A FIVE-YEAR FARM MANAGEMENT SURVEY IN OHIO. 



4L 



amount of stock kept on these farms, with the single exception of 

 1915, when it was slightly less than in 1914. While this increase in 

 stock was only 2.6 animal units from 1912 to 1916, j-et it was an in- 

 crease of 20 per cent, and, when considered in connection with the 

 rising prices of animal products, was quite significant in increasing 

 the labor income. 



Table IX. — Relative amount of live stock kept on 25 farms over a period of 

 five years, 1912-1916 {Palmer Township, Washington County, Ohio). 



Distribution of animal units. 



Total productive animal units per farm 



Percentage of total productive animal units in- 



Cattle 



Horses and colts a, 



Sheep 



Hogs 



Poultry 



1912 



1913 



1914 



1915 



13.5 



14.4 



15.3 



14.9 



41 



45 



49 



53 



4 



4 



4 



4 



35 



28 



21 



19 



9 



11 



15 



13 



11 



12 



11 



11 



a Does nat include work stock. 



With a gradual increase in the amount of stock kept there were also 

 changes in the number of stock of the different kinds, especially in 

 cattle and sheep. The number of cattle increased 68 per cent from 

 1912 to 1916 and the number of sheep decreased 58 per cent during 

 the same period. Both the increase of cattle and the decrease of sheep 

 represented gradual changes. There were more cattle and fewer 

 sheep each succeeding year. 



THE AMOUNT OF FEED REQUIRED FOR LIVE STOCK. 



The feeds produced on the farms for live-stock consumption in this 

 area were corn, small grains, and hay. While a small quantity of feed 

 was bought, the bulk of the feed, exclusive of pasture, was derived 

 from these crops. To determine the relative importance of these 

 crops as sources of feed, and the amount of feed required per animal 

 unit per annum for the live stock kept on the farms in this area, a 

 system was used for reducing the feeds to a common standard. This 

 standard, known as a feed unit, represents the expression of all feeds 

 consumed when compared with the feeding value of a pound of corn. 

 In the footnote under Table X is given the relative value of each 

 feed used on these farms. 



The percentage of the total feed units derived from each kind of 

 feed that has been fed by 25 farmers during each year of the five- 

 year period and the average number of feed units they fed per animal 

 unit are given in Table X. This table may be practically applied in 

 two ways : 



(1) With a given number of stock one can readily approximate the 

 total quantity of feed that will be required, the proportion of concen- 

 trates and of roughage. 



