414 FEEDS AND FEEDING 



to get the approximate net cost of producing 100 Ibs. of milk. For 

 example, in the case of the Warren formula the total of these costs must 

 be increased 25 per ct. This is to cover the other costs, besides feed 

 and labor. 



669. Monthly variation in cost of production. Every experienced 

 dairyman knows that it costs much more to produce milk in winter than 

 in summer when the cows are on pasture. This is because pasture is a 

 cheap feed and, furthermore, good pasture stimulates a high yield of 

 milk. Also much less labor is required in producing 100 Ibs. of milk 

 when the herd is on pasture than under winter feeding conditions. 

 In an investigation by Pearson in Illinois 9 it was found that the other 

 expenses of producing milk were more or less constant thruout the year. 

 When all expenses were included, the net cost of producing 100 Ibs. of 

 milk in June was about 60 per ct. of the average cost for the year, and in 

 December about 120 per ct. of the yearly cost. 



Since it costs less to produce milk in the summer, the natural tendency 

 will be for dairymen to concentrate production in the more profitable 

 months. Therefore to secure a steady supply of milk for city con- 

 sumption, the price paid farmers must be considerably higher in winter 

 than in summer. Pearson found that the average monthly prices paid 

 to farmers supplying milk to Chicago from 1907 to 1916 were the 

 following percentages of the average annual price: January, 119.0 per 

 ct. ; February, 114.3 per ct. ; March, 106.5 per ct. ; April, 94.2 per ct. ; 

 May, 73.2 per ct. ; June, 70.6 per ct. ; July, 83.7 per ct. ; August, 94.2 per 

 ct. ; September, 96.7 per ct. ; October, 109.2 per ct. ; November, 118.3 per 

 ct. ; December, 120.3 per ct. While these percentages do not correspond 

 exactly to the differences in the cost of production for various months, 

 they bear a rough relationship to it. 



670. Reducing the cost of milk production. The studies of the cost of 

 milk production have shown clearly that the factor of greatest importance 

 in determining the cost in any herd is the actual average production. 

 This is well shown in a survey conducted among dairymen supplying 

 the city of Rochester, New York. 10 It was found that the cost of producing 

 milk under war-time conditions was $4.00 or less per 100 Ibs. for the 

 herds averaging over 6,000 Ibs. of milk a year, while it was $4.36 for 

 those yielding 5,000 to 6,000 Ibs., $4.88 for those producing 4,000 to 

 5,000 Ibs., and $7.10 for the herds averaging less than 4,000 Ibs. These 

 figures show clearly that dairymen who persist in keeping inefficient 

 cows cannot expect a profit. The general principles which must be 

 followed in building up a profitable herd have been discussed in a 

 previous chapter. (541-7) 



In addition to having the right kind of cows, it is imperative, as has 

 been emphasized before, that the}' be fed well-balanced and economical 

 rations. (191-6, 645-50) Otherwise high feed bills may eat up all possible 

 profits. By growing suitable crops, especially legume hay and corn or 



111. Buls. 216, 224. 10 Report of Rochester Milk Survey. 



