The Lubbock avalanche. (Lubbock, Tex.) 1909-1922, 1922-05-12

cost Of feed increased 3 times. If
no expense except cost Of feed had
been considered one COW that pro-
duced $50 pounds Of Dusterfat in a.
year. showed as much income over
cost Of feed as 20 cows producing
only 100 pounds Of butterfat. Had
all expense Of care and labor been
considered, the difference would
have been even more striking.
IN Texas the average COW MIXED
for dairy purposes, VIII produce
about 5000 lbs. Of milk and 100 lbs.
Of hutterfat per year. With this class
Of cows IL is absolutely impossible
90 make expenses in the dairy hnsi-
ness Fortunately by careful selec-
tion. II iy possible 90 secure cows
that will average better than 1000
pounds Of milk IN year, II they
are mtelligcntly fed a balanced ra-
ton. Considerable skill in feeding,
however. as well as "a thorough
knowledge Of feeds are necessary
20 force a dairy COW in her heaviest
production. Az the present time u
capable Of producing $500 pounds
Of milk in a year, for about 10000.
To feed such a COW 20 secure that
production, will cost $4,000. 10
have her cared for and MIXED will
cost not less than $4,000. The
buildings and other necessary equip
ment 20 care for such cow, viii
mean an investment Of Sl2j.O0. The
depreciation IN such an Investment,
on buildings, etc, Is figured by the
internal revenue department OF 8
2-3 per cent. Dairymen pay : per
cent on investments and near the
large city markets, ? per cent for
taxes, or something like $1,000. The
active life Of a dairy COW is five
years, after which time she should
have beef value Of $1,000. This
makes the depreciation Of the COW
"a per cent and there is also a
charge on the COW Of : Der cent
for Interest, the usual tax charge.
This totals S41.33. Medical atten-
ton will average $500 per year
and bull service 5000 After credit
ing the COW with fertilizer $500,
calf $500 and her own prospective
beef value after she Is worn out,
We have net cost per COW for She
year. Of S265.83 during which time
She has produced 2i00 quarts of
milk az q cost Of above II cents
per quart. t0 which should be added
the cost Of bottling, distribution.
bookkeeping. collections, etc.
a general survey Of the whole
situation In Texas at the present
time. would Indicate that there D.
possibility Of profit being made
IN the dairy business providing the
highest class of cows is used, and
great care is taken in ~ feeding
Of the herd II the average class
Of COWS is used, the operation u
carried on az loss, and evidence
Of this fact may be seen every
where in the dispersal Of dairy
herds
The above figures are only ap-
proNimate, but a careful considera-
ton and study Of these amounts will
indicate the difficult situation dairy
men are facing at the present time
in furnishing the public with a safe,
high quality dairy product at cost
which the consumer can afford 70
pay. These figures do not take into
consideration the additional cost Of
distribution, which has been various
ly claimed by distributors 70 be
nearly equal to the cost Of produce
ton. They would seem 20 show
that il is absolutely impossible to
make a 90 Of the dairy business with
average COWS, where all the labor
Is hired and all the feeds are pur-
chased The fact remains, however,
that some dairymen are making
little money by using COWS very
much above the average, and by
raising their own feeds and using
the members OF the family as a
source Of inexpensive labor. Nheth-
or the dairy business is or Is not
we can az least be sure that y IS
more profitable than some Of the
cash crop systems Of farming which
are al such a low ebb at this time.
Most dairymen who use pure bred
cattle. expect to make most Of their
money nthe production Of high
class dairy animals and simply pay
operating expenses from the sale Of
dairy products. The value Of what
ever income is to be had from the
dairy industry is enhanced by the
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