COWS AND PROFIT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12817, 17 July 1912, Page 3

COWS AND PROFIT.

SOME 'SEARCHING QUESTIONS.

"What is the average yield per cow?" asked Dr Hight of the Dairy Commissioner at the Cost of Living Commission m Wellington. The Commission has made several attempts already^ to get some idea of the cost to the farmer of cattle and sheep, with the intention of arriving at some calculation as to the profits obtained. .:■ "We collected the production of 4158 cow£ and tested them," said the Commissioner. "The average production, including those culled, was 2241 b.. of but-ter-fat. But it was usually the most progressive men's cows which were taken, and they are the farmers with the best cows." ....■- .

"We made other tests," continued Mr Cuddie. "We took one factory and found it was supplied by 7000 cows. We ascertained from the company's books the quantity of butter-fat and milk supplied by each supplier. The figure we arrived at was an average of 1701 b. of ; bujter-fat from each cow for the whole season. - - '. In another part of the country we collected figures m a similar way of 5000 cows. The average worked out at 1981 b. per head." "Have you the cost of keeping cows?" asked a commissioner, '

Mr Cud die: "We have endeavored to ascertain it. Including everything, food, labor, interest,, depreciation, rates and taxes, eec. — we liave worked it out at £8 per head. This would vary considerably m different districts. It is baaed on 'the land value of £30 per acre and an area of two and a-lmlf acres for each cow." ;