The Michigan equine monitoring system. I. Design, implementation and population estimates

The Michigan equine monitoring system (MEMS) was designed and implemented in the State of Michigan, starting in 1991. The program was designed systematically to track the State's equine population, its health, and its economic implications to the equine industry. The MEMS was designed as a two-phase program. Phase I (the population and economic survey; the subject of this paper) was designed to provide new and statistically valid information describing the size, composition, location and economic characteristics of the Michigan equine industry. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect data via mail, telephone and personal interviews. Of the 3000 randomly selected list-frame samples, 2800 (93%) participated. However, 650 of these had no equids. There were 129,932 equids reported compared with 160,000 in 1984. The American Quarter Horse, Standardbred and Arabian breeds were the most numerous. Detailed results, including the size of equine operations/herds, uses, geographical distribution and the financial structure of the industry, are presented. A detailed account of the strategies used in designing and implementing the system is provided.