CHAPTER III. 



THE DAIRY HERD. 



According to the census of 1900 the total 

 number of cows in the United States, kept for 

 milk production, was 18,112,707, and the total 

 number of gallons of milk produced was 7,728,- 

 583,350. This reduced to pounds makes the 

 average per cow of 3,672 lbs. of milk per year. 

 To get at the work these cows are doing as but- 

 ter producers, we will suppose this milk to 

 average four per cent fat (which is doubtless 

 a little high), and we have each cow producing 

 146 lbs. of butter-fat, to which we will add 

 fifteen per cent to estimate the butter, and we 

 get 168 lbs. of butter as the average annual 

 production per cow in the United States. 



Comparing these figures with the census re- 

 port of 1890, we find an improvement, as at that 

 time the cows were estimated as producing 130 

 lbs. of butter per annum. It is encouraging to 

 feel that we are progressing in our business, yet 

 where can we get any satisfaction out of the 

 present condition, when we are thirty-two 



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