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WHAT IT COSTS TO RAISE A YEARLING. J. N. Camden, Jr., proprietor of Hartland Stud, Versailles, Ky., on being asked to estimate the cost of raising a thoroughbred yearling for the market or the track, said: You at once open up a very controversal subject, as there seems to be quite a difference of opinion amongst the breeders themselves. For myself I figure it about as follows: Cost of oats for seven months weaning time assuming a ration of ten quarts per day, at thirty cents per bushel 57 Cost of hay, two tons, at 2 per ton 24 Cost of straw for bedding, at per ton 12 Labor of feeding, watering, bedding and gentling 50 Twelve per cent, charge on broodmare per annum at ,000 valuation 125 Stallion fee 50 Interest on land, say five acres for mare and foal , 25 Keep of mare for one year at per month.. 84 Total charges 27 As a matter of fact it almost takes two mares to get one sound yearling to market, so 4 Is small charge. I assume on the average that a mare will have eight foals in her life time. In order to preserve your investment 12 per cent, will have to be charged off annually. Of course, 0 for stallion fee Is arbitrary, so is the valuation of ,000 for broodmare. A man breeding for the New York market would not care to patronize a horse that stood for less, even In this land of low stud fees. Then there are the Items of insurance and stabling, the keeping in repair of same, cost and maintenance of paddocks, cutting weeds and other incidental expenses. In my opinion It will cost about 00 to produce a yearling that is good enough to win races or that Is sufficiently well bred and good enough looking to bring" a remunerative price at the sale ring.
