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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

BULLETIN No. 919

Contribution from the Bureau of Animal Industry
JOHN R. MOHLER, Chief

Washiugton, D. C. Vv December 10, 1920

UNIT REQUIREMENTS FOR PRODUCING MILK
IN WESTERN WASHINGTON.

By J. B. Bain, Dairy Husbandman, and G. E. Braun, Market Milk Specialist,
Dairy Division.

CONTENTS.

Page. Page.
Character and scope of the work___ 1 | Factors involved in production of
Methods used in obtaining the TANT Kee eee es re ACNE 10

Cat alates a8 ae IS Se ee meres 2 Feed ____ Sea ET aa tl ao a 10

Comparison of winter and Rastune see se> is Li pe fall

Summer results] eee 3 1 eT ONC) eas Nae Ate a NC 12

Descriptions of herds 2252 san 3 Othere costs wees yeas eae 13
Requirements for producing 100 Per cent comparison of factors in-

POUNASROG amilk == Sees eect ar 4 volved in milk production____~-~_- 15
Requirements for keeping a cow Average compared with “ bulk-line ”’

ONG LSy Care eal 2 Sas WEEE SA a. 6 COSTS pre es 2 Ap ae nies Oe es Se ee 16
@reditefor manures ees 7 | Monthly distribution of factors in
Credits) for) calves 22 2= 82s es 9 Mike pRLOGduction, sas = === scleys 17

Requirements for keeping a bull___ Dis SUM May. aia ee as eee ee 19

CHARACTER AND SCOPE OF THE WORK.

What does it cost to produce milk? This is a question which has
brought increasing concern to each dairyman as the cost of feed has
increased and hired men are being attracted to other industries pay-
ing higher wages. The United States Department of Agriculture,
through the Dairy Division of the Bureau of Animal Industry, began
a series of studies in 1915 intended to give the dairymen of the United
States information on the cost of producing milk. These studies
were made in different sections of the United States. The project
with which this bulletin deals was organized in August, 1917, in
Skagit County, Wash., about 70 miles north of Seattle.

Other objects of these studies were to separate and analyze various
factors to obtain data which would aid in improving general milk-
production methods.

The climate and fertility of the soil in this section produce excep-
tionally good pasturage throughout the larger part of the year.
The many herds of black and white cattle grazing over the large ex-

12649°—20 1

2 BULLETIN 919, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

panse of low-lying meadows, together with the numerous windmills
dotting the landscape, remind an observer of the description of the
Holstein breed in its native country.

At the end of the first year the work was discontinued until Janu-
ary, 1919, because of the war. The value of this work to the dairymen
cooperating the first year is reflected in the fact that 15 out of the
17 continued the work for the second year. Two dairymen sold out,
and their places were taken by neighboring dairymen during the
second year. The data obtained in this study are actual records of
facts obtained by regular monthly full-day visits to 15 farms for two
years and four other farms for one year.

Most of the milk in this section is sold for condensing purposes
and is delivered by motor truck to large milk condenseries. None
of the dairies selected were conducted as hobbies or as breeding estab-
lishments, but were representative of average dairy conditions found
in this section. It is the custom to hire milkers, who milk and take
care of 25 or 30 cows per man and give their entire time to the herd.
The figures reported show the amounts expended in producing milk
under the system of dairy management found.

The dairies were inspected by representatives from the condenseries,
and the sanitary conditions were subject to such supervision. The
cost of production would have been somewhat different if either
higher or lower grades of milk had been produced.

METHODS USED IN OBTAINING THE DATA.

The field agent recorded in detail all available information’ rela-
tive to the dairy business, including the amounts and classes of
labor, feeds and bedding used, pasture cost, amount of milk sold and
used on the farm, and the current expenses for the month. The data
on calves and handling of manure were systematically collected.

By obtaining records on every dairy regularly each month the
influence of unusual circumstances at the time of any particular visit
was lessened, and by using the records of all the herds for each
month average figures could be compiled for each or all of the dairies
and representative data for each month, season, and year were thus
obtained. Records were obtained the second year as a check on the
first year’s work and to increase the amount of data available for
study.

At the beginning and end of each year an inventory was taken
of the dairy buildings, livestock, and equipment used in the care of
the herd and its products. On his regular monthly inspection tour
the field agent arrived at the first farm of a group in time to observe

the first labor operations connected with the evening chores. With
eee eee eee

1 Copies of the blanks used can be obtained upon request from the Bureau of Animal
Industry, Dairy Division, Washington, D. C.

eS ae

PRODUCING MILK IN WESTERN WASHINGTON. 3

watch in hand he noted and recorded the exact minute each labor
operation connected with the dairy was begun and ended. The labor
operations during the next morning were recorded in the same man-
ner, to complete the 24-hour period.

The field agent also noted the feeds that were being fed on the day
of his visit, recording the kind, quantity, cost, and description of
each and comparing them with the quantity recorded by the cow
tester in the cow-testing-association books.

The quantity of milk sold and receipts each month were obtained.
In addition the whole milk used by the proprietor and his help or
fed to calves was measured or weighed and used as a basis for deter-
mining the quantity kept on the farm during the month.

Each dairyman kept an itemized account of expenses that were
incurred between the monthly visits, and these items were recorded
by the field agent. A monthly record was also kept of the purchase
or sale of cows, calves, hides, outside bull service, and other miscel-
laneous information relating to the herd. The condition and method
of handling the manure were noted and reported each month.

When all the labor operations about the dairy had been completed
for the day at the first farm, the field agent drove to the second farm
in time to observe the labor operations connected with the evening
chores. This program was followed until Saturday afternoon, when
he returned to his headquarters and finished his reports for the week’s
work. The same program was followed each week in the month, and
each farm was visited for a full day every 30 days throughout the
two years.

COMPARISON OF WINTER AND SUMMER RESULTS.

Since the winter and summer seasons have a marked influence on
the principal factors entering into the cost of producing milk, the
results have been computed separately for those periods. The months
from November to April, inclusive, represent the winter season and
from May to October the summer season. This division of time was
based directly on the change in methods of herd management made
in November and May.

The various tables found in this bulletin are based upon figures ob-
tained during two years of study, and the weighted average of the
two-year records was used whenever it would more accurately express
the result. The weighted average was obtained by giving each item
a weight in the average according to its relative importance.

DESCRIPTION OF HERDS.

During the first year records were obtained on 17 herds, having an
average size of 31.3 cows, with an average annual production of 7,369
pounds of 3.74 per cent milk per cow. During the second year, 18
herds, 15 of which had been in the first year’s work, had an average

4 BULLETIN 919, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

size of 28.6 cows, and produced an average of 8,323 pounds of 3.59
per cent milk per cow. The cows were mostly Holsteins, and the
average annual production for both years was 7,833 pounds of 3.66
per cent milk. During the first year the pastures were poorer than
they had been for years, whereas during the second year they were
exceptionally good until the last month, when the herds were pastured
on the second-growth meadows. As a matter of record, many herds
grazed on pastures in which the clover stood a foot high—high
enough to be cut for hay. The extreme variation in the condition of
the pastures during the two seasons largely accounts for the increase
of 954 pounds of milk per cow during the second year.

For each 100 cows in the herds during the two years, 55 freshened
during the winter six-months period and 42 during the summer
season, while 3 cows did not calve during the year. During the first
year the cows dropping calves in winter were dry 1.9 months, while
‘those cows dropping calves in summer were dry 1.4 months. The
corresponding figures for the second year were 2.2 months in winter
and 1.5 months in summer. Nearly one-half of the cows freshening
dropped their calves during the months from February to May,
inclusive.

REQUIREMENTS FOR PRODUCING 100 POUNDS OF MILK.

The unit requirements for producing 100 pounds of milk during
this investigation are shown in Table 1. In order to secure more
uniform results and to overcome the effect of fluctuating prices, money
values have been eliminated as much as possible. By showing the
feeds in terms of pounds and the labor in terms of hours it will be
possible to use these figures for some time to come.

TABLE 1.—Units required, except cost of management, for producing 100 pounds
of milk in winter and in summer.

Winter. Summer.

Bei Mpa eetiie sheds eansarten | Writ WN 0 Yee peta ean a lee ee to AIG)
Item. winters. summers.
1917-18 | 1919-20 1917-181 1919
Feed:
Purchased concentrates...... pounds..| 25.8 18.8 22.1 4.3 4.9 4.6
Home-grown grains............. dow Ty a 12.9 Msi as So sea 1.1 6
Motaliconcentratesie-— eee eee eee 26.9 31.7 229.4 4.3 6.0 5.22
Hauling and grinding concentrates....| $0.016 $0. 028 $0. 022 $0. 002 $0. 004 $0. 003
Noncommercial roughage. ...pounds. - 9 10. 2 OSs Eee 52 Pe
Commercial carbohydrate hay..do.-.-| 90.1 70.9 79.5 4.4 9.0 6.8
Wecumenayeeneeeece nese eee ee COsas- 3.1 ts 2 7.6 3 .& 6
Motalidnyroushacesse nee ee eee 94.1 91.1 92.9 4.7 10.0 Tots
Silage and other succulent rough-
AP CI shes nesiyapha Nace Seca pounds..| 156.8 131.1 143.3 42.7 38. 2 0.4
IRAStUNC RS Wee eee eee anne ACHES EE Se ara ee os an aa poe ae . 027 02 . 025
IBed Ging asrs se. Se oe Sac nace pounds... 12.4 5.9 920) Sal ese ree 2 1

1 This season consisted of September, and October, 1917, and May, June,and July, and August, 1918.
2 The summary of the unit requirements by seasons is printed in bold-faced type for convenience of the
‘reader. :

PRODUCING MILK IN WESTERN WASHINGTON. 5

TABLE 1.—Units required, except cost of management, for producing 100 pounds
of milk in winter and in summer—Continued.

Winter. Summer.

Two Two
Item. Winters. summers
1917-18 | 1919-20 1917-18 1919
Labor
EM ane se ee esaa eee ce hours. 2.0 1.8 1.9 1.3 1.3 18?
LOLS Cee oe aes See eee ee eae OsGe 01 O01 01 01 02 .015
Other costs:
Biildineichangesseseerercccmcncice sone $0. 124 $0. 130 $0. 127 $0. 085 $0. 092 $0. 088
Equipment charges and dairy supplies . 088 . 088 . 088 . 060 . 062 . 061
Herd charges: Taxes, insurance, veteri-
nary, medicines, disinfectants, and
cow-testing associations............- . 043 . 034 . 038 . 029 . 024 . 026
Interest on cow investment........... .118 . 108 -113 . 080 . 076 .078
CostiovkeepineubulllReeeeeseeee ee secre .078 .074 .076 . 042 . 042 . 042
MObor= thi Ckqchangenercn set hase a oats | ee aioiaas | orca ee see al cicetccten onlteciacensae MOOT) Bac ane
Cashthawlineofmilkees ss. -eess- 555 -e . 066 . 065 . 062 . 067 . 062 . 061
Total other costs, except deprecia-
ONO COWSee tee - tse ss oe sbily/ .499 504 . 363 . 359 . 306
Depreciation on CowWS.......--.--2-.-- . 144 007 072 098 005 050
Motallorhencostseesessereee oscar eree $0. 661 $0 506 $0.576 $0. 461 $0.364 $0. 406

It will be noted in Table 1 that for producing 100 pounds of milk
in the first winter there were required 26.9 pounds of grain, while
during the second winter 31.7 pounds were required, an increase of

4.8 pounds. For dry roughage there is a decrease of 3 pounds, and
for succulent roughage a decrease of 25.7 pounds per 100 pounds of
milk. This increase in grain and decrease in dry and succulent
roughages can be accounted for by the fact that two of the herds that
were sold out the first year consumed very little grain but a large
quantity of roughage.

Since the pastures were of a very excellent quality summer feeding
of grain was not followed extensively. Some of the best-producing
herds received no grain throughout the summer, which accounts for
the low average of 5.2 pounds of grain per 100 pounds of milk during
the summer seasons. .

While there was a slight advance in prices for both hauling and
erinding concentrates during the second year, the increase for these
charges per 100 pounds of milk from 16 cents to 28 cents in the winter
and from two-tenths of a cent to four-tenths of a cent in the summer
of the first and second years, respectively, is due primarily to the in-
crease in the quantity of feeds ground rather than to the advanced
rate of hauling and grinding.

The work of collecting milk through this section is thoroughly or-

ganized. The milk, shipped in 10-gallon cans, is collected once daily
by motor truck. On the return trip the truck brings back the empty
cans, which makes it unnecessary to have two sets of cans. As the
‘roads are very good it is not uncommon, in the season of greatest pro-
duction, for a motor truck and trailer to haul 100 cans. The efficiency

6 BULLETIN 919, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

of the truck method of hauling milk is shown by the very low cost of
6.2 cents per 100 pounds of milk in winter and 6.1 cents per 100
pounds of milk in summer. The use of the motor truck also accounts
for the small amount of horse labor.

The cost of keeping a bull includes feed, labor, and other costs
expressed in dollars. For closer study a table will be found on page
10 expressing the costs in terms of pounds and hours.

REQUIREMENTS FOR KEEPING A COW ONE YEAR.

The greater production per cow, in summer, of 1,399 pounds of
milk, shown in Table 2, is partly due to a larger percentage of cows
freshening in the winter and early spring, but more particularly it is
the direct result of good pastures. The value of this pasture is espe-
cially noticeable when one observes that in winter the cows required
946 pounds of grain to produce 3,217 pounds of milk, while in summer
they required only 241 pounds of grain to produce 4,616 pounds of
milk.

TABLD 2.—Numober of cows, average production per cow, and requiremenis for

keeping a cow during each season and for the entire year, except cost of man-
agement, based on records of the tivo years’ work.

|

|
Item. | Winter. | Summer. entire year
|
INUERTACE: OF COWS area ee 1,043.1 1, 049.3 | 1,046.2
Average production per CoW.......--.s--.sceesseseeeceee. pounds... 3,217 | 4,616 | 7, 833
Feed: ;
Purchased concentrates... 5. 22) 22.22.2224 2 ese e ado 711_| 214 925
Homc-frown $rains-< 2. 2. 22S. 5 G2 te ee eee dole. 235 | 27 262
Motatconcentrates: <- 6-5 < oes. t ce: ee do.... 946 | - 241 | 1, 187
Heuling and grinding concentrates.-..........------.----------- £0.72 | $0.15 | $0.
Noncommercialroughage...............------.----2-e- pounds. .| 186 4 | 190
Commercial carbohydrate hay..........--.--------------- do....| 2,558 314 2,872
LGpunie tidy. 52: | Ree 2 ae ee do....| 246 28 | 274
Totaldry rotighave! = o-2 5.5.25 Se ee do....| 2, 990 346 3,336
Silage and other succulent FOUN STC sion ee do-=.-)—"_.- 4,616 1,864 6,474
*Boddinige Geos esc: ae ee ee ee eee dos" a cae sett
$1.70 $ 23.04
EAS Se Seo Nae O.lacre.| orlacre. | orl.lacres.
Labor :
Humane at eee eee hours. .| 60.1 60.9 121.0
IEP OISO oases ea rt Se ae Se a ee do.... - 29 | .67 1.0
Other costs: |
Building Charges 5. Sob So oe cea oa ee ee eee eee $4.10 $4.07 $8.17
Equipment charges and dairy supplies. ----....:..---.....-.--- TASES 2.33 4.67
Herd charges: Taxes, insurance, veterinary, medicines, disin-
fectants, and cow-testing associations. .....-..---.---------++- 1.22 | 1.22 2.44
Interest on cow.itivestmnent..-.5e oe «ee eee 3.62 | 3.60 7.22
Cost’ of keeping bulliie 2. =.= oe ee eee 2.44 | 1.94 4.38
Motor-track. charee 2. oe ee RS a ee eee . 04 - 04
SGash Hause OF NIK at ee eee eee 1.98 | 2.82 4.80
Total other costs, except depreciation on cOWS--.............. | 15.70 16.02 31.72
Depreciaticnon:cows >: so ae eee 2.30 | 2.29 4.59
Watalobhier costs. 222.00 3 a yee eee ee ee | $18. 00 | $18.31 | $36.31

The one-tenth of an acre pasture charge shown for winter repre-
sents supplementary pasture or pasture on meadows in spring and
second-crop meadow and grain stubble in the fall. In case the oats
are lodged fall pasture furnishes a valuable source of feed. In

PRODUCING MILK IN WESTERN WASHINGTON. 6

spring it is a common practice in this dairy section to turn the cows
in the meadows for a short time, thereby obtaining a shorter but
finer hay crop, which is a decided advantage when hay is inclined to
grow tall and coarse. |

The small quantity of bedding used was due to the fact that the
winters were so mild that the cows were kept in the barn only during
January, February, and March, while at least three of the herds
received practically no bedding.

The hours of labor expended per cow in summer and in winter did
not differ materially. The time required in winter for feeding and
for cleaning stables was used in summer for driving the cows to and
from pasture; also in summer more time was necessary for milking
on account of increased production.

CREDIT FOR MANURE.

On the average dairy farm the commercial value of manure de-
pends upon the use to which it is put. The return in dollars depends
upon the increase in the crops raised and in the amount received from
the sale of these crops. These facts may reduce or increase the value
of manure below or above the market price of the fertilizing constitu-
ents contained in it.

The farming land in many parts of western Washington is re-
claimed swamp land and the soil is unusually fertile. Dairymen
therefore derived very little benefit from the application of manure
and did not place a high valuation on it. The credit for the manure,
however, which was the same for summer and winter, was based on
the market price of the fertilizing constituents contained in it.

The prices per pound of the fertilizing constituents in the manure
for the first year were as follows: Nitrogen, $0.25; commercial phos-
phoric acid, $0.06; and potash, $0.068. The prices during the second
year were $0.191 for nitrogen, $0.056 for phosphoric acid, and $0.068
for potash.

Only that manure which was saved or could have been saved under
ordinary farm conditions was credited to the cows. In order to de-
termine the amount of manure saved, a monthly record was kept of
the time the cows were actually in the stables. This made it possible
to figure the weight of manure voided in the barns, for, according to
the best authorities, a 1,000-pound cow will produce 13 tons of ma-
nure in a year, or 64 tons for six months. The manure dropped on
the pasture was not credited to the herds; if a credit had been given,
an ofiset charge against the pasture for fertilizer would have been
necessary.

Many of the stables had holes in the gutters to permit the liquid
to escape; therefore a deduction was made wherever necessary to cover
this loss. Also a deduction of 25 per cent in the summer and 30 per
cent in the winter, or rainy season, was made to cover the loss to the
manure while in the yard exposed to the weather.

8 BULLETIN 919, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

To determine the fertilizing constituents in the manure the feeds
used throughout the winter were classified so that their average com-
pesition could be obtained. This was done by referring to standard
tables containing the analyses of the various classes of feeds.

Since a cow in the process of digestion utilizes on the average only
approximately 25 per cent of the nitrogen, 30 per cent of the phos-
phorus, and 15 per cent of the potash, it is evident that 75 per cent
of the nitrogen, 70 per cent of the phosphorus, and 85 per cent of the
potash is available for fertilizers. By knowing the weights of the
feeds and their average composition it was possible to determine the
approximate amounts of the three fertilizing elements consumed.
From these figures deductions were made for that utilized by the
cows to obtain the total amounts of the fertilizing elements voided. In
figuring the amount of fertilizing constituents saved the same factors
were considered that determined the weight of manure credited to
cows, namely, the time the cattle were out, making the fertilizer
unreclaimable, the amount of liquid lost through holes in the gut-
ters, and the loss in leaching while stored in the yards.

A ton of average manure during the winter was estimated to have
the following constituents:

Pounds.
INT ERO SOM ee 2h e ec Se ee eee 9.9
Commercial phosphoric sACiG saa ee eae ae
1 S-(6 3S) 6 a Naa MAO IRGC sap AM Ege Ne I 2 Co os 11.5

No credit was allowed for bedding, as the large acreage of oats and
a superabundance of straw from the fertile soil makes the farm price
of the straw less than the value of the fertilizing constituents 1n it.
The farm price of the straw is little more than enough to pay for
bringing the straw to the barn. It might be hauled directly from
the stack to the field instead of the barn, thereby distributing the fer-
-_tilizing elements on the soil at the same expense.

TABLE 3.—Manure and fertilizing constituents credited to the herds during the
two winters and the two summers.

Winter. Summer.

Item. Rosa SS an TG
1917-18 | 1919-20 | Average.| 1917-18 1 1919 Average.
Motalimanureisaved= 22s osacess see tons..| 1,128.2 802.3 965.2 179.1 126.8 153.0
Manure per cow........-..------ ounds..| 4,200.0 | 3,200.0 | 3,800.0 600.0 400.0 600.0

Manure credited per 100 pounds if milk, :
pounds....... sapieisisnemicsiscinecineeerieeinn nepaoadoad|ooonesGbac TM esbésobeac||Sadeocoscs 13

|
Winter average. Summer average.

Phos- Phos-
Nitrogen.| phoric | Potash. | Nitrogen.) phoric | Potash.
acid. acid.

| ef a | | |

Fertilizing constituents in manure,

DOWNING = 355 Soccnasdosugsepodccossodenade 9, 474 4,003 11, 134 1,500 634 1,765
Credit) per COWeeaa- eee cee pounds... 18.2 Wet 21.3 2.9 1.2 3.4

1 Thesummer of 1917-18 included the months of September and October, 1917, and May, June, July, and
August, 1918.

PRODUCING MILK IN WESTERN WASHINGTON. 9

The low credit per cow for manure is due to the small quantity of
manure saved and to the losses incurred in handling it. Since the
cost of keeping a bull was charged against the cows under other costs,
the bull manure was credited to the herds and included in the credit
of 2.1 tons of manure per cow in 1917-18 and 1.6 tons per cow in
1919-20.

CREDIT FOR CALVES.

The seasonal variations in the production of calves show a small
increase in the number of calves dropped in winter over the number
dropped in summer, but this does not imply that winter dairying
was emphasized. A study of the number of calves dropped per
month shows that there were more calves born from January to May
than during any other corresponding period, which indicates a tend-
ency toward summer dairying.

TABLE 4.—Total credit for calves produced, by years and by seasons.

Credit by years. Credit by seasons.
Item. =

1917-18 1919-20 Both winters. | Both summers.
Number of calves..... NCE a a OS 514 502 574 442
hotalivaluerol calves: tsere a. ease ee: $3, 399. 89 $4, 821.11 $4, 495. 38 $3, 725. 62
Average value of calves.............-.- | $6. 61 $9. 60 $7. 83 $8. 43
CalvesiperiCOwecssces foc see cee cee 0.96 of 1 calf. | 0.98 of 1 calf. 1.1 calves. 0.84 of 1 calf.
Credil Per COWes aces. coh aahee ote | 6.38 $9. 39 $8. 61 $7.08
Credit per 100 pounds of milk.......... 0.013 of 1 calf. | 0.012 of 1 calf. | 0.017 of i calf. | 0.009 of 1 calf.

The average production of 0.96 of one calf per cow for the first
year and 0.98 of one calf for the second year shows a very high
average, which ordinarily can not: be expected. ‘Their increase in
value was wholly due to a-rise in the market value of calves.

The greater number of calves were sold for veal when very young.
Each calf that was raised was given a value by the farmer, who took
into consideration the individual and its breeding. As grade prices
were given to the purebred cows, their calves were given a value
which corresponded to a grade calf of similar quality. This was done
because in these studies the breeding business was separated from
the business of producing milk.

REQUIREMENTS FOR KEEPING A BULL.

There is a noticeable difference in both feed and labor require-
ments for keeping a bull in summer and in winter. On 10 farms
the bulls ran on pasture or were tethered out. This accounts for the
low feed requirements, other than pasture, and for the low labor re-
quirements for the summer season.

The small quantity of bedding was due to a combination of reasons.”
In many herds the bulls ran with the cows, and they were kept in

the stable only at night during January, February, and March. A
12649°—20——2

10 BULLETIN 919, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

number of the bulls received no bedding at all, and in one instance
where the bull was kept separate his stall was bedded with the refuse
hay from his manger.

TABLE 5.—Requirements for keeping a bull, by seasons, based on averages
obtained from the equivalent of 34.4 bulls.

= Entire
Item. Winter. |Summer. year.
Feed:
Purchased: concentrates = .<o- 8 Sas se seem ae esees seas pounds... 280 166 446
ETOMEePr OWA IEA Ss Po eee eee ee is Set tes ee eee WO. 2 129 55 184
Totalconcenttates=. boos. fes 2 8 Ae ee ee Pee do... 409 221 630
Noncommercial roughave sy. 25520. o ee ee dere 339 8 547
Commercialicarbohydrate hay=2ee. eo ete ee eee GOs 3,360 1,790 5,150
Herne AY os oa. has ss GS ORO ERO eee ey ee ee dos 193 270
Potala@rysTOULW aces sa ae Se ee ee eee G05: 3,892 2,075 5, 967
Succulentroucha get cat sese oe ee ee ee ee Goseee 1,669 1,400 3, 069
B70 (0 U1 ae py Meee ala ela ties heer ee maha ome coe doz. 12 43
EATS Dn oe eae pe eon UR Cer ce Rc Lae en nigel SS aM OM RI eels Tim ony) eee 1.68 $11.88 $13.56
BEE UDT TY P17 OTe agra cee e icn GR ee hours 24 16.4 4
Other costs: :
Interest and insurance on bullinvestment.....................-..----- $10. 54 $10. 48 $21.02
Bulls share of buildings <.2...5. 2.56 ee ee Sl eee 4.06 4.09 8.15
1D) SPLOCIA tl OMare. wie ete ee a een ee 6.36 6. 28 12. 64
TOES TOEN CT COSES Es 2s as ea ene tr ee ae ti ee Pia ee 20. 96 20.85 41.81
Creditsforoutside bull'servicesse ssi ee ee ee ee ee 10. 22 10.10 20. 32
Total other cost less outside bull service..........-....------------- 10.74 10.75 21.49

Table 5 shows an annual depreciation of $12.64 per bull per year.
Most of the bulls were purebred and were purchased when young at
purebred prices. As they grew older their values increased. This
appreciation in value helped to decrease the depreciation on old bulls
sold for beef for less than their purebred value.

A credit for outside bull service of $20.32 per year was due to
service fees obtained from four of the bulls in the association, one of
which was an animal of special merit. However, the large credit
for outside service for this bull was partly offset by the increased
charges for interest, insurance, and depreciation. If both the “ other
costs” of keeping the bull and the credit for outside service had been
stricken from the records, the net “ other costs” per year for keeping
the other bulls would have averaged $31.69. :

FACTORS INVOLVED IN THE PRODUCTION OF MILK.
FEED.

Concentrates is a term applied to grains and to their manufactured
by-products which contain a large amount of nutritious substance in
a relatively small bulk. 3

. Home-grown grains refer to concentrates grown on the farm or in

the locality where fed.
Dry roughage includes various hays and other rough feeds, which

are subdivided into the three following classes:

PRODUCING MILK IN WESTERN WASHINGTON. 11

Noncommercial dry roughage applies to coarse feeds, such as corn
stover and velvet-grass hay, for which price quotations are not given
in the trade papers. Hay or other dry roughage so foul with weeds
or so damaged in curing as not to be readily salable is also classified
under this heading.

Leguminous roughage includes alfaifa, clover, cowpea, soy bean,
and other commercial legume hays, when pure, or when so slightly
mixed with grasses as not materially to affect the protein content.

Commercial carbohydrate roughage refers to all commercial hays
except those classified as leguminous roughage.

Succulent roughage consists of mangels, potatoes, silage, and soil-
ing crops.

The quantities of the various feeds used were obtained from actual
weights made by the field agent on his regular monthly visit to each
farm.

Purchased concentrates were chargec at the prices paid, less the
value of the sacks in which they were purchased. These sacks were
readily salable if not desired for use on the farm and were given the

same value for which they could have been sold. The home-grown

grains were given the farm price plus such extra charges as hauling
and grinding when necessary. When baling or hauling dry rough-
age was necessary the price for such was deducted from the market
value of the feed. If the succulent roughage was salable the farm
price was used in determining valuations per ton; however, if it was
not salable a price which was commensurate with its value as com-
pared with the value of a marketable product was placed on it.

PASTURE.

In western Washington pasture plays a very important part in
milk production. With cool weather throughout most of the sum-
mer, plenty of moisture, and a rich soil there is abundant pasture
until late in the fall. During the pasture season almost 60 per cent
of the milk for the year was produced and at one-third the yearly
feed cost.

The charges against pasture consist of interest, taxes, upkeep, and
repairs on fences, cutting thistles and weeds, and seeding.

Interest was figured on the unimproved value of the land, which
was obtained by deducting from the improved value any increase in
worth due to the dairy buildings contributary to it. The rate of
interest allowed varied from 6 to 8 per cent. The rate was deter-
mined by the per cent the farmer would have to pay if he borrowed
money to buy the land.

The amount of the taxes on the whole farm was ascertained from _
the books of the county authorities; from this the amount incidental
to pasture was calculated.

SS —— eee

—— —,

=~ Satur - ee

- + —--

je BULLETIN 919, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

Upkeep and repairs to fences were largely an approximation.
They were determined by asking the farmers the value and life of
posts, wire, etc., and the labor required to build and keep the fences
in repair. From these data the annual cost was computed.

Cutting thistles and weeds is a necessary operation on most of the
pastures; where this was the case the cost for such was included in
the pasture charge. A seeding charge was allowed where the pasture
takes a regular place in the crop rotation, for in this way the pasture
derives some of the benefit from the seeding for meadow.

The annual pasture rent per cow amounted to 1.1 acres, or $23.04.

LABOR.

The average labor rate per hour was obtained by dividing the wages
per month, plus such extra considerations as board, house rent, milk,
and fuel, by the total number of hours available for work.

The hours available for work during the month were determined
on the monthly visit to each farm. The times work began in the
morning and when it ceased in the evening were noted, and from the
period of work was subtracted the time out for meals and rest. The
hours per day thus obtained were multiplied by the number of work-
ing days in that month, to which were added the hours of work
necessary on Sundays.

TABLE 6.—Per cent of labor performed and hours per 100 pounds of milk pro-
duced for each class of help.

Winter. Summer.
| Er
Distributi f kk raat D but f work pa
istribution of work per- per 100 istribution of work per- per 100
Class of labor. formed. pounds formed. pounds
of milk. of milk.

1917-18 | 1919-20 | Average. | Average.| 1917-18 1919 | Average. | Average.

Per cent. | Per cent. | Per cent.| Hours. | Per cent. | Per cent. | Per cent.| Hours.
Managersiz.cccccsetee 27.5 23.8 25.6 0. 48 26.7 21.3 27. 0.36
Hired men........... 62. 4 66.1 64.2 1.20 60.3 58.1 59.2 . 78
Totalman labor 89.9 89.9 89.8 1.68 87.9 85. 4 86.2 1.14
Wiomence = ts a5 1.0 1.8 - 03 2.9 ial 2.0 .03
IB, OY Sse eae eae sees 7.6 9.1 8.4 16 10.1 13.5 11.8 16
MOtalen= sss see 100. 0 109.0 100.0 1. 87 100.0 100.0 100.0 128

Table 6 shows that 64.2 per cent of the work during the two win-
ters and 59.2 per cent of the work during the two summers was per-
formed by hired men. It is a practice in that part of the country,
especially with the larger dairies, to hire a man and put him in
charge of the dairy. The men who follow this line of work are for
the most part of Scandinavian or Swiss descent. They become very
proficient and make excellent dairymen. They follow regular sched-
ules for doing their work and develop a wonderful capacity for

PRODUCING MILK IN WESTERN WASHINGTON. 16

milking. During the first year six dairies were handled by these pro-
fessional milkers, and each man had an average of 32.8 cows in his
“string” which he fed and milked alone. During the second year
the average “ string ” consisted of 28.8 cows.

In two of these dairies the milkers were accustomed to be at the
barn and ready to start their work at 2 o’clock in the morning. At
other farms the time for starting work ranged from 2.30 to 4 o’clock.

The number of cows which a man can care for depends largely
upon the quantity of milk they are producing, but usually it ranges
between 18 and 30. A specific instance is known where one man
milked 42 cows twice daily for a month. The average daily pro-
duction for a “string” of cows varies from 6 to 10 10-gallon cans
in winter and from 10 to 14 10-gallon cans in summer. On one farm
one man, for more than a week, milked 22 10-gallon cans full a day.

Milking usually starts between 2 and 4 o’clock in the morning
and the same time in the afternoon. Any work which can be done
at odd times, such as throwing down feed and mixing grain, is done
between noon and milking time in the afternoon. Small dairies,
which do not require all of one man’s time, are quite often cared for
by the owner and his family.

Only a small percentage of the work was performed by women
and boys, as shown in Table 6. The women did very little work
around the barn, confining their efforts to washing utensils, which
was done in the house.

OTHER COSTS.

Other costs include all charges on buildings, equipment, and cattle,
such as interest, depreciation, upkeep, and repairs.

TABLE 7.—Per cent relationship between other costs and capital invested.

Item. Buildings. |Equipment.| Cattle. Total.
Gapitalinvested sxe e cc cen sso eae ae eae tiene aeanese 5 $54, 647.14 | $17,223.89 |$108, 679.00 | $180, 550. 03
Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent.

ITIL COS beers ssies cc ete sone ee Be ae ea eeeeic 7.0 7.4 hs OMS asrecisaeteres
Depreciationmscacecee soe see ce See eee ae aoe cee 4.5 19.4 A Ai lGos ks comsse
COS Sea CIO OHO Cn Oo RBH Sa cee Cate See Arne pe sem A cic eiserioala'ere g [seers sree
TUS DEINE 22 Bee Be PAE oe ite ee toa is tia aicie's | a tceenrree - wey isdteisarenicsine
COpiMand TEpailSee cecee eee eee eee eee ees Scccl % QUIS Ae aang See ae eee
Wikia amacnine POAT Sass soem oot as teal meses ons [Ieee ay U7 et ee etn Hy eae ee ee
eee ofal ete ee en eSNG se | 16.2 28. 4 12.3 15.4

- 1 Per cent of capital invested in the various costs.
BUILDINGS.

At the beginning cf the work the buildings and silos were inven-
toried at their replacement value in normal times. Interest was
charged on this value at the rate of 7 per cent. After the first inven-
tory the subsequent values were determined by deducting from the

14 BULLETIN 919, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

value at the beginning of the year the amount of depreciation during
that year. The depreciation per year was based upon the remaining
years of usefulness of the buildings. The average depreciation for
the two years shows an annual depreciation of 4.5 per cent.

There were no direct taxes on buildings; but, since pasture figures
were based on the raw or unimproved value of the land, it was neces-
sary that the dairy should be charged with the taxes due to the im-
provements caused by the dairy buildings.

Insurance charges were taken from the receipts of the insurance
companies.

A monthly account was kept of the money spent for such items as
whitewashing, repairs on doors, etc.; but, to determine the amount
necessary for painting, roofing, and such expenses which come less
frequently, it was necessary to make an estimate on each dairyman’s
buildings of the amounts required yearly for such purposes. The
total cost of upkeep and repairs amounted to 3.1 per cent of the
capital value of the buildings.

EQUIPMENT.

The interest charge on equipment was 7.4 per cent of the inventory
value of the equipment. Tools and equipment around a dairy barn
are usually worn out quite rapidly, which explains the large annual
depreciation of 19.4 per cent.

The charge for upkeep and repairs was 0.9 per cent and for |
milking-machine repairs 0.7 per cent. Supplies, such as gasoline,
kerosene, washing powder, etc., amounted to 99 cents per cow per

ear.
: New equipment purchased during the year was added to the first
inventory before subtracting the second inventory. :

CATTLE.

Milk produced by a purebred cow has no greater value than that
produced by a grade cow. Raising purebred cattle is a separate busi-
ness involving a greater investment and resulting in larger credits
- for calves. In this investigation the purebred cows were given values
of grade cows of corresponding production and purebred calves were
likewise given credits as grade calves from dams of corresponding
production. :

At the beginning and end of the year each cow was given an in-
ventory value. The first value was based on the price at which the
owner thought he could replace her. In order to avoid the influence
of market conditions her subsequent value remained the same unless
her owner thought that she had become a better or poorer cow.

_ Interest was‘figured at the rate of 7 per cent upon the investment at
the beginning of the year.

¥ !
Pg
me
‘

PRODUCING MILK IN WESTERN WASHINGTON. ety

To obtain the depreciation on cattle the value of every cow that
entered the herd during the year was added to the herd inventory at
the beginning of the year; from this result was subtracted the total
value of the cows at the end of the year plus the prices received for
cows sold during that year.

A depreciation of 4.4 per cent of the capital value of the cattle is
shown. This figure would have been considerably higher had it not
been for the large number of cows sold the last year for dairy pur-
poses for which the dairymen received a very good price.

Taxes chargeable to the dairy were taken from the county auditor’s
tax books, and insurance was taken from insurance receipts.

Such items as veterinary fees, medicines, disinfectants, and cow-
testing-association dues amounted to $1.45 per cow per year.

PER CENT COMPARISON OF FACTORS INVOLVED IN MILK
PRODUCTION.

How did the cost of producing milk in winter compare with the
cost in summer? What items were chiefly responsible for the wide
variation in the seasons? These questions are answered in the fol-
lowine table:

TasLEe 8.—Per cent of the total costs represented by feed, labor, and other costs,
by seasons.

Entire

Temas Winter. Summer. year.

Per cent. | Per cent. | Per cent.
36. 6 3 43.9

Meediand ped dimeicoste. wee see ne ee ee ea ee se to ceec une

IEP ADI RES Sm Re acd HES SMe ABIES Scie cles ee eres BO ESET ee nS eee 9 11.6 12.5
Heedabed dine rtandspastunelcOs tes pease eee see a ee eeee ieee 37.0 18.9 56. 4

JUBISOU COS aes seine BESO Og COGS 04 COBOL Ad DROS ESE HEe eer Mee iaeta i a aeneers 11.4 12.1 23.5

Othenicosts.except herd inventoryavatiations 22-260) 22 S22 nee se s - 8.7 8.9 17.6
Total cost, except herd inventory variation.........-.--..---..---.- 57.6 39.9 97.5

WS PreciaLiomonsnerd sessment cee oer mien a ececc cases esc ecs was 1.2 1.3 2.5
otalecosp.OlproduUchiOnmeeee este sas cae ane sah ce nse ekc cb aeeec's 58.8 41.2 100.0

The first two columns show that the wide variation between the
winter and the summer costs was due largely to the difference in the
cost of feed and pasture. The combined feed, bedding, and pasture
cost in winter was 37.5 per cent of the yearly-costs, while the cost of
these items in summer was 18.9 per cent. The fact that the labor
cost in winter was 11.4 per cent and in summer 12.1 per cent shows
there was a difference of only 0.7 per cent in this item for the two
seasons.

The high prices received for cows sold during the year reduced the
depreciation charge, and this item is reported separately, so its effect
on the total cost can be seen.

The cost of preducing milk in winter was 58.8 per cent of the yearly
cost, while the summer cost was 41.2 per cent of it.

16 BULLETIN 919, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
AVERAGE COMPARED WITH “BULK-LINE” COSTS.

During the last few years attempts have been made to use the aver-
age cost of production as a basis for determining the selling price of
milk. Where the average cost basis 1s recommended it is evident
that practically all those producers whose costs are above the average
will find the profits reduced if they are so fortunate as not to suffer
an actual loss. This will tend to discourage production and reduce
the available supply.

In using the bulk-line method for determining a necessary price,
only a certain number of the extremely high-cost producers may have
costs above this price. The use of this method is illustrated in
Table 9. |

TABLE 9.—Net cost, quantity, and per cent of milk produced by each herd, two
winters and two summers.

Winter 1917-18, Winter 1919-20.
Milk produced. Milk produced.
COSthG aes See ee eed | (Cost:
per 100 per 100
pounds.| Quan- | Per cent | Cumula- ||pounds.| Quan- | Per cent | Cumula-
tity. of total. tive. tity. of total. tive.
Pounds, | Per cent.| Per cent. Pounds. | Per cent. | Per cent.
$1.91 67, 036 4.2 4.2 || $2.50 | 156,032 8.8 8.8
2.26 | 113,716 7.2 11.4 2.80 | 113,302 6.4 15.2
2.39 88, 736 5.6 17.0 2.88 | 144,577 8.2 23.4
2. 43 60, 595 3.8 20.8 2.96 | 127,348 7.2 30.6
2.56 | 144,362 9.1 29.8 3.10 66, $98 3.8 34.4
2.63 66, 956 4.2 34.1 3.11 90, 257 5.1 39.5
2.69 | 195,756 12.3 46.4 3.16 | 213,169 12.1 51.6
2.80 99, 931 6.3 52.7 3. 20 92, 420 5.2 56.8
2.84 82, 857 5.2 ty Gas art [REG oy olen Reena cei yaa ome So
2.86 | 131,097 8.2 66.1 3.30 | 202, 567 11.5 68. 2
2. 8° 113, 785 7.1 73.3 3. a Be au 2: 2 a 4
cD) Lee [pag eine ale Oey ie | cela aa Se 3 : : ;
3.02 48, 222 3.0 76.3 3.50 62, 631 3.6 78.1
3. 29 91, 896 5.8 82.1 3.60 | 100, 453 5.7 83.8
3.47 | 112,754 Ue 89. 2 3.83 39, 680 2.2 86.0
3. 59 80, 523 5.1 94.2 3.95 | 113,973 6.4 | 92.5
3. 82 61, 283 3.9 98.1 4.01 79, 539 4.5 97.0
4.85 30, 126 1.9 100.0 4.61 | 53, 581 | 3.0 100.0
Summer 1917-18. Summer 1919,
$1.06 | 174,306 7:5 7.5 $1.14 | 100, 428 - 4.0 4.0
1.24 83, 089 3.6 11.0 1.18 | 210,813 8.4 12.4
1.25 85, 339 Bal 14.7 1.30 | 123,893 4.9 17.4
1.31 92, 050 3.9 18.6 1.33 | 145,812 5.8 23.2
1.33 | 160, 589 6.9 25.5 1.36 89, 853 3.6 26.7
1.34 | 166,339 7.1 32.6 1.39 | 177,018 Toll 33.8
1.35. | 132,277 5.7 38.3 1.42 | 211,960 8.4 42.2
1.38 | 167,584 72 45.5 1.60 | 89,982 3.6 45.8
1.39 | 112,097 4.8 DO sou IE DS GO ses ee Sy | eee eens | eae nee ee
: - BY 213, 498 91 59. 4 1.62 Se ais 2: 5 3 4
EO (Re anes abet eee I Aen ASE 1.64 174 : ;
1.53 63, 466 2.7 62.1 1.70 | 102,351 4.1 66. 2
1.57 | 462,128 19.8 81.9 1.74 89, 637 3.6 69.8
1.65 | 112,066 4.8 86.7 1.77 | 167, 586 6.7 76. 4
1.93 | 186, 413 5.8 92.6 il, 09 92,741 3.7 80. 1
1.95 | 125,893 5.4 98.0 1.87 | 132, 253 5.3 85.4
3. 48 47, 846 2.0 100.0 2.03 98,741 3.9 89.3
2.12 91, 808 oat 93.0
2.32 | 175,642 7.0 100.0

PRODUCING MILK IN WESTERN WASHINGTON. 17

In Table 9, for the winter 1917-18, it will be noted that only 73.3
per cent of the milk was produced at $2.89 or less per 100 pounds,
which is the first cost below the average cost of $2.91. In many sec-
tions this volume of milk would be an inadequate supply. On the
other hand, 94.2 per cent of the milk was produced at $3.59 or less
per 100 pounds. In order to include 98.1 per cent of the volume of
milk, the cost advances to $3.82 per hundred, thus increasing the cost
23 cents per 100 pounds and adding only 3.9 per cent of the volume.

If the price of the milk were placed at $3.47 per 100 pounds, a profit
ranging from 18 cents ($3.47 minus $3.29) to $1.56 ($3.47 minus
$1.91) per 100 pounds would tend to increase the volume of milk
produced by the more efficient dairymen. Similar deductions may
be made from the other portions of the table.

MONTHLY DISTRIBUTION OF FACTORS IN MILK PRODUCTION.

A study of Table 10 shows that the per cent of milk produced each
season did not vary greatly from year to year; however, there is a
noticeable increase for both years in summer production over winter
production. During the first year there was 19 per cent more milk
produced in summer than in winter, and in the second year 17.4 per
cent more was produced. The larger flow of milk in summer can be
attributed to better pasture more than to any other cause.

With the exception of the month of November in the first year the
feed, pasture, and bedding cost for the winter in both years was de-
cidedly higher than in the summer. The same is true of feed and
bedding cost minus the manure credit.

A study of the results of the two years’ work shows that the feed
costs for the first and second summers were 33.5 per cent and 33.6
per cent, respectively, of the total yearly feed costs. Likewise it is
found that the summer production was 59.5 per cent and 58.7 per
cent of the total production for the corresponding years.

TaBLe 10.—Monthly distribution of milk prices, milk sold and used, feed cost,
and labor required.

YEAR 1917-1918.

Feed, Human labor. Horse labor.
Income pasture
Income from oe cate . am 1
per 100 | mi ‘so ’| bedding
Month and season. pounds |_ sold and penn cost Per 100 Per Per 100 een
of milk and used cost &| minus | pounds Ow pounds | ¢ a
used. St. | manure | of milk of milk.
credit.
Per cent.|Per cent.|Per cent.|Per cent.| Hours. | Hours. | Hours. | Hours.
November.........- $2.9) 7.4 : j : 2.0 9.2 0. 002 0. 01
December.......--- oe) 6.3 13 10.0 2n2) 10.0 .008 04
JANUALY Ree eee 3.02 7.0 6.0 1p} AI 10.8 2.2 9.8 O11 05
HebruaLye. ese 3.01 6.7 5.8 11.6 10.3 202 9.2 014 . 06
CING eR ee Mao eOCES 2.81 7.8 lao 12.8 11.4 1.9 10.2 O11 . 06
Aprile moceecese. 2.52 8.3 8.6 iil, 7 10.4 1.5 9.4 5 .03

ee |e ee ee se

| ee eee gg SO SSS aaa eS ee

18 BULLETIN 919, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

TasBLe 10.—Monthly distribution of milk prices, milk sold and used, feed cost,
and labor required—Continued. ~

YEAR 191/-1918.

Feed, | Human labor. Horse labor.

Income pasture
Income | from Mik | Feed, |* "and ”

per 100} milk | sold | Pastures) pedding

Month and season. pounds | sold and peda cost Per 100 Per Per 100

used. cost. manure | of milk.| COW of milk,| CW
credit.
\Per cent.|Per cent.| Per cent.|Per cent.| Hours. | Hours. | Hours. | Hours

Maye et Sh sti ste $2.21 10.0 11.8 7.5 a 12 10.6 | 0. 007 0.06
DUNG eee ase 2.09 | 9.4 11.8 4.7 4.5 12 10.3 . 009 08
Uk yas ota et kes 2.28 9.1 10.4 5.2 5.0 1.3 10.2 .012 10
Auaust<...22- 2. ee oars 9.4 8.8 5.3 5.1 1.4 9.8 . 005 03
September......._.. 2. 66 | 9.1 8.9 4.8 4.6 1.4 9.1 . 006 04
October ees. —.-- [5 Or St 8.5 7.8 6.0 5.8 1.6 9.1 . 033 19
Summer...... 2.43 | 55.5 59.5 | 38.5 32.3 eS 9.8 O11 08

Rrcarss 2 ate 2.61{ 100.0| 100.0] 100.0) 90.9 | ie | Pater | -010 06

| | |
YEAR 1919-1920.
l

November. ........- eed 19 7.0 6.3 10.6 9.9 iH leper! 7 . 009 05
December.......--- eos 7.4 6.5 11.9 11.2 2.0 11.1 . 004 02
SL AMUAR Yes o ee | 3.65 8.3 6.5 12.0 11.4 2.0 10.8 -015 | 08
February........-.- 3.33 7-03 560 Te? 10.5 1.9 9.5 O11 05
ACH sss ok eee 2. 82 73 7.4 11.9 io 1.7 11.0 .012 07
Da pribie eee oe 2.47 7.5 8.6 8.8 8.1 1.4 10.6 . 009 06
Winter........ 3.08 44.5| 41.3] 66.4/ 623| 1.8| 10.4| 010 06

IEA ee ee Fe aes 9.3 11.4 | 5.1 5.0 tet 11.1; 003 03
Tir Gees Se ea ee oe re 9.6 $13) 5.1 5.0 1.2 11.3 . 045 43
A itl See ae oe 2. 62 9.9 10.8 4.6 4.5 fee 11.7 007 | 06
SAN PUSE oe eee: 2.94 9.7 | 9.4 5.1 5.0 1.4 10.4 . 022 | 17
September.........- | 3.04 8.8 8.3 5.7 5.6 1.4 9.0 .019 13
Octaher 26-2232 Rae a ele. 8.2 7.5 | 8.0 Use 1.6 | 9.5 - 003 02
Summer......] 2.71| 55.5| (58.7| 33.6| 33.0| 13] 0.5| oir 14

Wear ts 2 - | 2.86| 100.0 _ 100.0 | 100.0 | 95.3 | 1.5| 10.5| .014 10

|

The number of hours required to care for a cow does not differ
materially in summer and winter, but the number of hours required
to produce 100 pounds of milk shows a marked increase from Novem-
ber to March, inclusive. This season corresponds quite closely to
the months of intensive winter feeding, when the cows are kept in the
barns or yards during the nights; it also corresponds to the months
in which the smallest volume of milk is produced, and this fact exerts
a great influence over the amount of labor required for producing 100
pounds of milk. This is more fully substantiated by the fact that
during the months of May, June, and July we find the lowest time
requirements for producing 100 pounds of milk because of the higher
percentage of milk produced per month.

The small amount of horse labor was due to the use of motor trucks
for collecting the milk and hauling it to market.

During the winter horses were used at some farms to haul the milk
from the milk house to the road. In summer they were used for driv-
ing cows to and from the pasture; however, during July, August,
and September, when the horses are hitched to the harvest wagon,

PRODUCING MILK IN WESTERN WASHINGTON. 19

they were quite often used to haul milk or to get cans, because this
method requires less effort than to carry or cart them. The high
figure of 0.48 of an hour per cow for June, 1919, is chiefly due to one
man who used a large amount of time cutting and hauling soiling
crops. |
SUMMARY.

A study of the results presented in this bulletin shows that 56.4
per cent of the total cost of producing milk was due to feed and

bedding, 23.5 per cent to labor, 17.6 per cent to other costs, and
2.5 per cent to depreciation (see Table 8).

The requirements for producing 100 pounds of milk during the
winter were: Concentrates, 29.4 pounds; hauling and grinding con-
centrates, $0.022; dry roughage, 92.9 pounds; succulent roughage,
143.3 pounds; bedding, 9 pounds; human labor, 1.9 hours; horse labor,
0.01 of an hour; other costs, $0.576 (see Table 1). Credits for
winter production other than milk: Manure, 115 pounds; calves,
0.017 (see Tables 8 and 4). Requirements for producing 100 pounds
of milk during the summer were: Concentrates, 5.2 pounds; hauling
and grinding concentrates, $0.003; dry roughage, 7.5 pounds; succu-
lent roughage, 40.4 pounds; pasture, 0.025 of an acre; bedding, 0.1 of
one pound; human labor, 1.3 hours; horse labor, 0.015 of an hour;
other costs, $0.406. Credits for summer production other than milk:
Manure, 13 pounds; calves, 0.009.

The following items were provided for keeping the average cow
one year: Concentrates, 1,187 pounds; hauling and grinding concen-
trates, $0.87; dry roughage, 3,336 pounds; succulent roughage, 6,474
pounds; pasture, $23.04 or 1.1 acres; bedding, 295 pounds; human
labor, 121 hours; horse labor, 1 hour; other costs, $36.31 (see Table
2). Credits other than milk: Manure, 2.2 tons; calves, 0.97.

To keep a bull one year required 630 pounds of grain, 5,967 pounds
of dry roughage, 3,069 pounds of succulent roughage, 43 pounds of
bedding, and 40.4 hours of human labor. In addition, $13.56 was
expended for pasture and $21.49 for other costs after a credit of
$20.32 had been deducted for outside bull service.

During the winter men performed 89.8 per cent of the work and
86.2 per cent during the summer. The remaining labor was per-
formed by women and boys (see Table 6).

Interest, depreciation, taxes, and similar charges against buildings,
equipment, and cattle amounted to 15.4 per cent of the capital in-
vested in them (see Table 7).

In the two years 44.5 per cent of each year’s income from milk was
obtained during the winter. The net feed and bedding cost for the
first winter was 58.6 per cent of the net yearly feed and bedding cost,
but during the second year the winter net feed and bedding cost was
increased to 62.3 per cent (see Table 10).

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