IliTFLUEXCE OF AGE ON VALUE OF COWS AND HORSES. 9 



Table IV. — Influence of age on values of Ayrshire cows. (Averages of 416 estimates by 

 owners, based on arbitrary values assumed for a certain fixed age) — Continued. 





Purebred Ayrshire cow 

 at 3 years of ag 



worth $200 

 e. 



Purebred Ayrshire cow 

 at 3 years of a 



worth $300 



Age. 



North 

 Central 

 States. 



North- 

 eastern 

 States. 



United 



States, all 

 sections. 



North 

 Central 

 States. 



North- 

 eastern 

 States. 



United 

 States, all 

 sections. 



Birth 



S44 

 73 

 108 

 155 

 200 

 233 

 243 

 250 

 245 

 233 

 209 

 191 

 166 

 142 

 113 

 87 



$42 

 68 

 101 

 148 

 200 

 228 

 255 

 266 

 265 

 252 

 229 

 202 

 168 

 132 

 99 

 74 



S44 

 70 

 103 

 150 

 200 

 230 

 253 

 262 

 258 

 244 

 222 

 196 

 165 

 134 

 103 

 78 



S67 

 99 

 145 

 224 

 300 

 322 

 345 

 355 

 342 

 322 

 290 

 248 

 210 

 172 

 130 

 100 



$65 

 98 

 138 

 210 

 300 

 335 

 361 

 371 

 360 

 342 

 299 

 252 

 212 

 171 

 130 

 90 



$66 





98 





140 



2 years 



212 





300 



4 rears 



333 





357 





367 





355 



8 Tears 



335 





296 





250 





210 





170 





129 





90 







Number of estimates 



23 



51 



79 



10 



46 



59 



GENERAL DISCUSSION OF PRECEDING TABLES. 



With few exceptions, the preceding tables indicate that calves 

 and old cows are cheaper in the Northeastern States, and that cows 

 between the ages of 4 and 8 are cheaper in the North Central States. 

 For all breeds, and for all classes of all breeds, the price of cows in 

 health is greatest between 5 and 7 years, with the maximum usually at 

 6. They are valued about the same at 4 as at 8. The explanation 

 for this may be that though the younger animals have before them a 

 longer period of usefulness, the older ones have already demonstrated 

 their worth. In all the tables the 14-year-old values for pure-bred 

 cows are much greater than for grades. This may be partly due to 

 higher average milk production, but it is undoubtedly more largely 

 due to the possibility that these cows may yet produce valuable calves. 



The cow worth S80 at 3 years of age is given a birth value of about 

 $10, while the cow worth $100 at that age is given a birth value of 

 about .S12. Similarly the difference in value between the two classes 

 of pure-bred cows at 3 years of age is $100, while the difference in 

 v^alue at birth is in no case above $30, leaving a margin of at least 

 S70 to cover interest on larger investment, risk of a greater possible 

 loss, and any extra expense for feed or care. 



