DIVISION OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY 577 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



BUILDINGS. 



The buildings which we erected, as reported on in our last report, have given 

 as excellent satisfaction. As is the case with almost every one, after they are finished 

 we can see some improvements which we would like to make but, on the whole, they 

 are very satisfactory. The lighting is good and the ventilation thorough; the in- 

 ward opening of the windows has given us perfect satisfaction in this climate. 



The steel stall fittings which we installed have given excellent satisfaction, but 

 we have discarded everything except that which was necessary to hold the cows in 

 place. We tried the stalls with all the accessories and also stripped them to the bare 

 stanchions and division hoops and find that when one uses the mangers the other 

 material is superfluous and is detrimental, as a dust collector. 



The system of watering from the cement feed trough in front of the cows has 

 also proven very satisfactory, and, provided there is no contagious disease in the 

 herd it is a cheap, sanitary and effective method of watering the cows. It has also 

 a tendency to keep the mangers perfectly clean. The cows' stand we have been able 

 to keep perfectly dry and warm, but unless a sufficient quantity of bedding is used 

 the floor is somewhat hard on the cows' feet and knees. 



The dairy, since our last report, has been completed and has been found to give 

 satisfaction for a herd the size of the one which we are at present carrying. On the 

 walls of this dairy, we made the experiment of finishing them with a good quality 

 of white table oil-cloth and this has proven to be a cheap and efficient wall covering. 



However it should not be brought down to the floor where it would be brought 

 into constant contact with water; we have tried this and found that it had to be 

 removed for a foot or two from the cement floor. 



16—37 



