6 BULLETIN 1071, U. S. DEPARTMENT OE AGRICULTURE. 



that freshened in the fall, and in 5 the feed cost was greatest for those 

 that freshened in the winter. Referring to Table 1 we find that in 

 all the associations combined and over a period of years the average 

 cost of feed for the cows that freshened in the fall was $67.39 ; for 

 those that freshened in the winter, $63.16; for those that freshened 

 in the summer, $60.10; and for those that freshened in the spring, 

 $56.73. In practical application the figures should be considered as 

 relative, not absolute. These variations are not great when averages 

 are considered, but they are much greater for some associations and 

 very much greater for single herds in some associations. Where pas- 

 tures are good and cheap the summer feed cost is low, and where pas- 

 tures are poor and hard to get the summer feed cost is relatively high. 



INFLUENCE OF PASTURE ON FEED COST. 



To determine the influence of good pastures on production and in- 

 come, a comparative study was made of one year's records of two 

 cow-testing associations in the same State and not far apart. For 

 convenience we will call these associations A and B. Association A 

 had good pastures and association B had relatively poor pastures. 



In association A the feed cost was greatest for the cows that fresh- 

 ened in the fall, their yearly milk production averaged 446 pounds 

 less and their yearly butterfat production averaged 12 pounds less 

 than those that freshened at other seasons of the year. In income 

 over cost of feed they fell $17.88 behind the average of those that 

 freshened in the summer and $25.97 behind those that freshened in 

 the spring. In income over cost of feed the figures were as follows : 

 Spring freshening, $94.83; winter freshening, $91.67; summer fresh- 

 ening, $86.74; and fall freshening, $68.86. The figures for that asso- 

 ciation were decidedly against fall freshening, but these results were 

 the exception and not the rule when all the 64 associations were con- 

 sidered. 



In association B, where the pastures were poor, feed cost was 

 also greatest for the cows that freshened in the fall, but these cows, 

 as well as those that freshened in the winter, were ahead in produc- 

 tion of milk and butterfat and in income over cost of feed. In in- 

 come over cost of feed the figures for association B (having the poor 

 pastures) were as follows: FaU freshening, $86.18; winter freshen- 

 ing, $85.99 ; spring freshening, $82.02 ; and summer freshening, $81.73. 



For association A the average income over cost of feed was $85.59 

 and for association B it was $84.26. The figures do not prove that 

 dairying is more profitable where pastures are good, but they furnish 

 some evidence that the question of pasture should have weight in de- . 

 termining the time of year when it will pay best to have cows freshen. 

 Labor, too, must be. considered. 



