Record of the Station Dairy Herd 



THE COST OF MILK PRODUCTION. 



By J. B. LiNDSEY.* 



FOREWORD. 



Since i8g6 the experiment station has kept a herd of from six to 

 twelve cows primarily for the purpose of studying the relative values 

 of coarse and of concentrated feedstuffs upon growth and milk pro- 

 duction, and also for investigating the effect of the different groups 

 of nutrients upon the chemical character of the milk fat. With such 

 objects in view it has, of course, not been possible to ascertain the 

 complete cost of milk production. An exact record, however, has 

 been kept of the food consvmied by each animal in the herd and of 

 the composition and amount of the milk produced. It is believed 

 that the data accumulated are of sufficient importance to warrant 

 publication. 



HISTORY OF THE HERD. 



The original herd was purchased of farmers in the vicinity. In 

 case an animal did not serve its purpose it was replaced by the pur- 

 chase of a mature cow fresh in milk. The animals were mostly grade 

 Jerseys, the prevailing breed in this locality at the time. In 1903 

 the station began to keep up its herd by the use of a pure bred 

 Jersey bull and a number of pure bred Jersey heifers were also pur- 

 chased. The addition, by breeding, of a few grade Holsteins and 

 Ayrshires has lately been made. Until 1905 practically all of the 



*The complete tabulation of the individual cow records was made by Mr. P. H. Smith 

 to whom due credit should be given. The data were arranged for publication and the bulletin 

 prepared by Dr. Lindsey. 



