Maine Equine Survey Results (Conducted in 2000)

Total of 204 responses: 106 by mail and 98 by Internet

Please click on the appropriate radio button or fill in the box. Thank you for your time.

1. What county do you live in? (click on one only)

8 Aroostook 8 Knox 9 Somerset
15 Androscoggin 1 Lincoln 8 Waldo
25 Cumberland 27 Penobscot 5 Washington
3 Franklin 7 Piscataquis 23 York
16 Hancock 13 Oxford 1 Do not live in Maine
31 Kennebec 3 Sagadahoc  

2. Describe your involvement in the horse industry. (Check all that apply.)

28    4-H Horse Leader 32    Riding instructor 9    Farrier
157  Hobby 30    Raising breeding stock 2   Veterinarian
41    Horse Trainer 30    Run a boarding stable Other

3. Please indicate the total number and market value of horses normally in your care (include owned and boarded horses in your care.)

    Number of Horses 799
    Market Value of all horses $3371
    Total value reported - $2,329,4000

4. What were the expenses for your equines for last year?

      # Responses Av. $ /animal Range Total animals Total Value
    Feed 138 386 5 -4400 599 231,041
    Bedding 121 127 6 - 4400 538 68,221
    Board 41 2091 67 - 8320 137 286,408
    Vet & Medicine 161 314 3 - 3600 644 201,971
    Breeding 17 231 5 - 750 250 28,864
    Equipment 124 1962 9 - 36,000 551 1,080,961
    Other 92 1224 1 - 30,000 400 346,678

    5. Please rate how beneficial you feel educational programs on the following topics would be for you:

    Amount of Benefits Received  (type 1 through 5 for each line)

    5 = Extremely Beneficial 4 = Very Beneficial 3 = Beneficial 2 = Somewhat Beneficial 1 = Not Beneficial
    Horse Manure Management 2.9
    Pasture Management 3.6
    Poisonous Plants 3.7
    Equine Housing 3.1
    Business Management 2.7
    Economics 2.8
    Hoof Care 3.5
    Reproduction 2.8
    Latest Equine Research 3.7
    General Health Programs 3.8
    Equine First Aid 4.1
    Nutrition 3.9
    Hay Production 3.2
    Insurance 3.1
    Careers 2.9
    Equine Law 3.2
    Associated Enterprises (i.e.,Horse supplies, tack, vet supplies, and other equine-related business) 3.5
    5 = Extremely Beneficial 4 = Very Beneficial 3 = Beneficial 2 = Somewhat Beneficial 1 = Not Beneficial

    Please list any other equine educational topics you think are important: Link to responses

    6. How do you currently learn new information about horses and horse care? (Click all that apply.)

    140 Friends and family 18 Statewide meetings 69 Video Tapes Link to Other sources of informtion
    49 Local meetings 169 Magazines 108 Internet

    7. How far would you travel to attend an equine educational meeting of interest to you? (click one)

    72: Up to 50 miles 80: 50 to 100 miles 24: 100 to 200 miles 19: over 200 miles

    8. How much would you be willing to pay for a one day educational event of interest to you? (Click one)

    5: Nothing 73: $5 to $25 20: $50-$100
    11: Up to $5 75: $25-$50 10: Over $100

    9. What type of bedding do you use for your horses?(Click one answer.)

    51 Bulk Sawdust 1 Pelleted Sawdust 93 Bagged Wood Shavings 12 Straw
    17 Bagged Sawdust 40 Bulk Wood Shavings 0 Sheared Newspaper 10Other

    10. Are you aware that there is a nutrient management law in Maine that requires livestock owners with more than 50,000 pounds of animals to have a manure management plan?

      60: Yes      130: No

    11. What method of manure handling and disposal best describes your current situation?

    (click the method most often used.)

    42 Manually (muck bucket, wheelbarrow, etc.) clean stall(s) and spread daily.
    1 Manually clean stall(s) and place in a dumpster for landfill.
    120 Manually clean stall(s), pile manure and remove/spread when there is time.
    12 Manually clean stall(s) and stack in a manure storage structure.
    8 Mechanically clean stall(s) using some type of mechanical loader and either spread daily or store the manure.
    25 Other

12. If you spread manure, please rate the importance to you of the following factors in deciding where and when to spread manure.   (Type 1 through 5 for each line)

5 = Extremely Beneficial 4 = Very Beneficial 3 = Beneficial 2 = Somewhat Beneficial 1 = Not Beneficial
Labor availability to handle manure 2.0
Smell 1.7
Closeness to neighbors 1.8
Water pollution potential 2.5
Nutrient needs of crops 4.8
Soil compaction 2.2
Anytime I can get on the field 1.9
Apply according to written manure management plan 1.3

13. If the manure is stored or piled, do you…(Click the method most often used.)

92 Remove the manure yourself.
42 Use outside sources (hire or secure someone else) to remove manure from premises.
40 No regular removal plan.

14. In the next ten years, do you think the Maine equine industry will: (Click the Best answer.)

126 Grow
39 Stay about the same
9 Decline
17 No opinion

Link to : Why did you choose this answer?

Link to : Other Comments:

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Last Modified: 01/05/07
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