CHAPTER 12 



COSTS OF PRODUCTION AND METHODS OF 

 MARKETING 



G. F. WARREN 

 COST OF PRODUCTION 



217. Cost of Producing Milk. Reliable figures on the cost 

 of keeping cows are available for two regions that repre- 

 sent decidedly different dairy conditions. 



Delaware County, near New York City, is a hilly region 

 where the pasture season is short. Practically all grain is 

 purchased. Because of the nearness to large cities, hay is 

 very high in price. In this county the average cost per cattle 

 unit for over six thousand cows was $99. The year whose 

 records are here quoted was one of unusually high feed prices 

 even for the region. In the following year the cost was $88. 

 All the costs of keeping the cows and of the calves raised 

 were charged directly to the cows, raising calves being one 

 means of offsetting depreciation on cows. How near these 

 two balance in this region is shown by the fact that the re- 

 turns from cattle and hides sold were only $1 per cow above 

 the amounts spent for cattle purchased. This region is fairly 

 typical for New England and for hilly regions in other states 

 near the large eastern cities. 



Rice County, Minnesota, represents a region of very low- 

 priced feed. The figures were obtained several years ago 

 when feed was cheaper than it is to-day. Hay is worth less 



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