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Author Bailey, A.; Williams, N.; Palmer, M.; Geering, R. url  doi
openurl 
  Title The farmer as service provider: the demand for agricultural commodities and equine services Type Journal Article
  Year 2000 Publication (up) Agricultural Systems Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 66 Issue 3 Pages 191-204  
  Keywords Income and price elasticity of demand; Farm diversification; Horses  
  Abstract In recent years there has been much interest in alternative sources of income for farmers. This is because economic theory suggests that demand for agricultural commodities is inelastic so that, as incomes in society as a whole increase, those of farmers do not necessarily keep pace — hence the current problems with falling real farm incomes. In contrast the demand for services is relatively elastic. Thus it is logical to divert agricultural resources into service provision. One such service is provided by equine enterprises. We have estimated the own price and income elasticities of demand for selected agricultural commodities and for ‘equine services’. Our results confirm that demand for equine services is more elastic than for agricultural commodities. Thus diversification into horse enterprises is likely to have long term benefits for farmers vis á vis traditional agricultural production.  
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  ISSN 0308-521x ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 5713  
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Author Wilson, A.M.; McGuigan, M.P.; Su, A.; van Den Bogert, A.J. doi  openurl
  Title Horses damp the spring in their step Type Journal Article
  Year 2001 Publication (up) Nature Abbreviated Journal Nature  
  Volume 414 Issue 6866 Pages 895-899  
  Keywords Animals; Biomechanics; Elasticity; Forelimb; Gait; Horses/anatomy & histology/*physiology; Leg Bones/*physiology; Locomotion; Models, Biological; Muscle Fibers/physiology; Muscle, Skeletal/anatomy & histology/*physiology; Tendons/anatomy & histology/*physiology; Vibration  
  Abstract The muscular work of galloping in horses is halved by storing and returning elastic strain energy in spring-like muscle-tendon units.These make the legs act like a child's pogo stick that is tuned to stretch and recoil at 2.5 strides per second. This mechanism is optimized by unique musculoskeletal adaptations: the digital flexor muscles have extremely short fibres and significant passive properties, whereas the tendons are very long and span several joints. Length change occurs by a stretching of the spring-like digital flexor tendons rather than through energetically expensive length changes in the muscle. Despite being apparently redundant for such a mechanism, the muscle fibres in the digital flexors are well developed. Here we show that the mechanical arrangement of the elastic leg permits it to vibrate at a higher frequency of 30-40 Hz that could cause fatigue damage to tendon and bone. Furthermore, we show that the digital flexor muscles have minimal ability to contribute to or regulate significantly the 2.5-Hz cycle of movement, but are ideally arranged to damp these high-frequency oscillations in the limb.  
  Address Department of Veterinary Basic Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, Herts AL9 7TA, UK. awilson@rvc.ac.uk  
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  Language English Summary Language Original Title  
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  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0028-0836 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes PMID:11780059 Approved no  
  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 2300  
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