UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
4g y, BULLETIN No. 413 
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY 
Contribution from the Office of Farm Management 
W. J. Spillman, Chief 
Washington, D. C. PROFESSIONAL PAPER August 24, 1916 
INFLUENCE OF AGE ON THE VALUE OF DATRY 
COWS AND FARM WORK HORSES. 
By J. C. McDowe tt, 
Agriculturist, Office of Farm Management. 
CONTENTS. 
Page 
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TIMAMUEMCALO LAL CLOlMaVAlU eC) OL WOLK NOLSSS 4. <n cca -clsinis Hones isicaicinele eleiele « Kelsie elniveicleisicitie wee sie ie ce eels 11 
Research work in farm economics includes among other things 
questions relating to the value of farm animals, farm equipment, and 
agricultural products. Those who have occasion to buy or sell 
live stock are constantly confronted with the problem of weighing 
the many factors influencing the value of farm animals. Of these 
factors, the age of the animal is one that applies directly to the value 
of dairy cattle and farm work horses. While age is not the only 
factor affecting the value of these classes of animals, it is one of the 
most important. In determining the value of farm animals grown 
for meat only, which are ordinarily disposed of at an early age, this 
factor is comparatively unimportant. 
By means of personal visits and through correspondence with 
many of our best informed farmers and live-stock breeders, the Office 
of Farm Management recently attempted to get reliable information 
concerning the influence of age on the values of dairy cows and farm 
work horses. Farm Management investigators have found that for 
farm data the average of a large number of estimates is almost as accu- 
rate as that of carefully kept records, provided the estimates are given 
by men who thoroughly know the subject under consideration. In this 
case all estimates were given by men each of whom has had wide expe- 
rience with the class of live stock on which he furnishes information. 
Note.—This bulletin is of interest to stock-raisers generally. 
44131°—Bull. 413—16 
