COST OF MILK PRODUCTION ON WISCONSIN FARMS. 
Table 1. — General characteristics of the farms studied. 
Group A 
Group B 
Group C 
Group D 
Group E 
(Sheboygan (Columbia 
(Milwaukee 
(Ozaukee 
(Marathon 
County). 
County) . 
County). 
County). 
County.) 
12 
8 
11 
8 
9 
75 
145 
107 
59 
106 
55 
98 
74 
49 
45 
v 14 
43 
30 
9 
49 
3 
4 
4 
3 
3 
$200 
$120 
$150 
$150 
$70 
$15,000 
$17, 500 
$16,000 
$8,800 
$7,400 
$4,600 
87,800 
$8,000 
$4,500 
$3,100 , 
(9) $1,490 
(6) $2,250 
(5) $1,700 
(8) SI, 275 
(9) $1,470 
13.1 
18.5 
14.2 
9.6 
10.2 
All farms. 1 
Number of records 
Average area acres. . . 
Crop area do 
Pasture area '. do 
Horses, per farm number. . 
Land value, per acre 
Land value, per farm 
Buildings, value per farm 
Machinery, value per farm 2 .. . 
Number of cows, per farm 
Milk produced, per farm, 
pounds 
Average milk produced per 
cow, pounds 
Winter production.. per cent.. 
Summer production do 
128,606 
46.5 
53.5 
128,926 
6,940 
59.4 
40.6 
3,700 
58.2 
41.8 
>.2 
56,655 
5,570 
46.2 
53.8 
97 
64 
28 
3 
$137 
$13,300 
$5,600 
(37) $1,590 
13.1 
96,103 
7,320 
51.9 
48.1 
VARIATIONS OBSERVED IN THE FACTORS SHOWN. 
In size of farm: 
Largest acres. . 
Smallest do 
Jn number of cows: 
Largest herd 
Smallest herd 
In average production, pounds 
per cow: 
Highest herd 
Lowest herd 
150 
17 
210 
72 
171 
58 
79 
26 
i 
1 
240 
32 
18.4 
7.4 
28.7 
7.5 
28.2 
5.2 
12.6 
4.2 
23.8 
3.0 
13,000 
8,050 
8,370 
4,950 
8,050 
4,170 
9,350 
5,220 
6,320 
2,830 
240 
17 
28.7 
3.0 
13,000 
2,830 
1 The rates in this column in all tables are weighted averages figured from totals. 
2 Figures in parentheses show the number of farms reporting. 
The quantities of feed and labor used, the number of cows in the 
herd, and the amount of milk produced were reported each month, 
together with price of feeds and of milk. A financial record was 
also kept, from which the data for figuring the other costs were ob- 
tained. The observations were made by working farmers for their 
own herds. Although they did not go into the more minute details, 
the farmers were conscientious in their observations of the main ele- 
ments. For this reason it would seem possible for any farmer with 
little difficulty to check for his own farm any of the facts and con- 
clusions here presented. 
FEED REQUIREMENTS AND CONSUMPTION. 
Naturally the kinds and amounts of feed supplied to cows for milk 
production vary greatly. Not only are the kinds and qualities of 
feeds on different farms numerous, but the number is multiplied by 
all the kinds and grades that may be purchased. 
Henry and Morrison, in " Feeds and Feeding," tabulate analyses of 
nearly 350 feeding stuffs used in the United States. Twenty-six dif- 
ferent concentrates, nine kinds of dry roughage, and eight kinds of 
succulent roughage, besides pasture, were reported as fed to a group 
of cows in association work in Wisconsin. Of course, these different 
feeds have different values for milk production — values which are 
more or less accurately reflected in the usual schedules of prices for 
the various components, materials, and mixtures. 
