3 DAIRYING. 



to house the necessary feed the cows will consume as well as the 

 cows themselves. The cost of the cow stable may be variously 

 estimated, but under average conditions it seems safe to place this 

 at $50 per cow. This estimate will allow $1,000 for a building to 

 house 20 cows or $1,500 to house 30. The proportion of this expense 

 which the cost of maintaining a cow should bear is represented by 

 such items as taxes, insurance, interest, depreciation in value of 

 the stable each year, etc. These items will certainly amount to 

 so. much as 10 per cent, of the money invested which in this case 

 is $50 per cow and will amount to $5. 



90. Second, the value of the cow. There is a great variation in 

 the value of cows. This is a figure which may vary to wide extremes, 

 as in some localities it is difficult at the present time to buy cows 

 for $75, while in others they can be obtained for about $30. Plac- 

 ing the average value per cow at $50, we can use this as a basis 

 on which to estimate the amount that should be charged to each 

 year's milk production for the money invested in the cow. It has 

 been estimated that a cow remains a producer of milk about four 

 years. The milking period of some cows is much longer than this, 

 but on account of the losses from accidents, sickness, poor milkers, 

 and other causes, a cow's usefulness in a herd does not extend 

 much over a period of four years. Assuming, then, that at the end 

 of four years, a cow must be sold for beef, or for about $30, there 

 is a depreciation of $20 in four years, which amounts to about 10 

 per cent, of the original value of the cow, which was $50; making 

 the annual expense of the cow $5.00, expressed as depreciation in 

 value. 



91. Third, the cost of feed. This will naturally vary with dif- 

 ferent cows and in different localities. An experiment made by the 

 Illinois Station illustrated this point in the following way: Two 

 grade cows, six and nine years old, both fresh in the spring, were 

 given the same kind and proportion of feed for one year. They 

 were also milked and cared for in the same way. Careful records 

 were kept both of the feed consumed and the weight of the milk 

 and butter produced. The results of this experiment for the year 

 show that cow No. 1 consumed during the year 20,196 pounds of 

 feed. She produced 11,329 pounds of milk, which according to its 

 test was equal to 658 pounds of butter. Cow No. 2, consumed 



