Show I 1 animal housing plays big part in farm expenses buildings le ie present one of the longeri term highest priced and least understood investments the average farmer can make reminded J donald wadsworth extension agricultural engineer at utah state agricultural col lege early this week he ile says a point to kerp in mind is that any investment for facilities above the actual need of the animals is an economic loss los even if the total is well below the break even point A cow that produces ices a 2 00 calf for example does not need twice a much housing as a cow producing a calf worth only studies by animal scientists lei and agricultural engineers over the past half century indicate that cattle need less housing than anan many farmers have heretofore considered nece iry ry some researchers feel animal shelters shelter should be considered simply as shells over space to which may bo be added the working tools the equipment fei mangers pens and partition mr orth says that such buildings should cost less permit more 1 arbor bor saving methods and lif ip more readily adjustable to changing needs research and experience have taught that the he oi one c story shelter barn S N the most economical I 1 theof pe of building tor sheltering beef animals he lie says a rule of thumb can an be used in determining how bow much to spend on livestock shelters for example a 1 pound steer bought tor for 20 cents and sold bold for 23 cents at 1 pounds brings a gross return of his sales price less first crop annual cost of buildings in a beef enterprise averages about 8 per cent of gross returns taking 8 per cent of the result is 10 40 the portion of gross income from each h animal that can be allotted a annually n to pay for the build ings sin since the annual cost lost of buildings building in this case care 10 1040 40 usually equals about 9 per ter cent of the investment nver in buildings the amount t p r animal that is justifiable or for buildings is about 10 1040 40 divided by 9 times |