VI. GROSS AND NET COST OF POOD TO COWS. 



The cost of food is the most important item in the total cost of producing milk. The results 

 of this investigation show the following costs per gallon due to food supplied to cows alone : 



VII. COMPAEISON OF KATIONS. 



Owing to the comparatively small amount of feeding done during the summer, the question 

 of rations fed is not of such great importance as during the winter tune. Table B. in the 

 Appendix shows the comparative rations fed in England and Wales and in Scotland. 



VIII. HOME GROWN FOODS AND COST OF PRODUCTION OF MILK. 



The remarks in Para. IX of the Interim Report as to the cost price and market price 

 of home grown foods also apply during the summer period, but again, owing to the smaller 

 quantities fed the question assumes less importance. 



Table C in the Appendix shows the costs per gallon for home grown foods based on farmers' 

 prices and market prices respectively. Table D in the Appendix shows the quantities fed and 

 average market prices, while Table E in the Appendix shows the effect of varying rates per ton 

 of the principal foods on the cost per gallon, assuming that the saane quantities would be fed 

 at different prices. 



IX. MAINTENANCE OF HERDS. 



For the sake of convenience the terms ' ' Appreciation ' ' and ' ' Depreciation ' ' of the herds 

 have been used throughout this Report. It must be clearly understood, however, that the credit 

 or charge under these headings include not only the difference between the opening and closing 

 valuations, but also the effect of all purchases and sales, births and deaths, and transfers in and 

 out. 



The nett credit after maintaining the cows in the herds taking into account the opening 

 and closing valuations and including a loss of 2,520 14s. 2d. arising from deaths of cows was 

 891 17s. 3d. 



The value of the cows in the closing valuations was 14,395 2s. 6d. more than in the opening 

 valuations, but the values of the cows bought and transferred in exceeded by 13,503 os. 3d. those 

 sold and transferred out, leaving the nett increase of 891 17s. 3d. mentioned above. 



The number of cows in the closing valuation was 27 more than at the commencement. 



The average value per head was slightly greater at the close of the period , the figures being 

 at commencing valuation, 40 15s. per head; at closing valuation 43 9s. per head. 



The average prices of the cows in the herds bought, sold and transferred are shown in Table F 

 in the Appendix. 



Of the 5,809 cows passing through the herds during the period, 596 or 9" 7 per cent, were 

 purchased, and 300 others, or 5'03 per cent., were transferred into the herds. The number in 

 the herds at the time of the commencing valuation was 4,913, or 84.57 per cent, of the total 

 number of cows accounted for during the period. At the time of the closing valuation, there were 

 4,940 cows in the herd, or 85'04 per cent, of the total accounted for, 728 or 12'53 per cent, having 

 passed out by sale; 67 or 1'15 per cent, by death, and 74 or T27 per cent, had been transferred 

 out of the herds. These total figures are for Great Britain. Separate particulars for England 

 and Wales and Scotland are given in Tables G and H in the Appendix. 



X. COMPARISON OF COSTS PER GALLON AND YIELD OF MILK. 



The following Table No. 2 shows for each district the direct costs per gallon of milk, and also 

 the average daily yields for cows in milk and all cows. 



