30 
BULLETIN 501, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
The data in table XIV show the relation between the cost of keep- 
ing cows of varying milk yield and the cost of the milk. The same 
data are also shown in graphic form in figure 7. It will be noticed 
that as milk yield increases there is also an increase in the feed cost 
and in other cost items, but not in the same proportion. Cows yield- 
ing less than 3,000 pounds produced milk at a cost of $3.57 per 
hundred. Those yielding 5,001 to 6,000 pounds produced it at $2.10 
per hundred. Those yielding over 8,000 pounds produced it at 
$1.70 per hundred. It is apparent, in so far as conclusions can be 
drawn from the records of these four herds, that the cost of producing 
milk from low-yielding cows is very high and that this cost gradually 
decreases with better cows. This decrease in cost is much greater 
»3.50 
•c 
d 3.10 
£ 
O 
§ 2.70 
O 
«L 
O 
o 
£ 2.30 
ul 
Ol 
(/> 
O 
1.90 
YIELD OFMll-K 
PER COW 
POUNDS 
Z3456 789 
THOUSANDS 
Fig. 7.— Relation between annual yield per cow and cost per 100 pounds of milk on the four farms. 
between the very poor cow and the cow of medium quality than it is 
between the medium cow and the good cow. For instance, milk from 
cows producing from 3,001 to 4,000 pounds of milk per year costs 98 
cents less per hundred pounds than milk from cows producing less 
than 3,000 pounds, while milk from cows producing over 8,000 pounds 
costs but 9 cents less per hundred than milk from cows producing 
from 7,001 to 8,000 pounds. The four herds in question were of 
mixed breeds, with Jerseys predominating. In the case of higher 
producing herds, or if returns were figured in terms of butter fat 
rather than pounds of milk, different results might be expected. 
Often cows of only moderate production in pounds of milk yield 
good returns by reason of a high percentage of butterfat. 
