The table shows the economic impact per livestock animal in South Dakota.

| Livestock | Dollars per animal |
|-----------|--------------------|
| Dairy cow | [tex]$13,594 |
| Sow | $[/tex]6,453 |
| Beef cow | |
| Ewe | |

Why would a dairy cow bring in more income than a beef cow?



Answer :

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.

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