Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-11-17
Yearly Cost of a Cow.

Much interest has been aroused in the
past year or two on the cost of keeping q
iairy COW for full year. This interest
has been intensified in the East by the
high prices of grain that have prevailed
of late. The average cost of grain feeds
in New England has increased more than
80 per cent in the past five years. Ii is
becoming serious question with many
whether dairying can be made profitable
at present prices, unless the feed used
can be mainly produced on the farm.
There are many factors entering into the
cost of keeping cow, and unless careful
accounts are kept with the herd some OF
these are apt to be overlooked. For the
past two years the writer has been keep
ing q debit and credit account with the
herd that comes under his management,
with the view of knowing what 1t costs
To produce a high grade milk from pure
bred stock. With the possible exception
of the labor the herd is managed under
strictly business principles. The feed is
mainly bought at wholesale and the hay
and silage are charged to the herd at
such price as will just cover the cost
# production. The cost of the folders
and bedding produced is got at by keep
ing a close account with each of the
leading crops grown. The average cost
per cuw for the past two years is shown
in these following items: Grain feeds,
S26 GO; coarse folders, S24.5l; bedding,
So "a; soiling crops, s2 AZ; veterinary
services and incidentals, 81 81; pasture,
20 weeks at 80 cents, So; total SOS "a.
With the exception of the veterinary
attendance, the cost charges are prac-
tically the same as they would need to
be on almost any we'll managed dairy
farm. Our grain ration is perhaps some
what larger than would be used By some
breeders of grade stock, but as much of
our income is from the sales of stock it
| pays us 10 keep the animals looking we'll
and in good health. We always plan to
have soiling crops available from the
first of July until about the first OF Octo-
Der, aud this adds somewhat to the cost
over what it would be with first-class
pastures. Our item for pasture feeds
| covers from May 10 to October l, and
| the charge per week is low because the
| pastures are rough and wooded. The
OK xpense for bedding is somewhat heavier
than it would need to be on many farms,
As we use bedding freely and buy a good
many baled shavings. IL we were to cut
out the item for veterinary service and
cut the item for bedding in half the total
cost for the year would still be S64, with
out including any charge for labor.
The item of labor varies so much &C
cording to the price paid and the amount
of care given the herd that it is impOssi
BILE for one person to give labor chargs
that would be of mnch use to another
Where fancy stock is kept and fancy
product is made The cost will seem ex
cessive to the common run of dairymen
IL reasonably good care is taken of the
herd three men will care for so head
during the winter, where 80 to 80 are
milking, and an average of two men will
be peeded for the same herd in the sum
mer. If we reckon the cost of these
men at $40 per month without board
and estimate herd of so of all ages or
the basis of 40 mature cows, the labor
cost will be $50 per COW for the year
This means that cow must produces
l2,5OO quarts Of milk per year, wortl
four cents quart, before she will begir
to give much II any profit, where all th,
items of feed, care and labor, are includ
cd in the cost Of keep.-Chas. 8. Phelps
In Rural New Yorker.