Show F r DAIRY f FACTORS IN PRODUCING MILK Series of Studies Conducted by Department Dc De- of Agriculture In Western State Prepared by the United States Department Department Department Depart Depart- ment of ot Agriculture What does It cost to produce milk This Is the ques question on that has brought Increasing concern to each dairyman In answer to It the United United Uni Uni- ted States Department of ot Agriculture through the dairy division dl conducted a n series of studies to give dairymen reliable Information on this subject These studies were begun In 1915 but the most recent upon which any data datil have been published was begun In 1917 1317 In Skagit county Washington about 70 10 miles north of Seattle The contained In III report of this study Is Department Bulletin mo Unit Requirements Requirements Re Re- Dents for Producing Milk In Western Washington n. n A study of the results given In the bulletin shows that at the time of the study per pel cent of the total cost of ot producing milk mille at the dairies Investigated investigated In in- was for feed and bedding per percent cent for labor per cent for or other costs and 25 per cent for tor depreciation The requirements for 3 c P Pasture Plays an Important Part in Cost of Producing producing pounds of milk during the winter were Concentrates pounds j dry roughage pounds succulent roughage 1433 pounds bedding nine pounds human labor 19 lD hours horse labor 01 of an hour other costs During the summer summer summer sum sum- mer milk could be produced at much less cost there being required a comparatively comparatively com coin small amount of concen concen- During the two years years covered by bythe bythe bythe the study per cent of each years year's Income from milk was obtained during during during dur dur- ing the winter During the first year ear records were obtained on 17 herds having an average average size size of cows with an average annual production of pounds of per cent milk per pel cow During the second year 18 h herds 15 of which had been In the first years year's work had an average of cows and produced an average average aver ayel age of pounds of per cent milk per cow From each cows in the herds during the two years ears 55 5 freshened during the winter six six- months period and 42 during the summer season while three cows did not calve during the year Nearly oD one half half of the cows freshening dropped their calves during the months from February to May In In- Most of the milk In this section Is sold for condensing purposes and Is delivered by motor truck to large con- con All the herds selected for study were representative of dairy conditions found In that section In western Washington the pasture plays a very Important part In milk production according to the bulletin With cool weather throughout most of the summer plenty of moisture and anda a rich soil soli there Is abundant pasture until late In the tile fall During the pasture pasture pasture pas pas- ture season almost GO 00 per cent of the tho milk for the year was produced and ati at third one of the yearly feed bedding bedding bedding bed bed- ding and pasture cost The annual pasture charge per cow amounted to 11 acres or 2304 2301 Such Items as veterinary fees medicine disinfectants disinfectants disinfectants tants and other ollier Items amounted to per cow per year It was vas found that the number of hours required to care for a cow did not differ dUrer materially materially mate mate- dally between the summer and winter winter winter win win- ter seasons However due to the Increased Increased increased In In- creased flow of milk In summer the time required to produce pounds of milk In lu that season was materially less les In summer than In winter |