28 MILK PRODUCTION COST ACCOUNTS 



to be maintained. When high-priced cattle are purchased the 

 overhead expense of cows is greatly increased. 



In the raising of dairy cows to the age of two years the 

 studies of Bennett and Cooper^ furnish material for pre- 

 calculating the cost. Careful records of cost for a period of 5 

 years were kept. The following amounts of feed wera con- 

 sumed, on the average, during the first two years: 



First year. Second year. 



Whole milk 342 



Skim milk 3,165 



Mixed hay 857 1,120 



Corn silage 352 3,2S° 



Grain mixture' S47 



Pastural, days 123 171 



Corn stover 672 



With these data the feed cost can be calculated. If we 

 assume the same prices for feeds as were used in figuring the 

 cost of feeds for cows, and with skim milk at 20 cents per 

 hundred, whole milk at $2. per hundred, mixed hay at $15 per 

 ton, corn silage $3 per ton, corn stover $6 per ton, and the 

 grain mixture $1.15 per hundred, we find that with the above 

 amounts consumed the feed cost to raise a heifer to two years 

 of age is $47.51. Some of these prices will apply to present 

 conditions; some are higher and some lower. They are used in 

 order that the same basis of prices may be carried throughout 

 this study. 



The labor required to care for these animals during the first 

 year was 40 hours, and during the second year 23 hours. At 

 a price of 15 cents per hour, as is used above, the labor cost 

 would be $9.45 per head for the two years. 



The other expenses, including interest, buildings, equipment, 

 bedding, loss by death, and miscellaneous expenses amount to 

 $16.67 for the two years. This makes the total cost of raising 

 the heifers, including feed, labor, and overhead, $73.63. A 

 credit of $12 for manure for the two years makes the net cost 

 for a. two-year-old heifer $65.63. This corresponds very closely 



1 U. S. Dept. of Agr., Farmers' Bull. No. 49. 



' Bran, 4 parts; oats, 5 parts; and oil meal, i part. 



