The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1923-05-25
Cost of Working
Horses on Farms
Department of Agriculture
Survey Places Figure at
500 Yearly.

of Agriculture.)
The cost of using work horses on
corn-belt farms In 1921 was about $500
per head, according to 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 go 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 $106.08 per bead
from which deduction of $6.87 was
made for the manure produced, leav-
ing net cost of $99.21.
Exclusive of pasture, the annual ra-
ton per head consisted of 40 bushels
of corn, &c bushels of oats, 1.3 tons of
hay and 1.9 tons Of straw and corn
slower. During the year, 66 hours of
man labor were required to care for
each horse. The average farm value of
the work stock was about $123 per
head. Actual cash outlay and salable
feeds, including corn, oats, hay, straw,
depreciation, shoeing and miscellan-
eous cash, costs. amounted to 1854 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 the basis
of a ten-hour work day, the average
cost was $1.37 per day, or 1871 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 is made, however, that, while
1t is not always possible to keep the
horses at work continuously, nor adj
visable to do so for the mere sake of
keeping them busy, too many horses or
lack Of productive work will invari-
ably result in relatively high cost for
their use. II conditions are such that
1t is necessary to keep surplus horse
or two, the practice may not be objec-
tionable if the animals so kept are
brood mares and raise a colt each
year.
Details of the departments survey
are contained in Farmers Bulletin
1898, entitled costs Of Using Horses
on Corn-Belt Farms" In the bulletin
the authors, M. 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 largest
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, a good, practical guide for
the farmer to follow in feeding his
horses is to allow IL pounds of grain
and Ia pounds of hay per 100 pounds
Of live weight for horses at moderate
work. For horses at hard work the
grain should be increased to about IL
pounds daily per 100 pounds live
weight, but the hay should not exceed
~ pounds daily per 100 pounds live
weight, unless of very poor quality.
The use of good pasture in place of
the grain and hay ration is not only
an economical practice, but also will
have good effect upon the system of
the horse. The use of nonsalable feed
for the horse is to be recommended.
The raising of colts to take the place
of worn-out work stock will often aid
in keeping down the depreciation cost.
With the business established the num-
Der Of horses kept must be adjusted to
the nature of the business and form of
management developed. A smaller num-
Der than are needed properly to carry
on the farm operations may mean a
decrease in farm profit greater than
the expense of carrying the extra ami
mails needed. A greater number than
are needed simply add unnecessary
expenses"
Copies of Farmers Bulletin 1898
may be obtained free upon request of
the United States Department of Agri-
culture, Washington, d. C.