The Dickinson press., 1913-06-21
VALUE OF DAIRY COW:
TWo Factors That Determine
Importance Of Animal.
II Milk Producer Has Been Given
Right Kind and Amount Of Feed
and Cared for IntsllleentIy
Records Will Show.

(By. g. f MARTIN, Professor Of Dairy
i1e essss., North Dakota Agricultural Col
There are two factors that deter.
mine the value Of a dairy COW. One
is the individuality of the cow and
the other ia the individuality Of her
owner. Often the COW lacks in her
ability to produce milk economically,
but quite as frequently her owner has
serious shortcomings. The way to
check up both the COW and the man
is to use the scale, tester, and record
sheet. If the COW has been given the
right kind and amount Of feed and
cared for in%telligently the records
will show. They are an index alike
to the individuality Of COW and a
The way the COW is fed and han
died has a great deal to do with the
way she will produce. 1t is generally
conceded that one-third Of the cows
do not pay for their keep; the second
one-third pay a small profit, while
upon the last one-third lies the burden
of bringing up the average Of the
herd.
In order to get upon a working
basis let US figure that the poorest
COWS average $500 pounds Of milk
annually. If this tests 4 per cent. 1t
will give 100 pounds of butter-fat. At
80 cents per pound for butter-fat the
cows will return $50 per year. The
second third of the COWS will average
1000 pounds of 4 per cent. milk,
| will give 100 pounds of butter-fat. At
80 cents this will amount to $48 per
! year. The best one.third Of the COWS
produce 5000 pounds of 4 per. cent.
milk and yield 240 pounds Of butter
fat. At 80. cents per pound this will
amount to $72 per year.
The average farmer does not
charge against the COW the cost Of
his labor nor the interest on the
money invested in the animal. Usual
ly. the, value of manure from one COW
for a year is estimated at $40 and
the value of a grade calf at ten days
old at! about IS. and the: skim milk at
25 cents per hundred-about $8-a
total Of $33. This will cover the cost
of labor and interest on the money in
vested. In addition will be the cost
Of feed for the COW which will aver
age about $50 per year in the north
west. This will bring the total cost
of maintaining a COW to 500 per year.
1t will be seen that the cows pro-
ducing less than 100 pounds Of but.
ter-fat will hardly pay for their keep
since the 100-pound COW return q
total of only 500. The average one
third producing 100 pounds Of butter
fat will return $S1 Dr. net $18.. pc,
head. This will amount to 8 pc,
cent, on an investment of 1925. The
best cows producing 240 pounds Of
butter-fat will return sos and net $4z
yer pear, which Is equal to 8 pei
cent. interest on $500.
The reason so many people say
dairying does not pay is because they
have a lot of 100-pound COWS. These
cows bring down the average Of the
herd and reduce the net profits.
The factor that enters most strong
ly into the problem is the individual
ity of the animal. If she is not o.
the dairy tendencies, 1t matters lit
tie how she is handled, it will b.
difficult to make her yield net re
turns. On the other hand, the cow
must be cared for and fed intelligent
ly or the best dairy COW can not re
turn net profits. The real value of
dairy COW Is the sum of her inherent
milk-making tendencies coupled will
the feeding intelligence Of her owner