station Findings with Dairy Herds. 



459 



The New York and Minnesota herds evidently contained the 

 most carefully selected cows, and this tended to reduce the cost of 

 milk and fat production. We observe that milk and fat cost the 

 most during the winter months, the high price continuing into 

 March in Utah, and through April at the oth'er Stations. In May 

 there is a diminution in cost at all Stations except Utah. During 

 June at three of the Stations the milk and fat reach their low- 

 est cost for food consumed, the cows then being on pasture. In 

 Missouri the lowest price was reached in August — quite contrary 

 to dairy experience in most states. With the passing of summer 

 comes increased cost, until by November winter prices have 

 again been reached. It is evident from these figures that milk of 

 the lowest cost is produced in summer on pasture. The average 

 cost of 100 pounds of milk at the four Stations for the year is 55 

 cents; the cost of one pound of fat is 13.3 cents. 



692. Feed consumed by the dairy cow, yearly. — The data pre- 

 sented by three of the Stations reporting are in such form that we 

 can determine the average amount of feed required for keeping a 

 dairy cow one year, the cost for the same and the returns in milk 

 and fat. These are as follows: 



Average amount of feed consumed and returns for feed, per year, by 

 dairy cows — Three Stations. 



We learn that the number of days on pasture varied from 123 

 in Utah to 191 in Missouri. The Minnesota cows consumed 

 one and tliree-fourths tons of concentrates or grain feed each, over 

 two and one-half tons of roots and about one ton of hay. At the 



