The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1926-10-15
Cow Testing Association
Pays, Says Lake Co. Tester

feeding and management that result
ed from the first year of testing add
ed 19.1 pounds Of butterfat to the
average annual production per COW in
the association. The owners receiv-
ed $17.4S per cow more above feed
costs for. the second year than for
the first. The 10 farmers and dairy
men who were members of the assO-
citation both years realized a total of
$1,848.16 nor gross profits for the
year just closed than for the year
preceding.
Of the 10 members who were in
the association both years of its OPP
Grafton, eight showed a substantially
greater profit the second year than
the first. In one herd where the
owner was most alert in wedding out
the poor COWS and improving feeding
and management, the herd averaged
more than SO pounds % butterfat
the second year than the first. OF the
two that did not show increased re-
turns the second year, the average
production of one remained practical
ly the same and the other dropped off
because of the purchase of a large
number of new animals, many Of
which did not hold up to the aver
age of the year before.
The figures showing average costs
and profits are interesting. There
were 236 cows in % herds under
test during the fiscal year recently
closed. The 236 COWS averaged 6909
pounds of milk and 276.9 pounds of
butterfat during the year. The aver
age price received for butterfat for
the year was 44.6 cents, making the
average value of the product for each
cow $123.71. The cost of feed per
cow averaged S43.23, leaving an av-
erage return per COW above feed costs
of $8O.48.
The average cost of feed for each
pound of butterfat was 1876 cents
and for each 100 pounds of milk,
1924 cents. For each dollar spent
for feed the COWS averaged a return
of sass.
The highest cows under test had
an average return of $3.43 for each
dollar spent on feed while the 10 low
est cows had an average return of
$1.09 for each dollar spent on feed.
An analysis of the production figures
for these groups shows that the high
producing group not only yielded
more butterfat but produced it at a
lower cost per pound, the cost being
1873 cents per pound for the 10 high
producers and 1878 cents per pound
for the 10 low producers.
Twenty-seven of the COWS under
test returned more than $125 above
the cost of feed and II returned less
than $25 above the cost Of feed. The
rest of the COWS gave a return above
feed lost between 1925 and $25. 1t ii
of particular interest to note that IL
of the cows that gave a return o.
more than $125 above feed costs
were fed no grain whatever and eight
were fed less than 200 pounds Of
grain during the year. None of the
most profitable cows were fed silag'
or roots. Good alfalfa hay and pas
ture proved to be the most econOm
ical means of producing milk.
In discussing this point, Mr.. Arne
says: "The figures do not show tina
grain feeding is not profitable bu
they do point out the feeding value
of alfalfa hay and pasture. When SUI
ficient choice hay and good pasturl
is available it is very doubtful If
will pay to feed grain at presen
prices to the average run Of dair
COWS of limited productive capacity
For grain feeding to be profitable
the price must not be too high, feed
ing must be limited to COWS of hig'
productive capacity, it must be fe
only during the time when produC
ton is high, the herd must be s
. managed as to get the greatest pos
sible returns from the grain fed, an
the amount Of grain should be regI
lated to the amount and quality
the roughage fed"