UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
yU^-'^J-u 
I BULLETIN No. 858 
Contribution from the Bureau of Animal Industry 
JOHN R. MOHLER, Chief 
SV&'^^J'U 
Washington, D. C. 
July 16, 1920 
REQUIREMENTS AND COST OF 
PRODUCING MARKET MILK IN NORTHWESTERN 
INDIANA. 1 
By J. B. Bain, Dairy Husbandman, and R. J. Posson, Market Milk Specialist, 
Dairy Division. 
CONTENTS. 
Page. 
Character and scope of the work 
Methods used in obtaining the data 
Description of herds 
Requirements for producing 100 pounds of 
milk 
Requirements for keeping a cow one year. . . 
Requirements for keeping a bull 
Summary statement of costs for the two years , 
by seasons 
10 
Determination of bulk line cost 
Percentage comparison of factors in milk pro- 
duction 
Factors involved in the cost of producing 
milk 
Presentation of results by months, seasons, 
and years 
Summary 
CHARACTER AND SCOPE OF THE WORK. 
In order to determine the requirements of milk production, to 
isolate and analyze the various factors so that methods could be 
recommended for reducing the cost of production, and to obtain data 
which would aid in improving general milk-production methods, the 
United States Department of Agriculture, through the Dairy Divi- 
sion of the Bureau of Animal Industry, began a series of studies in 
1915. Since the intention of the department was to make these 
studies as thorough as possible, it was decided that the first step 
would be to obtain accurate data concerning the requirements for 
producing milk by practical dairy farmers in market-milk centers 
of the United States. Accordingly projects were organized to 
obtain detailed records on groups of dairies in various market-milk 
sections. 
i The work was carried on in northwestern Indiana in cooperation with the Purdue University Agri- 
cultural Extension Department, and applies especially to milk supplied from that section for the 
Chicago market. 
174719°— 20— Bull. 858 1 
