368 



EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



[Vol. 40 



12 months. The older heifers and the hreeding cows were put on winter rations 

 about November 21 each year and continued until April or the middle of May, 

 according to circumstances For the first six or eight weeks they were pastured 

 in clover and timothy aftermath and run in corn stalks. Additional feed in the 

 form of corn silage, rough discolored alfalfa, and clover-timothy hay was al- 

 lowed toward the end of the winter. 



The prices charged, regarded as constant for the throe s, were meadow 



aftermath 75 Cts. per acre, corn stall: s. per acre, alfalfa $10 per ton, mixed 



hay $8 per ton, and corn silage $4 per ton. In the first winter the average daily 

 cost was 7.8 CtS, per cow, in the Becond 0.3 cts.. and in the third 0.S cts. Silage 

 feeding was begun comparatively early the first season. 



During the rest of the year the cows were on blue grass pasture. In 1014 the 

 pasture was severely dried up, ami corn silage was added to the ration of nurs- 

 ing stecic. Pasture land was valued :it $110 t" $150 per acre, which was $50 to 

 $90 less than hmd used for crops. During the two summers that no sii:i_ 

 fed. the daily costs per bead Cor pasture were 68 and 5J) cts., lively. 



During the mosl typical year 11916 16), an average cow used QJH acre of 

 meadow aftermath, I I corn star • >n of timothy hay, LOS tons 



of silage, 0.61 ton of alfalfa, 2 ■:' blue gj isj days for cow 



and calf), and 15.6 lbs. of ^n it. 



As summer advanced calves wore gradually pivon a Certain amount of grain 



(shelled corn and whole oats l : 1 t. Bj weaning time they were on full feud. 

 The average dallj consumption throughout this period was about 8.26 Iba per 

 calf. At weaning, their . weight in different years varied from 412 ;■' 



410 lbs. The following table gives the estimated cost of producing a ralf and 

 Bhows the advantages <>f home-grown calves over feeders purchased on the 

 range : 



' a calf at iceaning nn<l it* market vat 



Items of 



I 



1915 



L018 



Year's maintenance of covr 



Bull service 



Calf fee I while in creep 



Mortality risk in calves 



Labor on calves 



Gross cost at weaning 



Net production cost at less manure 1 



Market value (considering weight) 



Profit on home growns 



137. 87 

 3.94 

 1.05 





$3.1 .« 4 

 2.06 

 3.S9 



.85 



44.39 



33.99 

 (.60 



•33.06 



3.76 

 2.9S 

 1.21 



43.01 



37 08 

 9.09 



Besides fee,i cost, the charges for cows 1 maintenance given here include labor, 



interest, taxes, veterinary charges, mortality, risk, depreciation, and upkeep. 

 An accurate time record was kept of all operations. I SSes from death of 

 Calves and the failure of cows or boilers t<> produce calve- are distributed 

 among the remaining calves under the Item mortality risk. A direct rental of 

 5 per cent Of the value of the pasture land is included under maintenan. 

 cow. The valuations Of the calves at weaning time used to determine the profit 

 are based on actual market quotations, hut the calves themselves could have 

 readily been sold at an advance over the market. 



The net cost of carrying the heifers destined for breeding purposes from 

 weaning to the age of 18 months was in the successive years $2821, | 

 and $25.43, respectively. The greatest expense occurred in the winter when 

 the heifers were in the feed lot. This cost was only a few dollars less each 



year than the net cost and was considerably higher in the case of the p.m i 



