SECRETARY'S REPORT. 



71 



The heifers should now be turned for beef, and will 

 give an average dressed weight of 500 pounds, at 

 16 per hundred, |30 00 



Deduct the cost, 28 09 



Leaves a balance above cost of . 



Pasturing 1 two-year old 32 weeks, at 20 cents, . 

 Wintering ditto 20 weeks, at 33|^ cents. 

 Interest on cost, -$1.31 ; taxes, 33 cents. 

 Add cost at two years old, ..... 



Cost of steers &t three years old. 

 Pasturing 1 three-year old 30 weeks, at 25 cents. 

 Interest on cost for 8 months, •'$1.46 ; taxes, 52 cents, 



Cost of steers at three years and eight months. 



Average weight per head, 



hundred. 

 Deduct cost, 



750 pounds, at $6.50 per 



Leaves a balance above cost. 



146 07 



148 75 

 46 07 



$2 68 



It may appear at first view that the above estimates are too 

 low ; but, upon careful consideration of the benefits of spend- 

 ing the produce upon the farm, and the increased advantage in 

 this respect of the production of meat over that of milk, but- 

 ter, or cheese, to be at once conveyed to the market, it may 

 well be questioned whether the former is not really more 

 remunerative, and should receive increased attention from the 

 farmers of the Commonwealth. 



In addition to the above estimates we may add that a farmer 

 in Middlesex County is accustomed to take calves at one or 

 two weeks old, and keep for the owner until two and one-half 

 years old, for thirty dollars, and says it pays him well. 



A farmer in Worcester County relates his own experience 

 thus : " I purchase many calves to raise, but would sooner give 

 away two, than raise one poor one. 



" I once bought two steer calves for two dollars. When 

 they were two years old they were put to work, and paid their 

 keep the next two years, and were then sold for $130. 



