MARKET MILK IN VERMONT. 6 



The field agent also verified the records of feeds that were being 

 fed on the inspection day, recording the kind, quantity, cost, and de- 

 scription of each, and compared them with the quantities recorded by 

 the cow tester in the cow-testing-association books. 



The quantity of milk sold and receipts each month were obtained, 

 and the whole milk used by the proprietor and his help or fed to 

 calves which were being raised was measured or weighed and used as 

 a basis for determining the amount kept on the farm during the 

 month. 



Each dairyman kept an itemized account of expenses which were 

 incurred between the monthly visits, and these items were recorded 

 by the field agent. A monthly record was also kept of the purchase or 

 sale of cows, calves, and hides. Outside bull service and other mis- 

 cellaneous information relating to the herd were recorded. The field 

 agent also noted the condition and methods of handling the manure 

 and reported it each month. 



When all the labor operations about the dairy had been completed 

 for the day at the first farm, the field agent drove to the next farm in 

 time to observe the labor operations connected with the evening chores. 

 This program was followed each day until Saturday afternoon, when 

 he returned to his official headquarters and finished his reports for 

 the week's work. The same program was followed each week, so that 

 each farm under observation was visited for a working day every 30 

 days throughout the two years. 



WINTER AND SUMMER FEEDING. 



Since the winter and summer seasons have a marked influence on 

 the principal factors entering into the cost of producing milk, the 

 results have been computed separately for those periods. The 

 months from November to April, inclusive, represent the winter 

 season, and from May to October the summer season. 



The various tables found in this bulletin are based upon figures 

 obtained during the two years of the study, and the weighted average 

 of the two-year records was used whenever it would more accurately 

 express the result. The weighted average was obtained by giving 

 each item a different weight in the average according to its relative 

 importance. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE HERDS. 



The principal dairy breeds were well represented by grade and 

 purebred animals, but the Holsteins were most numerous. During 

 the first year records were obtained on 17 herds having an average 

 size of 26.1 cows, with an average annual production, per cow, of 

 5,415 pounds of milk, testing 4.0 per cent butterfat. Eighteen herds 

 were studied during the second year. These herds had an average 



