FARM ORGANIZATION IN SOUTHWESTERN MINNESOTA 55 
The saving of labor as herds increase in size is somewhat obscured 
by the other variables affecting labor. However, on farms 1, 8, and 
9 conditions were fairly comparable and labor per animal unit de- 
creased as the size of herd increased. 
On farm 15 the young cattle consisted largely of purebred or grade 
heifers. These were not turned on pasture as young as was the case 
on most farms. They were stabled at night for at least six months 
of the year, were kept in the barn both day and night during severe 
weather in winter, and received much more individual care and 
attention than did the grade stock of beef breeding. 
VETERINARY AND MEDICINE COSTS 
Very little is spent for veterinary services or medicine for young 
cattle. The high cost on farm 6 is due to the fact that all these 
cattle were tested for tuberculosis. 
STANDARD REQUIREMENTS FOR YOUNG DAIRY CATTLE 
On account of the small number of herds included in this study 
and the high degree of variability both in the type of cattle included 
in this classification and in feeding and handling methods practiced, 
it is impossible to set standard requirements for this class of cattle 
that will have any significance. 
DISTRIBUTION OF MAN LABOR ON YOUNG DAIRY CATTLE 
Figure 16 indicates the distribution of man labor by weeks on 
young dairy cattle on a farm having an average of 14 head. The 
high labor peak in February is due to the fact that all the calves were 
born during this month. The decrease in labor the latter part of 
Distribution of Man Labor on Young Dairy Cattle 
OF 
LABOR 
20 
10 
§CHORE LABOR 
^OTHER LABOR 
@ 
_^, 
jgjjgfl 
JAN. 
FEB. 
MAR. APR. MAY JUNE 
JULY AUG. SEPT. 
OCT. 
NOV. DEC. 
Fig. 16.— The young dairy cattle ordinarily get very little attention while they are on pasture 
during the summer months 
April is due to the fact that the yearlings were turned on pasture at 
this time. The young calves were turned on pasture the first of 
June and received no additional feed or care until the last of August. 
From then until the close of the yes.v they were in the pasture or 
stalk fields, but received additional feed. At no time during the 
year did this class of cattle receive as much as six hours of labor a 
week. Most of this labor comes during the slack season and is so 
small in total that it is of little importance in planning the labor 
program for the farm. 
MDIED CATTLE 
The mixed cattle enterprise, as found on these farms, contains an 
element of diversity that makes it flexible and capable of adjustment 
to changing price conditions. When the price of butterfat is high 
