Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA.
Department of Agriculture, Illinois State University, Normal, IL, USA.
J Anim Sci. 2023 Jan 3;101. doi: 10.1093/jas/skad091.
The novel COVID-19 virus caused a global pandemic disrupting lives, industries, and economies. The result was an impact on prices due to challenges with production and supply chain distribution. This study investigates the financial strain COVID-19 had on equine owners and leasers, what the market for equine care would bear if costs for care increased, and what factors contribute to their willingness to pay (WTP) for increasing cost of equine care. An online survey was distributed for 4 weeks to adult U.S. residents. Respondents reported their involvement in the equine industry, financial response to COVID-19, and responses to a double-bound dichotomous choice question on their WTP for care given a randomized increase (1%-20%) in their current cost (n = 506). Data were analyzed using interval regression models where a = 0.05 (Stata15). Respondents were separated into three groups: owner keeping their horse at their residence, owner boarding their equids, and leaser. Boarders reported mean monthly payments of 23.33 ± 90.37 USD (n = 15) for free board, 236.47 ± 151.92 USD, (n = 75) for partial board, and 514.75 ± 291.71 USD (n = 181) for full board. Results show all owners, leaser, and boarders have different WTP values which range from 18.5% to 26.2% increase in current care costs which extends beyond the presented range due to many respondents responding "yes" to both WTP questions (71% of owners, 6% of boarders, 65% of leasers). Equine owners, with on farm equids from the southern US were WTP 11% less than from other regions (P = 0.015). The current boarding fees from owners that board their equids lowered their WTP by 0.01% (P = 0.029) for each additional dollar paid, whereas current care costs were not a significant factor for other owners (P = 0.370) or leasers (P = 0.395). Those that had a full lease for their equids, housed on farm or at a facility, were WTP 15% higher (P = 0.036) than those that had a partial or no lease. In comparison, boarding status (full, partial, or no boarding) did not significantly (P = 0.51) impact boarder's WTP. Age of respondent and annual household income heterogeneously affected WTP across all groups. These results indicate the market for equine care can bear the increases in cost associated with financial distress related to COVID-19, and may aid equine owners, caregivers, and associated individuals in making informed decisions regarding essential care. Results from this study should be taken in context of the global pandemic and the restrictions in place, or lack thereof, at the time the survey was administered.
新型 COVID-19 病毒引发了全球大流行，扰乱了人们的生活、各行业和经济。其结果是由于生产和供应链分布的挑战导致价格受到影响。本研究调查了 COVID-19 对马主和租户的财务压力、如果护理成本增加，马的护理市场将承受多大的压力，以及哪些因素导致他们愿意（WTP）支付增加的马护理费用。一项针对美国成年居民的在线调查持续了 4 周。受访者报告了他们在马业中的参与情况、对 COVID-19 的财务反应，以及对他们对护理 WTP 的双边界二分选择问题的回答，假设他们目前的护理费用（1%-20%）增加（n=506）。数据使用间隔回归模型进行分析，a=0.05（Stata15）。受访者分为三组：将马留在自己住所的马主、将马寄养的马主和租户。寄养者报告的免费寄养的平均月付款为 23.33 ± 90.37 美元（n=15），部分寄养的为 236.47 ± 151.92 美元（n=75），完全寄养的为 514.75 ± 291.71 美元（n=181）。结果表明，所有马主、租户和寄养者的 WTP 值都不同，从目前护理费用增加 18.5%到 26.2%不等，由于许多受访者对两个 WTP 问题都回答“是”，因此超出了报告范围（71%的马主、6%的寄养者、65%的租户）。来自美国南部农场的马主的 WTP 比其他地区低 11%（P=0.015）。将马寄养的马主的当前寄养费用每增加 1 美元，他们的 WTP 就会降低 0.01%（P=0.029），而其他马主（P=0.370）或租户（P=0.395）的当前护理费用并不是一个重要因素。那些拥有全部租马协议的人，无论是在农场还是在寄养设施中，他们的 WTP 都比那些只有部分或没有租马协议的人高 15%（P=0.036）。相比之下，寄养状态（全部、部分或没有寄养）并没有显著（P=0.51）影响寄养者的 WTP。受访者的年龄和家庭年收入在所有群体中都对 WTP 产生了异质影响。这些结果表明，马的护理市场可以承受与 COVID-19 相关的财务困境相关的成本增加，并且可能有助于马主、护理人员和相关人员就基本护理做出明智的决策。应该根据全球大流行和调查实施时的限制或缺乏限制来考虑本研究的结果。
