22 BULLETIN 49, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
It is of interest to compare the cost of growing heifers on the 
Brigham farm with the results on the cost of feeding heifers pub- 
lished in Bulletin 63 of the Storrs Agricultural Experiment Station. 
In the one case the heifers were grown under actual farm conditions ; 
in the other under careful supervision at a State experiment sta- 
tion. In each case the cost of feed is very nearly the same. The 
first-year feed cost at the Storrs station was nearly $28, while at the 
Brigham farm it was approximately $25. AVhen allowance is made 
for the higher feed prices charged at the Storrs station the feed 
costs for the first year check very closely. The feed cost for the 
second year at the farm is somewhat lower than at the Storrs station, 
owing to the fact that Mr. Brigham fed no grain during the second 
year. 
The cost items other than for feed have been estimated at the 
Storrs station, whereas these same items are based upon accurate 
data for the Brigham farm. At the Storrs station the total cost is 
given at $66 for the heifer 2 years of age, while the Brigham records 
show the cost to be $61.41. Had Mr. Brigham credited the calves 
with only $5 for manure, as was done at the Storrs station, the net 
cost of the heifer would have been increased to $64.41. Thus the 
results of these investigations, carried on under different conditions 
and in different sections of the country, substantiate each other, and 
in each case they indicate that a heifer can not be raised properly up 
to 2 years of age for less than $60. 
Although the practice on the Brigham farm is to have the heifers 
enter the herd at the age of 2 years, in many dairies they do not 
freshen until about the age of 2J years. In such cases the cost of 
the heifers at milking age will be nearer $75 than $61.41. 
SUMMARY. 
The average net cost of a dairy heifer 1 year old is $39.52, which 
consists of its initial value, $7.04; feed, $24.67; labor, $4.45; other 
costs, $6.36 ; total, $42.52 ; credit for manure, $3. 
The average net cost of a dairy heifer 2 years old is $61.41, which 
consists of its initial value, $7.04 ; feed. $40.83 ; labor, $7.81 ; other 
costs, $13.73 ; total, $69.41 ; credit for manure, $8. 
The most important item of cost is the feed, which is 65.5 per cent, 
or nearly two-thirds of the total net cost of the heifer. Labor forms 
12.5 per cent, and all other costs 22 per cent. 
One-half of the feed cost the first year and one-third for the full 
two years is for whole and skim milk. 
By far the most expensive period in the life of the calf is the first 
four weeks, the cost being nearly double that for any other four-week 
period. This high cost is occasioned by its being dependent almost 
entirely upon whole milk. 
