178 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



difference is undoubtedly due to the fact that during the first 

 year in many of the herds records were kept for the first time 

 which revealed a large number of unprofitable cows. If all 

 the herds had been tested for tuberculosis and reacting animals 

 removed the depreciation no doubt would have been still greater. 

 It is probably fair to estimate that under normal conditions the 

 average life of a cow in a dairy herd is about six years. 



Dairymen engaged in the milk business who do not raise 

 heifers but depend entirely upon buying cows to replenish the 

 herd, if they buy cows of good dairy type at present prices will 

 have a depreciation often as high as 15 per cent. 



Depreciation per cow $8 83 



COST OF KEEPING OF BULL. 



The many poor bulls are here as elsewhere chiefly responsible 

 for the large number of unprofitable cows found. The fact that 

 the number of cows per farm is small makes the question of 

 having the use of a good bull one of the most serious problems 

 confronting the dairy farmers of New Hampshire. To accept 

 the offer of the free service of a poor bull would be "penny 

 wise and pound foolish," while it might be wisdom and prove 

 profitable to pay as much as five or even fifty dollars for the 

 service of a bull of good breeding. A full grown bull can easily 

 serve from 75 to 100 cows if they are distributed throughout 

 the year. In herds of fifteen cows or less, it is cheaper to pay 

 five dollars for service per cow than it is to keep a bull. If a 

 number of farmers having an aggregate of 50 cows to be 

 served bought a $200 bull, interest, taxes, depreciation and feed 

 would average 106.59 or the cost of keeping a $200 bull per 

 cow would be $2.15. 



A good bull should be kept and used until danger from in- 

 breeding is anticipated. The time will vary according to the 

 quality of the bull and the type of cows kept. Ordinarily a bull 

 can be kept from four to five years. 



According to the last census the average number of cows 

 per farm in the State of New Hampshire is five It is im- 

 possible for the thousands of small farmers as individuals to 

 keep a bull of sufificient merit to improve the cattle. But it is 

 possible, practical and economical for them to cooperate in the 



