PRODUCING MARKET MILK IN DELAWARE. 
11 
CATTLE. 
The cows had an average inventory value of $154.9e3. Purebred 
cows were inventoried at fair prices for grade cows of similar pro- 
ducing ability, and the calves dropped by purebred cows were in- 
ventoried at corresponding grade values. Inventories were taken 
at the beginning and end of each year. The depreciation or appre- 
ciation in value of cows was obtained in the following manner : The 
values of heifers freshening or cows purchased during the year were 
added to the first inventory and the values of cows or hides sold 
during the year were added to the inventory at the end of the year. 
The difference between the two inventories, after these additions, rep- 
resented the depreciation or appreciation on the herd for the year. 
The feed, labor, and " other costs " of keeping the herd sires were 
kept separate, so that they would be available for study. 
Interest was charged at 6 per cent, the prevailing rate in the sec- 
tion. Records were kept of the actual amounts of money spent dur- 
ing the year for veterinary services, medicines, and disinfectants. 
These expenditures amounted to 87 cents per cow per year. 
PERCENTAGE COMPARISON OF FACTORS 
PRODUCTION. 
INVOLVED IN MILK 
How much more did it cost to produce milk in winter than in 
summer? What caused the variation in cost? Did the credit for 
calves and manure equal the debit for either labor or "other costs" ? 
Table 9 answers these questions for the section studied. 
Table 9. 
-Per cent of the total costs represented by feed, labor, and 
costs" by seasons. 
other 
Item. 
Winter. 
Summer. 
Entire 
year. 
Feed and bedding cost 
Per cent. 
35.9 
.9 
Per cent. 
8.9 
7.3 
Per cent. 
44.8 
Pasture 
8.2 
Feed, bedding, and pasture cost 
36.8 
8.6 
11.8 
16.2 
8.1 
11.5 
53.0 
Labor cost 
16.7 
Other costs, except herd inventory variation 
23.3 
Total cost except herd inventorv variation 
57.2 
3.5 
35.8 
3.5 
93.0 
Depreciation on herd 
7.0 
Total cost of production 
60.7 
39.3 
100.0 
Credits: 
Calves 
4.0 
4.7 
3.5 
1.0 
7.5 
Manure 
5.7 
Total credits 
8.7 
4.5 
13.2 
An examination of the first two columns of Table 9 shows that 
the decrease in the cost of feed in summer was the principal cause 
of the difference in cost between winter and summer. 
The credits for calves and manure for the year equal 13.2 per cent 
of the total cost of production, whereas labor amounted to 16.7 per 
