POINT OF VIEW ON LIVE-STOCK PROBLEMS 209 



stock is paying exceptionally well, he may gradually 

 increase the amount kept so long as the increase pays. 

 This often happens when pure-bred stock is kept. But 

 in the start it is much safer to follow the general practice 

 of the community, and let the business grow into an 

 intensively stocked place. Even when the stock is found 

 to pay exceptionally well, breeders usually find that it 

 pays to enlarge the farm as the stock increases. See also 

 pages 122 to 131. 



Farmer no. 3, Table 22, page 134, has one of the most in- 

 tensive types of farming. He produces pure-bred cattle 

 and certified milk and is doing well with the combination. 

 In the year when this record was secured, he had 87 acres 

 of crops and 76 animal units. Almost an animal unit 

 per acre of crops. All the crops were fed and a large 

 amount of grain feed was bought. A few years later, 

 the farm was enlarged to 232 acres and the animal units 

 reduced to 69 ; there were 138 acres of crop or 2 acres of 

 crops per animal unit. This year $967 worth of cash crops 

 were sold. Only a little more help was hired in harvest. 

 No more horses were required. The better organized 

 business resulted in a larger labor income. 



The farmer in the Middle West who produces hogs has 

 a little different problem, because hogs can be prepared for 

 market on short notice. Shoats can be sold while small, 

 if corn is too scarce. The size to which the hogs are 

 grown is to considerable extent determined by the relative 

 price of corn and hogs. 



The writer has no figures on this problem, but from 

 many years' observation is of the opinion that it usually 

 pays best to sell corn as well as hogs, so that corn will not 

 often have to be bought. 



135. Animal unit. In order to have a basis for com- 



