8 MILK PRODUCTION COST ACCOUNTS 



Methods of feeding and balancing rations are not discussed, 

 except in so far as is necessary for an intelligent use of the 

 formula or method of pre-calculating costs of feed. 



The amount of roughage that a cow will eat depends largely 

 upon the kinds used and upon the size of the cow, also to 

 some extent upon the amount of other feeds or grain used. 

 Some cows are fed little grain, and must depend almost en- 

 tirely upon roughage for maintenance and milk. Such cows 

 can not produce a maximum for a long period, especially if 

 they have the ability to produce large quantities of milk. 

 When good silage and alfalfa hay are fed fairly large 3delds 

 may be secured. Good silage contains considerable corn, but 

 careful feeders have found it advantageous to add some grain 

 to the above ration. As a guide in computing roughage, the 

 following rule is offered: To determine how much hay to feed, 

 multiply the weight of the cow in hundreds of pounds by 0.6 

 and it will give the amount in pounds of hay. For example, 

 a 1,000-pound cow equals 10 hundred pounds, so that follow- 

 ing the rule 10 would be multiplied by 0.6, giving 6 pounds of 

 hay. To calculate the silage to feed, multiply the weight of 

 the cow in hundreds of pounds by 2.5. A 1,000-pound cow 

 then would be fed 25 pounds, and a 1,200-pound cow 30 

 pounds, etc. 



Of all the items of cost, the pasture is most important, 

 though it has little mention in most previous writings on cost 

 records. Its importance is pointed out by Cooper,' however, 

 who says: 



"The importance of pasture in the economy of the farm is illus- 

 trated by the small quantity of grain or roughage fed during the 

 pastural season . . . for practically 5 months out of each year the 

 cattle were supported almost entirely from the grass crop." 



Warren ^ says: 



"Pastures furnish our cheapest feed. The pasture of one cow 

 one day costs 3 to 6 cents, hay or hay and silage 12 to 15 cents, 

 grain 12 to 15 cents. A good pasture will replace all of the hay 



' Minn. Agr. Exp. Sta., BuU. No. 124, p. 97. 



2 N. Y. Agr. Exp. Sta. (CorneU), Bull. No. 280, p. 355. 



