Roanoke Rapids herald., 1923-07-06
Cost Of Working
Horses on Farms
Department of Agriculture
Survey Places Figure at
$100 Yearly.

OF ABrlculture.)
The cost of using work horses on
corn-belt farms In 1921 was about S10G
per head, according to a survey made
by the United States Department OF
Agriculture. The total yearly cost OF
keeping six horses on farms of ap
proximately 100 acres amounted to
about 5000. Feed and bedding was
about 80 per cent Of the total cost OF
maintenance. Other costs In order OF
Importance were chores, interest, sta.
bling. depreciation, harness costs, mis-.
cellaneous costs, and shoeing. The
total gross cost was $1O60S per head
from which deduction of $6.S7 was
made for the manure produced, leav
ing a net cost of $99.21.
Exclusive of pasture, the annual ra
tiOn per head consisted Of 40 bushels
Of corn, 20 bushels of oats, 1.8 tons OF
hay and 1.S tons of straw and corn
stover. During the year, SO hours Of
man labor were required to care for
each horse. The average farm value Of
the work stock was about 1923 per
head Actual cash outlay and salsble
feeds, including corn, oats, hay, straw,
depreciation, shoeing and miscellan'
eOus cash costs, amounted to S64 per
horse, or about go per cent of the total
cost
Average Work In Year.
During the year each horse worked
an average of 723 hours. On Che basis
Of ten-hour work day, the average
cost was $1.87 per day. or 1877 cents
per hour Of actual work done. The
horses on some farms worked from
two to three times as many hours as
those on other farms. Such variations
indicate the degree Of efficiency with
which horses are employed on different
farms. and have considerable effect on
the cost per hour of work performed.
The point IL made. however, that, while
1t is not always possible to keep the
horses at work continuously, nor ad-
visable to do - for the mere sake OF
keeping them busy, too many horses or
a lack of productive work will invarl
ably result in relatively high cost for
their use. If conditions are such that
1t Is necessary to keep a surplus horse
or two, the practice may not be obJec'
tionable If the animals so kept are
brood mares and raise q colt each
year.
Details of the departments survey
are contained in Farmers Bulletin
1903. entitled "Costs Of Using Horsei
on Corn-Belt Farms" In the bulletin
the authors, NJ. r. Cooper, assistant
farm economist, and J. o. Williams
senior animal husbandman, discuss
the different phases of horsepower
costs and present suggestions for re
ducing these expenses.
Largest Cost Item.
Feed and bedding Is the larges,
item In the maintenance Of horse
and hence deserves first consideration
In an attempt to reduce COSTS" says the
bulletin. although the exact quantity
Is variable. q good, practical guide fol
the farmer to follow In feeding his
horses Is to allow IL pounds Of grail
and IN pounds Of hay per 100 poundi
of live weight for horses at moderate
work. For horses at hard work tn,
grain should be increased to about IN
pounds daily per 100 pounds liv'
weight, but the hay should not exceet
IN pounds daily per 100 pounds liv'
weight. unless of very poor quality
The use of good pasture In place o
the grain and hay ration is not onl,
an economical practice, but also viii
have a good effect upon the system O
the horse The use of nonsalable fee,
for the horse is to be recommended
The raising Of colts to take the plac,
Of worn-out work stock will often al,
In keeping down the depreciation cost
With the business established the mum
p Der of horses kept must be adjusted t,
the nature of the business and form o
management developed. A smaller nun
ber than are needed properly TO carr,
on the farm operations may mean
decrease In farm profit greater thai
the expense Of carrying the extra AMI
mails needed. A greater number thai
are needed simply add unnecessar.
expenses"
Copies Of Farmers Bulletin l28
may be obtained free upon request o
the United States Department Of Asrl
culture, Washington, d. c.