Part II.] 



CO-OPERATIVE DAIRYING. 



153 



been maintained in the several States for the purpose of making 

 scientific investigations of agricultural problems. These sta- 

 tions in our northern States have found out and told us much 

 about better methods of dairying. We know how to breed, 

 feed and care for dairy cows better than we ever did before. 

 We have adopted the silo pretty generalh', and the growing of 

 clovers, to cut down the cost of the ration. Furthermore, in 

 order that records of production and feed costs might be kept 

 of each cow, and expert advice be had about feeding, we have 

 formed co-operative cow-testing associations. In 1914 we had 

 in Vermont 25 of these associations which completed the year, 

 and which made it possible to obtain the records of about 

 13,000 cows. These records ought to give us an inkling of the 

 profitableness of dairying. The cows under test averaged to 

 produce 5,087 pounds of milk and 230 pounds butterfat, and 

 the feed cost was S45.76. But there are sources of income other 

 than milk or butterfat, and other expenses besides feed. I 

 asked two representative dairymen to go over the figures with 

 me and make an estimate of the other items which go upon the 

 debit and credit side of an account with a dairy cow. We 

 agreed upon the following as conservative: — 



Dr. 



Feed, . 



Labor, . 



Interest, 



Taxes and interest, 



Depreciation, 



Barn rent, . 



Bedding, 



Keep of bull, 



Incidentals, . 



Cost of keeping records, 



Hauling milk. 



$45 76 



24 30 



3 60 



88 



8 00 



5 00 



1 50 



2 00 

 1 00 

 1 00 

 5 08 



S98 12 



Cr. 

 5,087 pounds of milk at 



1.48 cents, 

 Manure, .... 

 Calf, 



Loss, 



$75 28 



15 00 



2 00 



$92 28 

 5 84 



$98 12 



Now we must bear in mind that these cows were fed under 

 the directions of cow testers who have had training in scientific 

 feeding. In many of the older associations the poor cows 

 have been weeded out, so that we may assume, I believe, that 



