136 PROFITABLE STOCK RAISING 



nor decreased gains. By attention to details and 

 by the utilization of" the most approved methods of 

 dairy and farm management, they have been able to 

 offset the increased cost of production by a corres- 

 ponding increase in efficiency of their milk-produc- 

 ing machinery. They have increased the producing 

 capacity of their cows by selection and intelligent 

 feeding, and have kept down operating expenses by 

 the installment of labor-saving machinery. 



For instance, one cow will produce 6,000 pounds 

 of milk per year, with practically the same feed 

 consumption as another cow which produces only 

 4,000 pounds per year. This difference in produc- 

 tion represents the difference in efficiency of the 

 two animals. The wise dairyman who has dis- 

 carded the 4,000-pound kind of cows and given his 

 feed to the 6,000-pound sort is the man who is not 

 seriously complaining about the milk market. 



Granting that market conditions, the cost of pro- 

 duction and the increased expense of feed and labor 

 have worked a hardship upon the average dairy- 

 man, the experience and methods of such farmers 

 as have been able to overcome these unfavorable 

 conditions should be of especial interest and value. 

 Definite facts and figures are hard to obtain. Com- 

 paratively few farmers, even after all that has been 

 said as to keeping farm accounts, have any actual 

 figures upon which to base definite estimates. The 

 experience, therefore, of a man who can show ex- 

 actly to the cent the results of his year's dairying 

 operations is of great interest. The figures fur- 

 nished by F. B. Pratt of Du Page county. 111., cov- 

 ering his dairy operations of 1909, have created a 

 great deal of comment in the local and agricultural 

 press and are well worthy of consideration. 



It should be said in advance that Mr. Pratt is 



