EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 4bl 



The largest item entering into the dairyman's expenditures is feeds 

 and bedding, comprising nearly 45% of the total charges. The amount 

 of feed consumed, and the prices of feeds determine in many cases a 

 profit or loss. 



As previously explained, all farm feeds are charged at market price, 

 less the cost of hauling. Farm grains that are hauled to mill for grind- 

 ing have the actual cost of hauling at farm prices for labor, and cost of 

 grinding, added to the price of feeds. On all purchased feeds the cost of 

 liauliug was added to the price of the feeds. 



A standard price of |4.00 per ton was charged for silage, except where 

 the quality was very poor. In such cases the price was cut according to 

 quality. 



In the year of 1914 roughage was very scarce and high priced in the 

 vicinity of Grand Kapids, while in the year 1915 it was very plentiful 

 and moderate in price. These conditions had a marked effect on the 

 total cost of feeds and the amount fed each year. 



Table VII shows the number of tons of feed fed per cow, and the value 

 of the feeds and pasture. In every case the bedding is added to the 

 roughage. 



The cost of pasture varied greatly on the different farms, ranging from 

 !jf2.77 to |15.G5 per cow. The rental for the permanent pasture was based 

 on the value of the land ; other pasture privileges, such as meadows, were 

 charged according to the amount of feed furnished. The number of acres 

 of pasture, length of pasture season, number of cows per acre, and 

 amount of feed used in supplementing pasture, affect the general 

 charges per cow. 



The total charges for feeds and pasture for one year vary in the dif- 

 ferent herds from |39.27 to |93.54 per cow, or a general average of |65.24. 



