To understand why a dairy cow would bring in more income than a beef cow, let's examine the economic factors involved for each type of livestock.
### Dairy Cow
1. Daily Milk Production:
- A typical dairy cow produces around 30 liters of milk per day.
2. Milk Price:
- The average price of milk is approximately [tex]$0.50 per liter.
3. Annual Milk Production:
- Dairy cows produce milk throughout the year, 365 days.
Given these metrics, let's calculate the annual income from milk production per dairy cow:
\[ \text{Annual Income from Dairy Cow} = 30 \, \text{liters/day} \times 0.5 \, \text{dollars/liter} \times 365 \, \text{days/year} = \$[/tex]5475.00 \]
4. Additional Income:
- On top of milk, there can be additional income through dairy by-products like cheese, yogurt, etc., as well as possible government subsidies and support for the dairy industry.
5. Recurring Income:
- The income from a dairy cow is continuous, as milk is produced and sold daily throughout the cow's productive years.
### Beef Cow
1. One-Time Sale:
- Beef cows are typically sold for their meat after they reach a certain age or weight, resulting in a one-time income event.
2. Market Price:
- The one-time income from selling a beef cow is usually around [tex]$1500.
### Summary
- Dairy Cow:
- Generates continuous daily income through milk sales, resulting in an estimated annual income of $[/tex]5475.00.
- The income is recurring yearly, with additional potential revenue from dairy by-products and industry support.
- Beef Cow:
- Provides a one-time income when sold for meat, approximately $1500.
### Conclusion
A dairy cow is more economically beneficial than a beef cow due to its ability to produce a continuous stream of income from milk over the year, supplemented by revenue from dairy by-products. In contrast, a beef cow provides a single, one-time payment when sold for meat, which is significantly less than the annual income of a dairy cow. Hence, dairy cows generally bring in more overall income than beef cows.
