22 BULLETIN" 49, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICUXTURE. 



It is of interest to compare the cost of growing heifers on the 

 Brigham farm with the results on the cost of feeding heifers pub- 

 lished in Bulletin 63 of the Storrs Agricultural Experiment Station. 

 In the one case the heifers were grown under actual farm conditions ; 

 in the other under careful supervision at a State experiment sta- 

 tion. In each case the cost of feed is very nearly the same. The 

 first-year feed cost at the Storrs station was nearly $28, while at the 

 Brigham farm it was approximately $25. When allowance is made 

 for the higher feed prices charged at the Storrs station the feed 

 costs for the first year check very closely. The feed cost for the 

 second year at the farm is somewhat lower than at the Storrs station, 

 owing to the fact that Mr. Brigham fed no grain during the second 

 year. 



The cost items other than for feed have been estimated at the 

 Storrs station, whereas these same items are based upon accurate 

 data for the Brigham farm. At the Storrs station the total cost is 

 given at $66 for the heifer 2 years of age, while the Brigham records 

 show the cost to be $61.41. Had Mr. Brigham credited the calves 

 with only $5 for manure, as was done at the Storrs station, the net 

 cost of the heifer would have been increased to $64.41. Thus the 

 results of these investigations, carried on under different conditions 

 and in different sections of the country, substantiate each other, and 

 in each case they indicate that a heifer can not be raised properly up 

 to 2 years of age for less than $60. 



Although the practice on the Brigham farm is to have the heifers 

 enter the herd at the age of 2 years, in many dairies they do not 

 freshen until about the age of 2^ years. In such cases the cost of 

 the heifers at milking age will be nearer $75 than $61.41. 



SUMMARY. 



The average net cost of a dairy heifer 1 year old is $39.52, which 

 consists of its initial value, $7.04; feed, $24.67; labor, $4.45; other 

 costs, $6.36 ; total, $42.52 ; credit for manure, $3. 



The average net cost of a dairy heifer 2 j^ears old is $61.41, which 

 consists of its initial value, $7.04 ; feed, $40.83 ; labor, $7.81 ; other 

 costs, $13.73; total, $69.41; credit for manure, $8. 



The most important item of cost is the feed, which is 65.5 per cent, 

 or nearly two-thirds of the total net cost of the heifer. Labor forms 

 12.5 per cent, and all other costs 22 per cent. 



One-half of the feed cost the first year and one-third for the full 

 two years is for whole and skim milk. 



By far the most expensive period in the life of the calf is the first 

 four weeks, the cost being nearly double that for any other four-Aveek 

 period. This high cost is occasioned by its being dependent almost 

 entirely upon whole milk. 



