SECRETARY'S REPORT. 41 



COST AND QUANTITY OF FOOD. 



Of the cost and quantity of food required to carry a calf 

 through the first year of its existence, it is very difficult to 

 make an estimate. There are certain modes of feeding however, 

 the cost of which is easily computed. Take, for instance, 

 the plan adopted by some, as referred to above, of allowing the 

 calf to run with the dam, until it is six months old. Suppose 

 the cow to give the calf eight quarts of milk per day, at the 

 following prices : — 



8 quarts at 2 cents per quart for 6 months, . • |26 88 

 8 " 3 " " " 6 " . . 40 32 



8 " 4 " " " 6 " . . 53 76 



One or another of these prices milk will command, almost 

 any where, whether sold, or converted into butter and cheese. 



Take, now, the first estimate, and add to it the cost of 

 keeping during the winter, the articles being estimated in 

 proportion to the price of the milk, and we have — 



Amount of milk consumed, ..... 



Hay, during first winter, . . . . . . 5 00 



Roots, during first winter, | peck per day for 4 months, 



at 17 cents per bushel, 3 16 



Cost, at one year old, $35 04 



From one farmer celebrated for his stock, we have the 

 following mode, with our own estimates, 



50 quarts of milk at 2 cents per quart, . . . $1 00 



700 quarts of skimmed milk at 1 cent per quart, . 7 00 



Pasture, for 5 months, 2 00 



Hay, during first winter, 5 00 



Roots, during first winter, | peck per day for 4 months, 



at 17 cents per bushel, 3 16 



Cost, at one year old, $18 16 



It is well known to cattle breeders that the feeding of the 

 first year is the most expensive and requires the most care. A 

 calf, dropped early in the spring, has consumed nearly as 



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