3l8 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



WHICH IS MORE PROFITABLE. FEEDIx\G OR 



SELLING SKIM-MILK? 



By W. C. Stetson, Waterville. 



This question is one of great importance to dairymen because 

 of the prevalent custom of feeding skim-milk to heifers to raise 

 cows and also to some extent veal calves, and also swine. Con- 

 versely, because there is a growing demand for whole milk not 

 only on the part of milk dealers, but also by at least one creamery 

 company, I refer to the Turner Center Dairying Association 

 which, the last two years, has offered special tonnage rates dur- 

 ing the last fall months. 



To sell or not to sell, that is the question. The monthly aver- 

 age of tonnage rate for the last full year was 35c per 100 

 barrels. The rate for ten months of this year is 38c. There 

 should be deducted from this the expense of transportation, 

 which, if sent by trolley, would be 15c per cwt., or if hauled by 

 team, probably not less than 25c per cwt., making the net receipt 

 last year 20c, and the last ten months to the first of November, 

 23c per cwt., while on the other hand, there might be a slight 

 additional labor expense in feeding. This would be only a 

 small fraction of the cost of transportation, however, and would 

 itself be partly offset by the value of the manure which is prob- 

 ably not far from $2.50 per ton of milk. Dr. Woods says tliat 

 $4.00 worth of fertilizer is sold in $100 worth of skim-milk. 



But I shall try to show that the feeding of skim-milk is more 

 profitable than selling, even ignoring the cost of transportation 

 of the milk itself and also that of the feed brought to take its 

 place, whether for calves or swine. 



First, in respect to its money value as compared with grain 

 feeds that might be fed as substitutes. 



Secondly, as to growth actually accomplished by this feed in 

 comparison with grain substitutes, especially for calves. 



