THE ECONOMIC FACTORS 



'$90.69 



$68.55 



$50.73 



135 



$29.72 



$34.82 



$3.82 



N^ Wo. I 



No.1 



FIG. 22. PROFIT FROM DIFFERENT Cows 



Average annual value of product from two cows for three years. 

 Observe the scant net profit on Cow No. 2, compared with No. 1, as 

 shown by the two bars at the right. The values of his cows as pro- 

 ducers are of the utmost importance to the dairy farmer, yet few 

 farmers have any exact knowledge as to which cows in the herd are 

 bringing in a profit in relation to the cost of their keep and which 

 ones are kept at a loss as "boarders" or "rabbits." Yet such 

 knowledge can be gained simply by keeping records for individual 

 cows and, when possible, making butter-fat tests. Such differences 

 as the above are very common in dairy herds, and greater ones are 

 often met with, facts which must be considered in connection with 

 the complaint from the farmer that "there is no money in the milk 

 business." (Circulars 67, 122, Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station.) 



As I visit the dairymen of this country, I am impressed 

 with the statements that they make in regard to the amount 

 of milk received per cow. Some dairymen say their cows are 



