The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-01-19
~ CSx
Mzs1EARf1|rl@GARpEl@
W%SaE~ -
THE FOOD COST OF MILK

Much valuable work has been done dur
ing the past four years at the different ex-
pertinent stations in regard to the feeding
OF cattle, in order to determine the cost of
the production of meat, milk and butter,
one of the most valuable experiments hav
ing been conducted at the New York Sta
ton, with the view of determining the food
cost of one quart OF milk. Seven different
breeds OF cows were used, and IA record was
kept during the several periods of lactation
the individual characteristics ol the animals
differ so widely as to cause a great varia-
ton in the results, and as the experiments
have extended over a period of several years
and must necessarily be somewhat incom-
plete, the results can only be accepted as ali
estimate Or arbitrary limit. The expert
ments will, however, be none the less valu-
able, and will prove useful to many The
actual cost OF milk is shown to be greater
than the selling price at delivery points in
some sections.
COST OF THE FOOD.
Nearly all kinds of foods were used. both
coarse and concentrated, and with the
seven breeds no two of them ate the same
proportion or gave the same yields A COW
that produced at low cost the first year
would largely increase the cost another
year The actual cost of the food, taking
the average for all periods of lactaton,
ranged from 1912 to $50. %, and the
average yield of milk per COW for all per-
iods of lactation was from 1854 pounds
IL quart is about 3. pounds to 1918
pounds, the Holsteins and Ayrshires lead
ingin yields. The actual average cost for
each quart of milk was, for the Holsteins,
1.39 cents: Ayrshire, l.5S cents; Holder
ness, l.63; Shorthorns, Los; Guernseys,
1.S5; Jerseys, l.95, and Devons, 1.O2
cents. The average yields of milk solids
were for the Holstens 1865 pounds; Ayr
shires, s6a.4 pounds; Shorthorns, s66.2
pounds: Guernseys, SOl . pounds: Jerseys,
775 pounds; iiolderness, 72I.1 pounds,
and Deyons, 517.4 ponds. The average
per cent OF milk solids in milk varied
from II SO to 1887 cows in their second.
third and fourth years appearing to yield
more solids than during the first year.
RESULTS OF TESTS.
The actual cost OF one pound of milk
solids ranged from 5.3l to 600 cents, and
us the solids are those portions other than
water, they represent what is taken from
the soil or from food procured elsewhe
The final result to seek is the profit. Esti-
mating the value OF the milk sold at | Is
cents per pound, the Holstens produced
SlOl.35. the totals varying with the breeds
the Ayrshres coming next, with 1924:
Holderness, S1322; Shorthorns, ST.. 80:
Guernseys, S6S.93; Jerseys S6l.5S, and De-
vOns, sol. These sums are gross, from
which the cost must be deducted and, of
course the totals will vary according to
the prices obtained and the markets sought
for the milk. The cost of the milk is not
in the food only. The capital invested in
land, buildings and stock, the labor EN-
ployed, the fertilizers purchased and the
transportation to market all add to the ex
pense, the manure from the animals, how
ever, possessing value. The experiments
plainly show that to succeed he dairyman
muSt dpppuu on tho host hraaIS