KELATION OF PRODUCTION TO INCOME FEOM COWS. 7 



From this curve the income over cost of feed for each 50 pounds 

 of gain in butterfat production may be determined. It is well 

 known that dairy cows, to be profitable, must be comparatively large 

 producers, yet few people fully realize the remarkable rate at which 

 income over cost of feed advances as production increases. The 

 chart shows that as average butterfat production increased from 

 150 to 200 pounds, the average income over cost of feed advanced 

 from $26 to $42 ; that is, a gain of 50 pounds in butterfat production 

 increased the income over cost of feed $16, or nearly 62 per cent. 

 The next gain of 50 pounds raised the income over cost of feed to 

 $58, the next to $74, the next to $90, and the next to $106. 



Briefly stated, as production of butterfat increased from 150 to 

 400 pounds, the income over cost of feed advanced from $26 to $106, 



FlG. 4. — An Ayrshire herd in the llcrndon (Va.) cow-testing association. 



or exactly $16 for cadi gain of 50 pounds in butterfat production. 

 Ae butterfat production increased from 400 to 450 pounds the gain 

 in income over- cost of feed was about $19. For the groups whose 

 average production was above 450 pounds the income above feed 

 cost was somewhat irregular, which may have been due to the fact 

 that the Dumber of records was too small to give dependable aver- 

 ages, Or there may have been a point beyond which the cows did not 

 respond so readily to more liberal feeding. Undoubtedly there is a 

 point beyond which it does not pay to feed for increased produc- 

 tion, hut evidently that point is seldom passed in the feeding of 



cow-testing a ssociat ion cows. 



\.l ■ , of Cecils and prices of dairy products rise and hill the 

 income over COSi of i'cc] also may rise and fall, hilt a study ol the 



