48 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



ranges from $40 to $60 per ton, while the value of a ton of 

 butter is from $500 to $G00. There is not another animal 

 that furnishes as much fertility for our soils as the dairy 

 cow. 



The beef animal might be considered as playing an equally 

 important part in the problem of economical farming, but 

 let us compare the two. An average good cow produces 

 6,000 pounds of milk in a year, which contains from 12 to 

 121/2 per cent of total solids, making from TOO to 800 pounds 

 of kiln-dried foodstuff, which, without further preparation, 

 can be easily assimilated and digested. Compare this with a 

 beef cow that produces a calf each year, which with good care 

 Avill weigh from 700 to 800 pounds at the end of the year. 

 In dressing the carcass there is a loss of from 5 to 10 per 

 cent. From 15 to 30 per cent is lost when the meat is cooked, 

 and from 30 to 40 per cent of the remainder is refuse, such 

 as bone, cartilage, etc. Only 150 to 180 pounds of actual 

 edible food is left, and this contains from 35 to 40 per cent 

 of water. Looking at it from an entirely economical stand- 

 point the dairy cow is approximately seven or eight times 

 more efficient as a producer than the beef cow. 



It has been the aim of this article to give evidence of the 

 importance of dairying in American agriculture. By a 

 systematic and efficient practice of intensive dairying there 

 is no reason why this country should not become the greatest 

 agricultural country in the world. 



Mr. Race. Professor Erf has presented a great many 

 different thoughts. It seems as though it might be profitable 

 to discuss this matter. Does any one wish to ask any ques- 

 tions ? 



Mr. IvAx C. Weld. ]\Ir. President, I would like to ask 

 Professor Erf if the people who are co-operating in Den- 

 mark through the cow-testing associations, and securing 

 records of individual cows, have gone out of business as the 

 result of such records ? 



Professor Erf. No ; they have gone into the business. 

 The point is this, that when they discovered their faults they 

 began to make inquiries as to how they could improve the 



