1921.] 



Cost of Production of Wintek Milk. 



983 



Cost of Production of Winter Milk.— The experience of the War 

 showed the great need for rehable statistical information as to the cost of 

 production of tlie principal articles of agricultural produce, and with a view 

 to obtaining such information, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry 

 of Food, early in 1919, set up a Committee, known as the -Agricultural 

 Costings Committee, to inquire into the costs and results of the various 

 branches of farming. Among the tasks allotted to the Committee has been 

 an investigation into the cost of milk production throughout Great Britain, 

 which was undertaken at the rec^uest of the Food Controller. 



The Committee is still engaged in its work, but an Interim Report 

 (Cmd. 1028)* recently issued in respect of the first period of investigation, 

 viz., 1st October, 1919, to 30th April, 1920. 



The Report deals with 165 farms, of an average area of about 250 acres. 

 The average number of cows kept per farm was about 36. In estimating cost 

 of production, purchased foods have been taken at cost prices and home- 

 grown foods at market prices less cost of marketing. It is pointed out that 

 the prices at which home-grown foods are charged have a very important 

 bearing on the figures arrived at. 



The charge for wages includes the labour of feeding and attending to cows, 

 both in milk and dry, and Other dairy stock, but excludes delivery and retail 

 labour and management charges, manual labour performed by the farmer and 

 his family having being charged at the local rates of wages. Horse labour 

 and labour of carting foods are charged in the costs at a uniform rate of 9d. 

 per hour, while nothing is included in respect of interest on capital, and only 

 £409 2s. 9d. is included for management charges where this sum was actually 

 paid. In considering the margin of profit wdiich should be allowed to the 

 producer, interest on capital and an allowance for management should be kept 

 in mind. The points above mentioned have obviously an injportant bearing 

 on the interpretation of the figures. 



Weight and Cost of Ration per Coio. — The following table, shows the 

 average ration fed and the average ration cost as between England and Wales 



and Scotland : — Average Weight Average Cost Average Cost 



of Ration per Cow of Ration per Cow of Ration 



per Day. per Day. ' per Gallon. 





England 





England 





England 







and 



Scotland. 



and 



Scotland. 



and 



Scotland. 





Wales. 





Wales. 





Wales. 







lb. 



lb. 



pence. 



pence. 



pence. 



peytce . 



Purchased foods ... 



9-9 



16-1 



14-9 



14-9 



10-1 



9-5 



Home-grown foods 



531 



731 



30-1 



25-6 



20'4 



16-3 



Total 



63-0 



89-2 



45-0 



40-5 



30-5 



25-8 



Grazing 







•9 



•2 



•6 



•1 









45-9 



40-7 



31-1 



25-9 



Litter. Litter. 

 •5 -3 



31-6 26-2 



The cost in respect of home-grown foods fed to the cows for Great Britain 

 during the period at average market prices works out per gallon of milk 

 produced, as follows :— -hay (at £14 6s. 5d. per ton) 7s. 2d., straw (at 



* Obtainable from H. M. Stationery Office, Imperial House, Kingsway, London, 

 W.C.2, price 2d., excluding postage. 



