78 BOAED OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



covering the cost of skim-milk. The total cost is $70, or 

 5.6 cents per pound live weight. 



The type of steer in question is likely to remain worth 

 more than this bj several dollars. At (Ji/^ cents live weight 

 his value would be $81.25, his birth-rate being regarded as 

 50 pounds. 



This question of cost may be presented from another 

 stand-point and apart from dilference in cost of pasturing 

 as against barn. The number of })ounds of food required to 

 groAva steer to a given weiglit is not fully determined, but it 

 is quite probable that it can be accomplished on 10 pounds 

 or less of food for a pound of groAvth up to 1,300 pounds 

 weight. This food at prices named, if composed of 30 per 

 cent of concentrated foods, would cost $81.50. As the calf 

 starts at 60 or more pounds live weight the cost per 100 

 pounds live weight would be $6.21. This would leave a 

 margin of profit for a series of years, the present outlook 

 continuing. At the present time the rates for the quality of 

 beef under consideration are more than the estimates. As 

 stated, the value of the manure will exceed cost of attend- 

 ance provided the attendant's time is fully occupied in the 

 care of the stock or in some productive business. 



If the ration is made up of grains of equal parts of corn 

 meal, bran and cotton-seed meal, and the coarse foods of corn 

 ensilage, hay and clover, the manure resulting would be 

 valued at $28.03 in actual practice. It would not cost over 

 one-half this sum for the care of the steers. It will be a 

 very conservative estimate to credit the steer with $10 of 

 manure above cost of attendance. 



I am aware that questions for debate are involved, and 

 that in a sense little direct profit is shown. The business of 

 farming in New England is that of crop growth, stock feeding 

 being a method of acquiring the manure to feed the crops. 



If the crops of the farm can be sold to the stock of the 

 farm at a good profit on their production, or for $10 per ton 

 for the coarse foods and market rates for concentrated foo^ls, 

 the transaction is satisfactory. The indications are that we 

 can get more than $10 per ton for coarse foods in good beef 

 steers and still pay for the work involved. It appears that 



