12 



BULLETIN 49, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



The cost of labor the second year is $2.8G per head, as compared 

 with $5.14 for the first year. The cost of both feed and labor is 

 $18,97, as compared with $29.72 for the first year, making a difference 

 of $10.75 in favor of the second year. 



It is interesting to note a comparison of the man labor required 

 per day for the two years. 



Table VIII. — Man^labor requirement per head for the first and second years in 



raising dairy cows. 



Year. 



Total 

 number 



of 

 hours. 



Average number of 

 minutes per day 

 for the period. 



• 



Full 

 year. 



When in 

 barn. 



First 



39.9 

 23.25 



6.6 

 3.8 



18.67 

 2 7.66 



Second 





1 Basis of 9 months, or 274 days. 



2 Basis of 6 months, or 182 days. 



S.OO\ 



4.00 



The requirement and cost of labor for the entire year are much less 

 the second year, but the requirement and cost per day in the barn do 

 not differ materially for the two years. 



FEED AND LABOR COST FOE BOTH FIRST AND SECOND YEARS. 



The cost per head of feed and labor by months throughout the full 

 two years' growth of the heifer is illustrated by figures 3 and 4. The 



4 6 .ooxr , , i 1 i i i i i i i fi rst month is the most 



expensive of the calf's 

 life. After this the 

 cost decreases until 

 about the third month 

 and then gradually in- 

 creases during the 

 winter and spring 

 until the calf is turned 

 out on pasture. The 

 cheapest period of the 

 two years is during 

 the summer months, 

 while dependent 

 almost entirely on pas- 

 ture. The feed and 

 labor cost increases in 

 the second year dur- 

 ing the early winter 

 and, reaching its maxi- 

 mum in March, gradually drops off with the beginning of spring 

 weather. The second pasture season again reduces the expense 



/.oo 



SEPT. OCT. A/OK DEC. >J/W. FEB. MAR. APR. MAr c/CWE \JOir AUG. 



Fig. 3. — Chart showing the cost of feed and labor required 

 in raising a dairy heifer the first year. Feed, $24.58 ; 

 labor. $5.14. 



