96 



BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



I believe fairly represent practical conditions, we can make a 

 fair estimate of the cost of feed required for producing milk in 

 my State during the past five years. 



Table 4. — Estimated Cost of Feed in Missouri. 



Production per Year (Pounds). 



Cost 



of Feed per 



Year. 



Average 



Cost per 100 



Pounds 



(Milk;. 



5,000-6,000, 

 6,000-7,000, 

 8,000-10,000, 



S50 00-$60 00 

 55 00- 65 00 

 65 00- 80 00 



85-$ 1 00 

 80- 95 

 75- 85 



It is, of course, recognized that the cost of feed, while the 

 largest single item, is only one among several that go to make 

 up the total cost of milk production. It is an exceedingly 

 difficult matter to give a fair estimate of these other factors 

 entering into the cost of milk production. Even as regards 

 feed there is some difficulty, since the cattle make use in part 

 of feed that could not be put on the market, and which there- 

 fore can hardly be said to have a market price. In Missouri 

 the production of milk, as stated, is so closely connected with 

 general farming operations that it is practically impossible to 

 separate the labor items. In many cases the milking is done 

 largely by younger members of the family and in that way 

 some income secured for their services, which probably would 

 not be had at all if it were not for having this particular work 

 to do. There are certain items that of course can be estimated 

 with reasonable accuracy, as, for example, the cost of maintain- 

 ing the herd bull, and the interest on the investment; and it is 

 fairly easy to estimate the depreciation in the value of the cow. 

 I regret that I cannot present some accurately taken figures 

 that would give us definite information for conditions as exist- 

 ing in my State. The best estimate and most complete figures 

 on this subject of the cost of milk production in addition to the 

 feed is found in a bulletin from the New Hampshire Experi- 

 ment Station by Professor Rasmussen. He estimates the cost 

 of keeping a cow to be $50 per year in addition to the feed. 



While the cost of feed is somewhat lower in the Mississippi 

 valley States than in the east, the market price of milk is also 



