DAIRY MEETING. 



197 



1909." Another gentleman put the cost of production at 2^ 

 cents, and another at 3 cents, and another at 4 cents. I am 

 forced to admit that these guesses varied less than the more 

 carefully prepared figures of the others noticed above. The 

 New York producers' estimates ranged from 2.75 cents per 

 quart to 4.38 cents, with an average of 3.51 cents. 



On account of the high cost of milk, due to too expensive 

 feed and to cows of low production, probably 'many dairymen 

 are losing money and are justified in feeling discontented. 

 Even if the average dairyman is losing money the business 

 may be a good one. An Ohio Experiment Station bulletin 

 says : "A large number of dairymen in Ohio are not making a 

 profit on a part or all of their cows," but it gives the items of 

 one dairy which is paying a profit of $46 per cow. The Illinois 

 Experiment Station selected 25 cows that make as much profit 

 as 1,021 ordinary cows. Organizing to resist the undue greed 

 of middlemen while very desirable is therefore not the only 

 thing to be done. Should we not get busy with these common 

 cows and make a study of the cost of production? Is it any 

 wonder that dairy leaders are urging milk producers to weigh 

 the daily product of each cow, to form co-operative associa- 

 tions for doing this work and for studying the most economical 

 way of feeding, and to keep no cows except those that are profit- 

 able? And when it is proved to the average farmer by the 

 experience of those who have gone into these associations that 

 there is good money in it, is it not surprising that any hesitate 

 or refuse to join the movement? 



Notice the following results of the test, showing a year's 

 record of a good herd, 1907. 



Michigan Cow Testing Asso- 



ciation. 



