Cows should bring in not less than $3.00 per month, or be turned out as useless. The average is about $3.72. Up-to-date men will not keep a cow who does not average this for her milking.
Cost of Starting on 160 Acres.
This, of course, varies with the circumstances of the case, and depends largely on whether a man has the capital to push forward his operations, or is content to gradually get his land into working order. A man with $720.00 to $1032.00 could make a good start. If the land was taken up at $2.40 per acre from the Crown, his first year's deposit would be $18.24, and he would have sufficient to fence the land, buy some cows, and put up some sort of a house. Necessarily a settler does not spend much on his house at first until he has made some money. On the other hand, many of the most prosperous farmers in Queensland have started with only a few pounds, sufficient to pay their first year's rent. By fencing his land himself, the settler can save a good deal of expense. And by working for neighbouring farmers, he can gradually acquire money to buy stock from time to time.
On the other hand, if he wishes to begin straight away, and has a little money, he can get assistance from the Agricultural Bank, a Government institution, which advances $0.60 in the $ towards improvements, and $0.50 in the $ for stock, machinery, and implements, charging 5 per cent. simple interest.
Cost of Starting a Dairy Farm on 160 Acres
| $ | |
| Rent—1st year's deposit and survey fee | 18.24 |
| Fencing—2 miles at 96.00 per mile (posts 12 feet apart and 3 barbs) | 192.00 |
| 12 Cows at $28.80 per cow | 345.60 |
| 2 Horses at $72.00 | 144.00 |
| Plough | 28.80 |
| Harness | 24.00 |
| Swingle bars and chains | 6.00 |
| House—24 × 12 feet, slabbed and floored, at $4.80 per foot | 115.20 |
| Milking-shed | 24.00 |
| Yard | 48.00 |
| 30-gallon Separator | 60.00 |
| Cart (second-hand) | 24.00 |
Some small items, such as rations, milk-room, tinware, &c., have not been included in the estimate. If the fencing were erected personally, the cost would be materially reduced. If the settler built his own house, it would cost him little more than his own labour and the iron for the roof.
Many beginners put up cheap sapling yards for a start, and at a nominal cost. This would materially reduce this estimate.