COST OF KEEPING FARM HORSES. ! 11 
TABLE 8.—Percentage of 316 horses that appreciated in value, percentage that did not 
appreciate, and the factors influencing the aggregate depreciation or appreciation, by 
States (27 farms, 316 horses). 
Percentage of 
horses that 
showed— 
‘'Number Number |Number | Number 
State and number of horses. ————~———_|__ of eouen dae of colts | of colts | colts 
Appre-| No ap- deaths. bought. | sold. fed. 
cia- | precia- 
tion. tion. 
Tilinois (154 horses)..........-.. 18. 75 81. 25 33 21 21 Dye ok Sens 43 
OMI OG2iWOrSeS)se isos oe Se ae 21.95 Tiss Wilisnacaoses 9 17 2 1 Uf 
New York (90 horses) ........-- 4.95 | 95.05 | 6 6 3 1 2 18 
The three States (316 horses).; 15.60 84.40 | 9 36 41 5 | 3 68 
On the Illinois and New York farms colts became work horses 
when from 24 to 4 years of age. The age of work horses that depre- 
ciated in value varied considerably, depending on their usage and 
care. The average age of work horses that appreciated in value was 
about 4 years. The average age of those that neither appreciated 
nor depreciated in value was about 8 years, and the average age of 
those that depreciated in value was about 11 years. In Ohio data 
showing the age of all the horses studied were not obtained; however, 
the data that were obtained along this line showed about the same 
results as those in Illinois and New York. : 
In Illinois about 19 per cent of the horses appreciated in value at 
the rate of $36.05 per head per year, while the average depreciation 
for the other 81 per cent was $12.55 per head. At this rate it will 
be seen that a $36 appreciation of one horse practically would offset 
the depreciation of three others. Thus the appreciation of one 
horse out of every 5.34 kept resulted in an average net depreciation 
for all horses of but $3.46 per head. Of the 154 horses included in 
the records from this State 3 died, causing a loss of $350. In other 
words, the death loss was about 1 out of every 51. In considering 
the reason for the number of young horses on these farms and the 
low depreciation of work horses it was found that there was an 
average of one colt for every four work horses kept. Further, no colts 
were sold, all being developed into work horses, 11 becoming work 
horses during the time in which data were collected. It also will 
be seen that the same number of horses was bought as was sold. 
Three died and had to be replaced, and a part of the farmers enlarged 
their business, thus requiring more horses. With the continued 
raising and developing of colts into work horses, however, it is safe 
to say that ordinarily a greater number of young horses will be 
developed than will be needed in the farm business. 
On the Ohio farms about 22 per cent of the horses appreciated in 
value at the rate of $56.90 per head. The average depreciation of 
