FEEDING AND CARE OF DAIRY COWS 



265 



advanced materially since these results were reported, but from the 

 data in the table one can readily estimate the yearly cost of feed at 

 local market prices. IMilk and butter are commonly produced at much 

 less expense in summer when the herd is on pasture, than when in 

 winter quarters. 



Feed requirement of the dairy coiv as found hy ten stations 



1 Bui. 145. 2 Bui. 29. 3 Rpts. 1897-1904. 4 Bui. 166. 5 Rpts. 1905-7. 6 Buls. 167, 

 187,217. 7 Bui. 35. 8 Bui. 26. 9 BuL 68. 10 Rpt. 1905. 11 Bui. 101. 

 * Pasture limited in amount. 



Cost of keeping cows. — In addition to the cost of feed, the dairy 

 cow should be charged with: (1) depreciation, interest, and taxes on 

 the cow herself; (2) depreciation, interest, and taxes on buildings; 



(3) depreciation and interest on barn tools and dairy implements; 



(4) cost of perishable tools and supplies, including bedding, ice, salt, 

 brushes, record sheets, etc.; (5) proportionate cost of pure-bred sire; 

 (6) cost of labor in caring for cow. These are estimated by various 

 authorities at $56 to $73 per head annually, but will vary greatly 

 for the different sections of the country, depending on the price of 

 labor, the shelter required, etc. These figures will, however, give an 

 approximate idea of the amount which should be added to the cost 

 of feed to obtain the total cost of maintaining a cow for a year. 

 In turn, the cow should be credited not only with the value of her 

 product, either milk, or butter fat and skim milk, but also with the 

 value of her calf and of the manure she produces. 



QUESTIONS 



1. Compare the economy with which the cow and the steer produce human 

 food. 



2. What is meant by dairy type and beef type? 



3. How do good and poor producers compare in economy of production? 



