April 1994 with 61 different operations.
- The data regarding the cost of health management were gathered monthly, covering aspects such as expenditure, horse deaths, days lost due to health issues, and labor use.
Findings of the Study
- The study found that the median cost of horse healthcare, when incurred, stood at $4.84 per horse per month.
- The labor use was found to be 0.20 hours per horse per month.
- Approximately 0.81 performance days were lost per horse per month due to the prevention and therapy of all diseases.
Variations in Health Management Costs
- The study noted significant variations in the costs among different diseases, operation sizes, and months.
- Focusing on the operation sizes, smaller operations were noted to have significantly higher health management costs per horse per month.
- Among the diseases, only respiratory diseases showed a significant difference between months, even though it did not demonstrate a definitive seasonal pattern.
Cost Implications on Lameness Management
- The study revealed that operations engaged more in riding and showing activities reported lower monetary expenditures and labor use for lameness management.
- Additionally, those operations with a higher proportion of conditioning activities demonstrated lower expenditure on lameness management.
Summary
- The findings of the study align with those from other studies, indicating the consistency of the results.
- Implications for management and scope for further research are also discussed, opening avenues for potential refinement in health management strategies within the equine industry.
Cite This Article
APA
Lloyd JW, Kaneene JB.
(1997).
Economics of health management in the Michigan, USA equine industry.
Prev Vet Med, 30(1), 1-8.
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0167-5877(96)01106-3 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Population Medicine Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Health Care Costs / standards
- Health Care Costs / statistics & numerical data
- Health Status
- Health Surveys
- Horse Diseases / economics
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / therapy
- Horses / physiology
- Lameness, Animal / economics
- Lameness, Animal / epidemiology
- Lameness, Animal / therapy
- Linear Models
- Lung Diseases / economics
- Lung Diseases / therapy
- Lung Diseases / veterinary
- Michigan / epidemiology
- Models, Economic
- Prospective Studies
- Seasons
- Veterinary Medicine / economics
- Veterinary Medicine / standards
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