Table 11. Percentage Distribution of Farms Using Cans by Fanners' 

 Estimated Cost of Change-over Exclusive of Farm Tank Cost 



1 See Appendix I, Table 39. 



A decision on investment in a tank 

 is frequently forced by the need to 

 replace a can cooler. Some estimate 

 of this potential decision among can 

 users is indicated by the age of the 

 can coolers in use at the time of the 

 study. 



The relatively high proportion of 

 coolers which were over 6 years of 

 age indicated that many replacement 

 decisions would be made within the 

 next few years. The replacement by 

 a bulk tank as a result of these de- 

 cisions would depend on the factors 

 discussed above which influence pro- 

 ducer behavior. 



Table 12. The Proportion of Can 



Coolers which Had Been in Use 



6 Years or More, by Size 



Size of Cooler 



2 can 

 4 can 

 6 can 

 8 can 

 10 can 

 12 can 



Percent 



64 

 62 

 49 

 36 

 58 

 64 



V. Experiences and Plans of Producers Who Had 

 Changed to Bulk Milk Tanks 



The majority of tanks in the three 

 states under study had been installed 

 6 to 36 months. Therefore the full 

 consequences of their operation had 

 perhaps not been experienced. 



With the exception of a few days, 

 the farm lanes and secondary roads 

 were passable all year round. There 

 are certain maximum gross weight 

 restrictions in connection with the 

 tank truck transportation of milk. 1 



1. Motive for Changing 

 To Bulk Tank 



An analysis of the reasons for 

 producers' shifting from cans to a 

 farm tank shows there were several 

 important influences, apart from the 

 fact that usually the dealer, on con- 

 verting to bulk assembly, fixed a 

 deadline after which he would re- 

 ceive no more milk in cans. The 



1 See Table 41, in Appendix 1. 



16 



