34 
BULLETIN 1400, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
Every dairyman recognizes the fact that individual cows vary 
widely in their ability to produce economically and effieiently. In- 
herent ability of cows to produce large quantities, however, is one 
factor that can not be measured directly. To some extent it may be 
reflected in the value which is placed on a cow. Differences in the 
average value of the cows in the different herds, as estimated by the 
farmers, may hence be used as a very rough measure of the differences 
in their quality. Table 31 shows the average feed cost per 100 
pounds according to the average values of the cows, adjusted to elim- 
inate the effect of the factors affecting feed cost which have already 
been discussed. 
Table 31. — Average feed cost per 100 pounds of milk, according to the average value 
of the cows 
Average value per cow, in dollars 
Herds in 
group 
Value of feed 
consumed ' 
per 100 
pounds of 
milk pro- 
duced 
Below 50 _-. 
Number 
4 
38 
66 
67 
13 
14 
Dollars 
1.37 
60 to 70 
1.31 
80 to 90 
1.26 
100 to 110 _ 
1.23 
120tol30.._. .... 
1.22 
Over 150 
1.22 
1 Exclusive of pasturage. 
For cows valued up to $100 the feed cost decreased very markedly 
as the value of the cows increased; cows valued at $125 produced at 
slightly lower cost than those valued at $100, but cows valued at 
more than $150 w r ere no more efficient than those valued at $125. 
This does not necessarily mean that the $150 cows were actually 
worth no more than the $125 cows. They may have produced calves 
worth enough more to justify the value placed on the cows. It does 
mean, however, that as milk producers their value was no higher than 
that of $125 cows. Even as imperfectly shown by their values, this 
table brings out the importance of having good cows if one is to make 
the greatest profits from dairying. 
Weeding out inefficient producers is as effective a way of im- 
proving the efficiency of a grade herd as is buying purebred stock. 
In fact, continual weeding is necessary with purebreds as well as with 
grades. Keeping some record of the production of the individual 
cows is a great help in picking out the poor cows. Weighing and re- 
cording the milk from each cow, if only once each w T eek or month, is 
well worth the time it takes. 
SUMMARY 
This examination of the factors affecting the returns from the 
dairy enterprise has showm that the price at which the milk is sold 
and the efficiency with which it is produced together very largely 
determine the profits realized from a dairy of a given size. Even 
where no better market is available, many men can raise the average 
price they receive by producing a larger proportion of the milk during 
the winter season and by closer attention to cleanliness. But the 
greatest changes can be made in lowering the feed cost of the milk. 
