Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1917-10-09

The report Of the dairy survey Of
Maine, made under the supervision OF
the state committee on public safety Ut
the instigation Of the Boston Chamber
of Commerce, has been filed with Gov.
Mlllikep. The agencies cooperating in
making the survey were the State De
partment of Agriculture, College OF
Agriculture, tho New England Milk
Producsrs' Association, and the Boston
Chamber of Commerce.
This report was made up from records
from 1858 cows on 220 farms. This
number is considerably greater than the
average number per farm throughout
the state. The report represents con-
ditions of the larger herds of the state.
The period covered by the survey was
one full year.
Thirteen counties were included In
the survey, as follows: Kennebec
county, 81 records; Waldo, II; Somer-
set, %; York, Z; Sagadahoc, z; Knox, 10;
Peno bscot, 43; Oxford, 16; Piscataquis,
10; Androscoggin, 16; Lincoln, z; Cum
berland, Is; Franklin, 10; total, Is
counties, 220 herds.
Insofar a. possible, the records of ex-
peuses and receipts were taken from
accounts kept on the farm. Some were
taken from partial accounts and some
largely from estimates. Every effort
was made to get records as nearly
accurate a. possible.
In this report the total costs are In
cluded under four headings, feed cost.
including grains, succulent feeds and
dry forage, pasture cost, labor cost, both
man and horse, and general costs. The
general cost column includes COW de-,
crease, interest investment In food and
supplies, bedding cost, use OF buildings
use Of equipment, sire service, and mis-
cellsneous costs, such a. insurance for
cows, medicine, disinfectsnts, veterinary
fees, association fees or dues, taxes on
COWS, water, artificial light, etc.
The cost of grain is figured at the
general market price at the time OF
purchase. Hay and other dry forage
at market prices at the farm. Usually
succulent feed was figured ut IS per ton.
The rates per hour used to determine
labor cost for man and horse we're those
generally prevalent In the locality where
the record was taken.
Under use of buildings, figured de-
probation, interest at per cent, taxes,
insurance, and yearly repairs at cost.
Under equipment costs were figured de-
probation, interest and repairs.
Items of credit other than milk were
increased value OF cows, manure, cow
hides, calves, COW feed bags and other
possible credits, such "a profit from the
pasture, sire service, etc.
MIX Produced: This included milk
sold. plus the amount used In the home
and by the hired help, and the amount
fed. !,
Cost per quart: This was determined
by subtracting the credits other tnan
the milk from the total costs, and divid-
ing the difference by the total quarts
Total Milk Receipts: This was OBJ
tanned ,by securing the actual receipts
from the sale OF milk and adding to
This the value Of the milk used by the
family, hired help, and the milk fed to
stock.
GENERAL sUNEARY OF RESULT.
I. The average cost of producing
milk on the 22O farms for the year was
$50 per quart.
3. The average price per quart re-
ceiyed for milk. on the same farms dur
| ing the Same period was 1850. -,
8. On an average, each quart OF milk
vas produced at . loss of 1.14c.
4. The average production OF miik !.
psr COW was 5244.S7 lbs. for ASs.4'
quarts. a.
5. Average net loss per COW, s27.W'
g. The rates per hour charged for
man labor and horse labor were those
| prevalent in the locality whore the sur
vey was being made. The average Iol