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Show ! i rr BEEF CATTLE IN CORN-BELT STATES " " - - - .' , . . J SUMMARY TABLE SHOWING FOR THE SIX GROUPS THE VARIOUS FACTORS THAT MAKE UP THE COST PRODUCING A YEARLING. ? ? ? i J a ? K- 2 1 & Hem. i J ? ? : t : 3 : " n c B ; m : r ? 5? 5' ; ; ; (n Number of fnrms 2:; w; Hr" 22 Average number or rows per farm 3150 MM 12.75 23.47 14.29 17.31 Cost of riiuimalniiiK the breeding herd: ( tress cost C maintaining a cuw f", 10 t'tr i- -- u .,, Credits Mher than elf. ... . . -1 14650 Net cos, of maintaining a cow... i , f 'i cSrVrC "f """,Ua"""S Z 4 4! I'ercenliiRe of cows raising calves to weanlnK time 81.00 no.70 S3 90 Si 50 goto 9-10 Number of calves per bull .,.,,, ,- L, , ' ' Z ', J ?r, Cost of raising a cnlf to weaning lime: ' " 2j'30 I0'70 nM la 00 Bnll charge 35 47 S 7 31 2- M 23 71 14 53 01 00 9 33 4. .02 .2t L'luor 00 00 2..",li 1.J1 .00 .01 Total cost at weanlns lime 37.74 3079 23 .07 30 73 r M ,-M Cost of raisins a yoajllng: Number of farms m 67 m 6? Average number of .-alves per farm 24.43 30 20 10.57 IS 40 1116 14 23 .ib) Cost at weiinlng time t 3R.20 (C)37.01 b)23.64 b)30.81 (b)20.39 17. K Winter-feed cost ,2 32 :J5 02 9.93 12. 01 12 21 10 ''4 Other charges 4 HI 6 v- 4.92 4 72 466 3 86 Gross cost f II C':". DS.49 47 34 43.20 31.32 C, -'11,s 1 '' 7 ."3 I '9 I 18 1.54 1.07 Nt "'St 61 54 SWrt, 45.S6 41.72 30.25 (a) The statement for the bahy-hcof Kronp elves figures on the caK-es until tlu-y nro marketed at approximately 15 nmntlis of ae. ibl The chanuo in the number of farms on wbieh t lie tabulation of cost of producing yenrlinuH is liased caused the riuie on cost of call" at weaning time to rliaiik'e in tins part of the table. e The figures undei 'scored call attention to the fact that the baby-beef animal ani-mal Is carried somewhat beyond the i'L-arlln stage. (From the t'nited States Department of Agriculture.) Tliat cattle in most cases add lo (be farm income in tlie corn belt is indicated by the results of a recent investigation in-vestigation conducted by tlie United Stales department of agriculture as part of a comprehensive study of the meat situation in which its specialists have been engaged fur some time. Tlie direct profit from the raising of calves in this section, the averages seem to establish, is usually small, but the Investigators point out that tlmre are other factors which make the practice prac-tice more advantageous than would .appear at first sight. Among these advantages tire the fact that live stock on the farm provides pro-vides a home market and a moans of utilization uf farm roughage, some of which might be wn: ted if not fed, and the use of pastures which could not be employed profitably in any other way. Live stock also aiTords a ready home market for certain other crops, which at times would have to lie hauled considerable distances to lie sold. Finally, the presence of live stock on the farm gives productive employment throughout the year to labor which at certain seasons might otherwise be idle. Live slock also gives some interest on capital Invested on equipment which would produce nothing If not utilized at all seasons. The fertilizing value of manure also must be considered. When these factors fac-tors are taken into consideration, even though there appears to be little or no profit as shown by cost figures, It is believed that in most Instances In-stances tlie farm Income is greater he-cause he-cause of cattle having been kept on the farm. The keeping of live stock, therefore, Is to be recommended on farms having large quantities of cheap roughage available or having land which can be best utilized us pasture. pas-ture. Summary of Results. The figures of costs cited by the Investigators are purely averages based bas-ed on actual farms and herds investigated. investi-gated. The Investigators obtained. In 1014 and 1015, 5,000 records from farms in Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas. These records dealt with 11.0.'i-t cows, 021 bulls and 12.fii.ll calves produced from them, of which 2,023 were classed as baby beef. Classification of Records. These were arranged in six groups based on six distinei practices fol lowed by the farmers of this region. These are: (1) Beef. Farms where all the cows are kept strictly for beef (except baby beef), in which there is no sale of milk and butter. (2) I'.aliy beef. Farms devoted to the production of high-grade calves fattened and sold at from 12 to 18 months of age. (.'!) Dual purpose. Farms on which all the cows are milked and the calves weaned at birth and raised on skim milk. (1) Mixed. Farms where the best cows are milked, their calves being weaned at birth, while calves from other cows run with their dams. This is a combination of beef and dual purpose. (5) Partially milked. Farms on which calves are not weaned but on which a part of the mill; is drawn from the cow, the calf taking the remainder. re-mainder. (0) Double nursing. Farms where some of the cows are milked and their calves given to other cows. Summary of Results. The following summaries are based on these six classifications and are given as averages from the records of the farms and live stock actually reported. Tlie conclusions tire averages for the entire section studied and the reader must bear in mind that there are wide divergences in cost in the several states. For this reason the report, after considering the general problem, deals in great detail with the range of costs in the several states and the averages for the several sections. The more important factors are cited in the table given herewith: |