PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION 149 



-two ounces, or half a cup of the composite sample, is sufficient for 

 the Babcock test. If a Babcock tester is not at hand, the testing^ 

 may be done at a creamery for a small charge. The number of 

 pounds of milk yielded by each cow monthly should be multiplied 

 by the average per cent, of fat in her milk. This will give the num- 

 ber of pounds of fat in the cow's milk for the month, which should 

 be the basis for comparing her value. The average per cent, of fat 

 in her milk for the month will be obtained by adding together the 

 results of the two fat tests and dividing the sum by two. Then the 

 general care and feeding governs to a considerable degree the quan- 

 tity of milk, and intelligent study of a good newspaper devoted to 

 the dairy industry will prove of much value in this respect. As we 

 have repeatedly emphasized, the cleaner the milk the better it is for 

 any purpose, and the farmer who devotes himself to producing a 

 clean milk should receive a larger price for it. Of course, local 

 conditions will largely determine the advisability of investing extra 

 money and time in the food, care and cost of cows, but very 

 rarely will it pay to keep cows which do not pay for their keep. It 

 .may be necessary to keep cows for their manure, but this is usually 

 considered as merely offsetting the cost of their care, and so the 

 cost of keeping cows is commonly figured in estimating the cost 

 -of their food. The yearly cost of feeding a cow varies from $17 

 to $90, averaging perhaps throughout the United States about 

 $35. At the experiment stations, with the best selected stock and 

 breeds and the most expert care, the cost of producing 1 quart of 

 milk varies from 0.7 to 2.9 cents, according to breed and individual 

 -characteristics of cows. When a farmer receives on the average 

 2 cents or less per quart for milk, there can be little profit to him. 

 Yet two cents was about the price paid for years to farmers who 

 have shipped ordinary market milk to New York City 



It has been stated by many authorities that one-third of the 

 cows in this country is kept at a loss; that one-third just about 

 jays for its keep, and that one-third pays a profit to their owners. 



