12 
BULLETIN 49, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
The cost of labor the second year is $2.86 per head, as compared 
with $5.14 for the first year. The cost of both feed and labor is 
$18.97, as compared with $29.72 for the first year, making a difference 
of $10.75 in favor of the second year. 
It is interesting to note a comparison of the man labor required 
per day for the two years. 
Table YIII.— Man-labor requirement per head for the first and second years in 
raising dairy cows. 
Year. 
Total 
number 
of 
hours. 
Average number of 
minutes per day 
for the period. 
Full 
year. 
When in 
barn. 
First 
39.9 
23.25 
6.6 
3.8 
18.67 
27.66 
Second 
i Basis of 9 months, or 274 days. 2 Basis of 6 months, or 182 days. 
The requirement and cost of labor for the entire year are much less 
the second year, but the requirement and cost per day in the barn do 
not differ materially for the two years. 
FEED AND LABOR COST FOR BOTH FIRST AND SECOND YEARS. 
The cost per head of feed and labor by months throughout the full 
two years' growth of the heifer is illustrated by figures 3 and 4. The 
first month is the most 
expensive of the calf's 
life. After this the 
cost decreases until 
about the third month 
and then gradually in- 
creases during the 
winter and spring 
until the calf is turned 
out on pasture. The 
cheapest period of the 
two years is during 
the summer months, 
while dependent 
almost entirely on pas- 
ture. The feed and 
labor cost increases in 
SEPT. OCT A/OV. DEC. J4A/. FEB. MAtf. APtf. MAr MAZE <SCLK AUG. 
„ „ M . the second vear dur- 
Fig. 3. — Chart showing the cost of feed and labor required . 
in raising a dairy heifer the first year. Feed, $24.58 ; m g the early Winter 
labor, $5.14. and. reaching its maxi- 
mum in March, gradually drops off with the beginning of spring 
weather. The second pasture season again reduces the expense 
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