2 BULLETIN 49, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



THE COST-OF-PRODUCTION PROBLEM. 



The items that go to make up the cost of producing a dairy heife ■• 

 are feed, bedding, labor (both man and horse), shelter, use of equip- 

 ment, interest on monej 7 invested, miscellaneous charges (including 

 veterinary services, registration fees, and other minor items), a share 

 of the general overhead expenses of the entire farm business, and a 

 charge to cover losses by death and discarding. To these must be 

 added the item of initial value, because a calf worth raising has a 

 value at birth. 



The records and accounts needed to obtain the necessary data to 

 calculate these costs are: (1) Feed records, (2) labor records, (3) 

 financial accounts, and (4) inventories. 



THE FEED RECORD. 



The feed record must show the daily ration, including the number 

 of pounds of each kind of feed, beginning with the first milk the 

 calf drinks and continuing until it is grown and enters the herd. 

 The milk and grain should be weighed daily, while the roughage need 

 be weighed onl} 7 three times a month at 10-day periods and also when- 

 ever an} 7 change is made in the ration. The difficulty of getting this 

 record will depend upon the number of different feeds in the ration, 

 the number of times the ration is changed, and the regularity of the 

 feeder. A simple blank with pencil attached fastened in a convenient 

 place in the feeding room or calf barn will suffice for this purpose. 



THE LABOR RECORD. 



The labor record should contain the number of hours of all labor, 

 both man and horse, used directly and indirectly in caring for the 

 growing calves. By indirect labor is meant the hauling on the farm 

 of feeds and materials that are to be used by the calves. Complete 

 daily reports from each workman of all the labor on the farm are 

 preferable, as then there is no chance to overlook any item of labor 

 cost. By having the complete number of hours of paid labor, together 

 with the factors making up the cost, the exact rate per hour of man 

 and horse labor can be determined. However, if labor records on 

 calves alone are desired, the increased accuracy from complete records 

 on the whole farm would not justify the extra work required. 



THE FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS. 



Complete financial accounts are necessary. These should include 

 all expenditures relating to calves, such as the purchase of pails, 

 repairs on all items of equipment used, veterinary fees, and other 

 miscellaneous items occurring throughout the period of growth. A 

 complete financial account of the entire farm business is preferable, 



