DAIRY MEETING. I3I 



COST OF MILK PRODUCTION. 



Prof. J. M. Trueman, Storrs, Conn. 



Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen: 



The cost of producing milk varies in different states, and 

 even in different parts of the same state. This afternoon I 

 intend to tell you how we figure in Connecticut, and you can 

 apply the same methods to your conditions in Maine. 



In the first place, we believe that money invested in the 

 dairy business should draw interest, so we must determine as 

 accurately as possible the amount invested. 



We found by keeping careful records that it costs us at 

 least $75.00 to raise a heifer from birth to the milking age. It 

 costs about the same amount to buy a good cow, and we there- 

 fore allow $75.00 as the capital invested in each cow. The other 

 item of fixed capital is for barn room. We estimate that it 

 will cost not less than $1200.00 to build a bare stable for 20 

 cows. This means $60.00 per cow. This added to the $75.00 

 invested in the cow, gives us a total amount of $135.00. Allow- 

 ing 5 per cent interest on this amount, gives us $6.75. 



Unfortunately the amount of money invested in the cow 

 must be replaced on the average every four or five years. The 

 cow gives out, and will not sell for as much as it cost to raise 

 her. As a rule, she will not sell for more than $25.00 and 

 she cost $75.00. Here is $50.00 gone, and on the average, it 

 is gone in less than five years. We found at the Connecticut 

 Agricultural College that the cost of keeping up our herd was 

 a little over $13.00 per year, per cow. 



We found that bedding cost us $5.00 per year per cow, and 

 that it cost $3.00 per cow to keep a bull for a herd of 25 

 cows. Taxes on cow and barn amounted to $1.25 and insurance 

 to 40 cents. Sundries including light, medicine, veterinary 

 bills, etc.. cost $2.00. 



