334 ILLINOIS DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



Comparison in Milk Production. 



The cows in the better herd were picked up here and there 

 at moderate prices. They have been producing milk throughout 

 the year at the rate of 18 cans to 45 cows or 2% cows to a can 

 (8 gallons). The latter herd has been yielding at the rate of 5 1-3 

 cans to 34c ows or 6.4 cows to the can. 



When milk sells at $1.15 per 100 pounds, this means that 

 the average cow in the better herd produces 29 l-2c worth of milk 

 per day or $88.50 worth as the total for a year of ten months. 

 The poorer herd yields 111-2 c worth of milk per cow per day 

 or $34.50 worth for the year. There is some difference between 

 these cows and their incomes. 



If it cost $32 per cow for feed in the poorer herd, just $2.50 

 per head is left as the profit for one year. But if the better herd 

 is fed at $40 per cow, it leaves $48.50 per head as profit. Here 

 is a difference of $46 in clear gain, or in other words, it takes 

 19 cows of the one kind to equal one cow of the other kind. In 

 a herd of 40 cows, this difference would amount to $1,840. 



If a man desired to make $1,000 per year profit in the dairy 

 business, he would have to keep 400 of these poor producers. But 

 he would get the same results with 21 cows like those in the better 

 herd. Truly there is a large and vital difference between these 

 two herds, and one that no dairyman can afford to overlook. 



These estimates are conservatively made from the facts 

 known, and do not yet represent the widest extremes in Illinois 

 dairy conditions. It is altogether probable that this poorer herd is 

 kept at an actual loss, and quite possible that the better herd 

 makes more money than is here credited to it. 



Comparison of Six Herds with Six Herds. 



Eighteen dairy herds in another part of the state were tested 

 by this station. For one year, the average production of the best 

 six herds was 280.5 pounds butterfat per cow, and of the poorest 

 six herds 172.7 pounds. 



Counting the butterfat at 25c per pound, the best herds 

 made an income of $70.13 per cow, and the poorest $43.18. Here 



