7)/F/&/0-V OF WniXL UUSBAXDRT 419 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



EXPERIMENTAL STATION, SCOTT, SASK. 



REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT, R. E. EVEREST, B.S.A. 



IIORSKS. 



( i»i' (>i' l;i.\i;i.\i; i<ii,TS. 



The cost of raising- liovses and the cost of wintcriiij;- i<llo horses are the two phases 

 of horse invostig'ational work entered upon. 



For the purpose of aseertaining figures on the cost of raising horses, the foals of 

 two work mares were taken at weaning time (in this case 5, months of age) and from 

 then a record of feed consumed was kept when stall fed, and of time when animals were 

 on pasture. The following table gives cost of for-d up to 2 years of age: — 



Vali'k of Food Consumed. 



Cir-t chop, 2,974 poun is at 34 cants per bushel 



H:iy. 2 S32 pouiifls western rye grass, $10 per ton 



Alfalfa hay, 304 pounds at $1 2 per ton 



Oat shcxves, 209 at 3 cents each 



Pasture, seven months, two animals at $1 per month 



Total cost $66 3,'') 



Cost of growing one horse from weaning at five months till 2 years 



of age 33 175 



Tilt; F.coxo.MK wrvn-.uixf; of inr,i: horses. 



In the work of economy ut inainlouauce of idle horses over winter, five mature 

 work horses were used. These, after a steady summer's work were, on the ^nd of 

 Decemher, started in the following manner: At 7 a.m. they received a drink and a 

 small feed of oat chop in the stahle; as soon as this feed was eaten the horses were 

 taken to a prairie pasture field where they remained until 5 p.m., when tliey were 

 brought to stable, watered, and again given a small feed of oat chop; when occasion 

 required an oat sheaf was also fed. This treatment was given for three months. 



The following data give weights of the horses at the beginning of period and 

 conelnsion of period, and the vahu' of food consumed: — 



Touil weight of five horses, December, 1013 lb. 7,432 



Average weight, Decombor, 1913 '• 1.4S6 



Total weight of horses, INfarcli, 1914 " 7,716 



Average weight of horses, March, 1914 " lj)\'i 



Tctal gain in weigiit '. " 2S4 



Average gain in we'ght " 57 



Value of feed consumed, total $ 45 86 



V.alue of feed consumed, one horse •' 9 17 



Cost of maintaining a horse for 120 days, winter of 1913-14 ' 9 17 



1G-L>7J 



