94 



BULLETIN 341, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Table LV. — Showing depreciation of dairy cows on 



oioners, Chester County. 



318 -farms ope 



rated by 





Number. 



Value 



per 

 head. 



Total 

 value. 





4,196 

 589 

 345 



$56.10 

 63.84 

 63.84 



$235, 400. 00 





37,605.00 





22. 025. 00 







Total 







295,030.00 













4,164 

 895 



57.01 

 37.36 



237,430.00 





33,437.00 







Total 







270, 867. 00 

















24, 163. 00 







.91 



3,789.00 















27,952.00 









236,415.00 









11.82 











The results of the calculation are somewhat surprising, and the fig- 

 ures for different regions vary widely. Thus for the Chester County 

 area the average annual loss on dairy cows from depreciation in value 

 is 11.82 per cent of the average of the inventory values for the be- 

 ginning and the end of the year. Table LVI gives a similar calcu- 

 lation for a survey in an important dairy center in southern Michi- 

 gan (Lenawee County), in which the corresponding rate is only 4.07 

 per cent. The reason for this remarkable difference will be made 

 clear shortly. 



Table LVI. — Showing depreciation of dairy cows on 300 farms, Lenawee 



County, Mich. 



Number. 



Value per 

 head. 



Total 

 value. 



First inventory. 

 Cows purchased' . 

 Cows raised 



Total. 



Second inventory 



Cows sold and slaughtered . 



Total. 



Loss (including decrease in value at end of year) . 

 Decrease in value at end of year 



Total loss 



Average investment 



Rate of depreciation per cent. 



2,291 

 184 

 236 



2,215 

 466 



$53. 23 

 48.48 

 48.48 



51.90 

 42.00 



$121,942.00 

 8,921.00 

 11,441.00 



142, 304. 00 



114,967.00 

 19,572.00 



134,539.00 



7, 765. 00 

 2, 946. 00 



4,819.00 



118,454.00 



4.07 



In making these calculations it is assumed that it costs as much on 

 the average to raise a dairy cow as the average price at which cows 

 are purchased in the respective localities. This may be in error, but 

 even if the cost is considerably- less the results would not vary greatly 

 from those given, because of the relatively small proportion of cows 

 raised, especially in the Pennsylvania area. 



