A STUDY IN THE COST OF PRODUCING MILK. 



21 



DISCUSSION OF RESULTS. 



In taking up the consideration of the data from the four farms and 

 of their practical appHcation to the production of milk throughout the 

 country, it is essential to note that milk and other dairy products are 

 furnished by farms that may be divided into two general types. 

 One type is the specialized dairy farm, where the source of income 

 is primarily from dairy products. The whole farm organization 

 is built around the dairy enterprise; labor is hired primarily to 

 work on the herd ; crops are grown for consumption by the herd ; and 

 the income of the owner is determined whoUy by the efficiency with 

 which the dairy is handled. Farms of this type are comparatively 

 few in number and are found mostly in regions near large cities where 

 there is a good demand for market milk. All four of these farms tend 

 toward this specialized type. The Michigan farm is the most intensive. 

 The second type, the general farm, is found everywhere throughout 

 the country. The herd usually numbers from a few cows to 15 or 

 20, but the keeping of cows is only a part of the general farm busi- 

 ness. The farmer may sell some other kind of Hve stock, farm crops, 

 or fruit. While the receipts from cows contribute to his income, his 

 success or failure financially is but partially dependent upon the 

 efficiency with which he cares for his cows. On the Pennsylvania 

 and North. Carolina farms considerable income is derived from the 

 sale of other products. 



THE FEED PROBLEM. 



The results of this study indicate that on farms where cows depend 

 on pasture, with little or no grain during the pasture season, the cost 

 of feed is approximately one-half the total cost of keeping the cow. 

 On farms where more intensive dairying is practiced, pasture is 

 limited, and a grain ration is fed throughout the year, the feed is 

 nearer 60 per cent of the cost. These facts further femphasize the 

 point that, "with few exceptions, the feed bills are the real burden 

 to the dairyman." ^ Naturally, then, the producer of dairy products 

 who would increase his profits by economizing in cost of production 

 should first consider this largest item of cost. In many cases economy 

 may result from an actual reduction of feed cost per cow, whereas, 

 in other cases it may be necessary to increase the feed bills to insure 

 the greatest profits. The quantity of feed supphed each cow should 

 not be below the quantity she requires for the most efficient pro- 

 duction. The real economic problem is to supply a palatable ration 

 which contains the essential constituents in sufficient quantity at the 

 lowest cost. (See fig. 5.) The fundamental principles of com- 

 pounding a ration on the basis of nutrition have been determined by 

 extensive experimental studies. 



1 Feeds and Feeding, Henry and Morrison. 



