PRODUCING MARKET MILK IE" DELAWARE. 



11 



The cows had an average inventory value of $154.93. Purebred 

 cows were inventoried at fair prices for grade cows of similar pro- 

 ducing ability, and the calves dropped by purebred cows were in- 

 ventoried at corresponding grade values. Inventories were taken 

 at the beginning and end of each year. The depreciation or appre- 

 ciation in value of cows was obtained in the following manner : The 

 values of heifers freshening or cows purchased during the year were 

 added to the first inventory and the values of cows or hides sold 

 during the year were added to the inventory at the end of the year. 

 The difference between the two inventories, after these additions, rep- 

 resented the depreciation or appreciation on the herd for the year. 



The feed, labor, and " other costs " of keeping the herd sires were 

 kept separate, so that they would be available for study. 



Interest was charged at 6 per cent, the prevailing rate in the sec- 

 tion. Eecords were kept of the actual amounts of money spent dur- 

 ing the year for veterinary services, medicines, and disinfectants. 

 These expenditures amounted to 87 cents per cow per year. 



PERCENTAGE COMPARISON OF FACTORS INVOLVED IN MILK 



PRODUCTION. 



How much more did it cost to produce milk in winter than in 

 summer? What caused the variation in cost? Did the credit for 

 calves and manure equal the debit for either labor or " other costs " ? 

 Table 9 answers these questions for the section studied. 



Table 9. — Per cent of the total costs represented hy feed, labor, and 



costs," by seasons. 



" other 



Item. 



Winter. 



Summer. 



Entire 

 year. 



■Ffipd and hprlding on'tt. 



Per cent. 



35.9 



.9 



Per cent. 

 8.9 

 7.3 



Per cent. 

 44.8 



Pasture 



8.2 







Feed, bedding, and pasture cost 



36.8 

 8.6 

 11.8 



16.2 

 8.1 

 11.5 



53.0 



Labor cost .... 



16.7 





23.3 







Total cost except herd inventory variation 



57.2 

 3.5 



35.8 

 3.5 



93.0 



Depreciation on herd 



7.0 







Total cost of production 



60.7 



39.3 



100.0 







Credits: 



Calves 



4.0 



4.7 



3.5 

 1.0 



7.5 



Manure 



5.7 







Total credits 



8.7 



4.5 



13.2 







An examination of the first two columns of Table 9 shows that 

 the decrease in the cost of feed in summer was the principal cause 

 of the difference in cost between winter and summer. 



The credits for calves and manure for the year equal 13.2 per cent 

 of the total cost of production, whereas labor amounted to 16.7 per 



