BULLETIN OF THE 
Contribution from the Bureau of Plant Industry, Wm. A. Taylor, Chief. 
January 14, 1914. 
THE COST OF RAISING A DAIRY COW. 1 
By C. Morris Bennett, Assistant Agriculturist, and Morton O. Cooper, 
Scientific Assistant, Office of Farm Management. 
INTRODUCTION. 
One of the most important and vital problems in the dairy industry 
of this country is the production of heifers to replace poor animals 
and the older cows as they reach the end of their economic useful- 
ness. The extent of this problem may be better realized when ont> 
considers that, according to recent statistics, there are in the terri- 
tory of the United States, not including the Philippine Islands,, 
21,749,651 dairy cows. 2 Considering the average productive life to 
be even as high as eight years, 3 each year 2,718,706 heifers must be 
raised to maintain the present number of dairy cows. If the total 
number of cows is increased, then even a larger number of heifers 
must be raised annually. 
The raising of these heifers for the country as a whole is an im 
portant economic problem to the dairyman, and the cost of their pro 
duction is a large item in keeping down his profits. 
In the following pages is outlined the cost problem of raising a 
heifer, and figures are presented showing the results of investigations 
into the cost of producing heifers on a Wisconsin farm, covering a 
period of five years. During this period 117 calves were selected for 
raising. Three consecutive yearly groups of calves are followed from 
birth to the time of entering the dair} 7 herd. 
The heifers raised on this farm are Jerseys. While the cost of 
raising dairy cows of the different breeds may not vary greatly, the 
Jersey is one of the smallest breeds; and if there is any variation 
the cost for other breeds would probably be a little higher. 
Note.— This bulletin is based on the records kept on a Wisconsin dairy farm. The conclusions reached 
regarding costs are considered to be applicable to the raising of heifers on dairy farms in the East North. 
Central and Middle and North Atlantic States. 
1 This work was made possible through the hearty cooperation of Mr. C. I. Brigham, who kept the 
complete daily records, and Miss Lillian Church, assistant in farm accounting, who rendered valuable 
assistance in posting and tabulating the original records covering a period of four years. 
2 U. S. Department of Agriculture, Yearbook for 1912, p. 666. 
3 U. S. Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Statistics, Bulletin 88. 
72268°— Bull. 49—14 1 
