COST OF KEEPING FARM HORSES. 



13 



year; that is, the increased cost of keep for the third year was not 

 always covered by the increase in value. Of the 43 colts fed on the 

 Illinois farms, 19 were born during the years this work was done. 

 A loss of 4 cents per head on the Illinois farms was due to the deaths 

 of 4 colts valued at $300. In Ohio the loss was higher, averag- 

 ing $1.24 per head. Of the 7 colts fed, but 1 was born during the 

 period of this work. On the New York farms the colts showed an 

 average profit of $1.43 per head. No deaths occurred, and of the 

 18 fed, 8 were born during the years of this work. 



Under favorable conditions the raising of colts is one way of keeping 

 down the cost of horse labor. (See fig. 1.) 



Fig. 1.— Under favorable conditions the raising of colts is one way of keeping down the cost of farm- 

 horse labor. 



MISCELLANEOUS COSTS. 



"Miscellaneous costs," a minor item, embraces insurance, share of 

 taxes, veterinary services and medicine, salt, etc. The average of 

 these costs per head varied from $1.90 on the Ohio farms to $2.12 in 

 Illinois. The cost in New York was about the same as that in 

 Illinois. The amount expended for this group of items varies con- 

 siderably on different farms. The variation is, however, in almost 

 direct proportion to the amount expended for veterinary services. 



MANURE. 



Horses were credited with only the manure recovered from the 

 stables and feed lot, which was valued at $1 per ton before removal. 



