The 2012 Kentucky Equine Survey has determined that last year the equine industry in the state generated more than 40,000 jobs and accounted for a total economic of just under $3-billion.

“We are pleased to announce the long-awaited results from the economic impact study,” said University of Kentucky Ag Equine Programs Director Jill Stowe. “The estimates underscore the continued significance of the equine industry to the Commonwealth, and they show that each segment of the industry contributes in important ways to the economy as well as to the rich cultural fabric of Kentucky.”

An article on surfky.com explains that the survey was the first such wide-ranging study of Kentucky’s equine industry since 1977.

The survey found that Kentucky’s equine breeding sector returned the highest employment figure (16,198), produced $710-million in output and led to $333-million in value-added impact.

For more on the 2012 Kentucky Equine Survey, click here.

(With files from surfky.com)