A STUDY IN" THE COST OF PRODUCING MILK. 21 
DISCUSSION OF RESULTS. 
In taking up the consideration of the data from the four farms and 
of their practical application to the production of milk throughout the 
country, it is essential to note that milk and other dairy products are 
furnished by farms that may be divided into two general types. 
One type is the specialized dairy farm, where the source of income 
is primarily from dairy products. The whole farm organization 
is built around the dairy enterprise; labor is hired primarily to 
work on the herd ; crops are grown for consumption by the herd; and 
the income of the owner is determined wholly by the efficiency with 
which the dairy is handled. Farms of this type are^ comparatively 
few in number and are found mostly in regions near large cities where 
there is a good demand for market milk. All four of these farms tend 
toward this specialized type. The Michigan farm is the most intensive. 
The second type, the general farm, is found everywhere throughout 
the country. The herd usually numbers from a few cows to 15 or 
20, but the keeping of cows is only a part of the general farm busi- 
ness. The farmer may sell some other kind of live stock, farm crops, 
or fruit. While the receipts from cows contribute to his income, his 
success or failure financially is but partially dependent upon the 
efficiency with which he cares for his cows. On the Pennsylvania 
and North Carolina farms considerable income is derived from the 
sale of other products. 
THE FEED PROBLEM. 
The results of this study indicate that on farms where cows depend 
on pasture, with little or no gram during the pasture season, the cost 
of feed is approximately one-half the total cost of keeping the cow. 
On farms where more intensive dairying is practiced, pasture is 
limited, and a grain ration is fed throughout the year, the feed is 
nearer 60 per cent' of the cost. These facts further emphasize the 
point that, "with few exceptions, the feed bills are the real burden 
to the dairyman." 1 Naturally, then, the producer of dairy products 
who would increase his profits by economizing in cost of production 
should first consider this largest item of cost. In many cases economy 
may result from an actual Teduction of feed cost per cow, whereas, 
in other cases it may be necessary to increase the feed bills to insure 
the greatest profits. The quantity of feed supplied each cow should 
not be below the quantity she requires for the most efficient pro- 
duction. The real economic problem is to supply a palatable ration 
which contains the essential constituents in sufficient quantity at the 
lowest cost. (See fig. 5.) The fundamental principles of com- 
pounding a ration on the basis of nutrition have been determined by 
extensive experimental studies. 
1 Feeds and Feeding, Henry and Morrison. 
