PRODUCING MILK IN WESTERN WASHINGTON. 



9 



The low credit per cow for manure is due to the small quantity of 

 manure saved and to the losses incurred in handling it. Since the 

 cost of keeping a bull was charged against the cows under other costs, 

 the bull manure was credited to the herds and included in the credit 

 of 2.1 tons of manure per cow in 1917-18 and 1.6 tons per cow in 

 1919-20. 



CREDIT FOR CALVES. 



The seasonal variations in the production of calves show a small 

 increase in the number of calves dropped in winter over the number 

 dropped in summer, but this does not imply that winter dairying 

 was emphasized. A study of the number of calves dropped per 

 month shows that there were more calves born from January to May 

 than during any other corresponding period, which indicates a tend- 

 ency toward summer dairying. 



Table 4. — Total credit for calves produced, by years and by seasons. 



Item. 



Credit by years. 



Credit by seasons. 



1917-18 



1919-20 



Both winters. ' Both summers. 



Nnrnhfir of calves . 



514 



S3, 399. 89 



502 

 S4. 821 . 11 



574 442 





U, 495. 38 J S3, 725. 62 

 S7.83 1 S8.43 





S6.61 : S9.60 



0.96 of 1 calf. ! 0.98 of 1 calf. 



S6.38 : -S9.39 



0.013 of 1 calf. | 0.012 of 1 calf. 



Calves per cow 



Credit per cow 



Credit per 100 pounds of milk 



1.1 calves. ! 0.84 of 1 calf. 



$8. 61 S7. 08 



0.017 of 1 calf. 0.009 of 1 calf. 







The average production of 0.96 of one calf per cow for the first 

 year and 0.98 of one calf for the second year shows a very high 

 average, which ordinarily can not be expected. Their increase in 

 value was wholly due to a rise in the market value of calves. 



The greater number of calves were sold for veal when very young. 

 Each calf that was raised was given a value by the farmer, who took 

 into consideration the individual and its breeding. As grade prices 

 were given to the purebred cows, their calves were given a value 

 which corresponded to a grade calf of similar quality. This was done 

 because in these studies the breeding business was separated from 

 the business of producing milk. 



REQUIREMENTS FOR KEEPING A BULL. 



There is a noticeable difference in both feed and labor require- 

 ments for keeping a bull in summer and in winter. On 10 farms 

 the bulls ran on pasture or were tethered out. This accounts for the 

 low feed requirements, other than pasture, and for the low labor re- 

 quirements for the summer season. 



The small quantity of bedding was due to a combination of reasons. 



In many herds the bulls ran with the cows, and they were kept in 



the stable only at night during January, February, and March. A 

 12640°— 20 2 



