Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1907-10-10
COST OF KEEPING A
cow
Prof. ID. III. Otis, Wisconsin Eek.
pertinent Station.

The profits in dairying are the cost
of keeping a cow subtracted from the
total value of what she produces. Few
farmers know the annual production
of each COW and still less know the
cost of that production. The cow
should be charged with the market
price of feeds, minus the expense OF
hauling them to market. During l905,
the average food consumption OF the
dairy herd of the Wisconsin expert
ment station was 1885 pounds hay,
6,791 pounds corn silage, 2,7S3 pounds
soiling crops, 1856 pounds roots and
1857 pounds grain. We may estl-
mate the value of these on the farm
at six dollars per ton for hay, TWO
dollars per ton for corn silage, soiling
crops and roots, and rs cents per 100
pounds for grain, or total of $28.f9.
In test at the Kansas experiment
station, where less succulent feed was
used. found that with a herd OF 70
COWS, there was an average yearly
consumption per COW of 6,l66 pounds
roughage and 1850 pounds grain.
Both roughage and grain were pro-
duced somewhat cheaper than in Wis
consin and may be figured at five dol
lars per ton for hay and gu cents per
100 pounds for grain.
1t requires an average OF 125 hours
per COW per annum to feed, milk,
clean stables, and wash milk utensils,
which at 1919 cents per hour is $l5.62.
To this add three dollars for inter
est on a $50 COW at six per cent. and
S275 for risks and insurance and 1t
brings the total cost up to $49.56.
In Wisconsin the feed cost amounts
to S2S.19, under Kansas conditions,
s29.5O, practically the same. We may
say, then, on an average, that it
costs $28 to $50 year to feed dairy
cow. The labor, interest and risks
and insurance will amount to $40 to
S22 more, or a total cost, in round
numbers, of $50.
We must credit the cow with the
value of the calf at birth. This may
range from one dollar, the cost of
the service fee, up to $50, or even
more, but we will assume that the
average calf is worth five dollars at
birth. This leaves $45 which the
cow must offset in dairy products be-
fore we can come out even with her.
With five per cent. milk and 80 per
cent butter fat, this will require a
production of 5000 pounds of milk
mt
and so per cent. butter fat, $3.50
pounds of milk. In this calculation
we assume that the skim milk will
pay the cost of separating and the
hauling of milk or cream to the mar
ket
Many farmers keep cows largely to
raise calves and not infrequently
want to know when it will pay to
take the calf from the cow, raise it
on skim milk, and the milk of the
cow In this instance we assume that
the interest, risks and insurance re
main the same and will be paid for
by the calf My experience with 100
calves at the Kansas experiment sta
ton shows that it will cost from six
dollars to nine dollars, or an average
of $3.50, to raise calf on skim milk.
The COW fed for dairy production will
consume more high-priced feed than
one kept for raising calf.
We take for granted that the calf
will at least pay for the regular feed
Of the COW and we will add $40, a
low estimate for extra feed when fed
FOR dairy production. With 1852 TO
pay for the work connected with milk
ing, $3.50 for raising the calf, and $40
for extra feed, the total expense will
be a little over $33 more for milking
the COW and raising her calf on skim
milk than to let her raise the calf.
pounds of milk with four per cent
butter fat this will require, in order
to pay expenses; a production of 1900
pounds of milk; with four per cent
milk and 80 per cent. butter fat, 2,750
pounds of milk. The COW is expected
to produce the above amounts of milk
in order to pay expenses. The profits
from milking will come from what
she produces above this amount.
The cost of keeping a cow varies
in different localities, and in different
years in the same locality. 1t has
been my aim to approach averages
as nearly as possible Each farmer
who milks COWS is urged to take the
above items, substitute his own fig.
ures to meet his own conditions, and
perform the same kind of calculation
The results will reveal some interest
ing, if not startling facts, in regard to