No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 2fli 



organisms are much more active in a warm room than in a cool one. 

 A temperature of 40-50 F. is warrn enough for well-fed cows. If 

 it occasionally drops below the freezing point at night, no harm is 

 done. The heat radiated by the animals will keep any ordinary room 

 warm enough at night when the doors and windows are closed. 

 Plenty of light in a stable is desirable for at least four reasons: 



1. It encourages cleanliness. 



2. It facilitates doing the work. 



3. It is necessary for the health of the animals. 



4. Direct sunlight is one of the best germicides. 



Where stables are dark, the attendant is frequently ignorant of a 

 great deal of dirt and filth that may exist in them. Where dirt is 

 not seen it is often not disturbed. If the stables are light enough, 

 so that the dirt will show plainly, they will in all probability be kept 

 much cleaner. Dark basement stables always encourage slighting 

 the work. There are in this State a great many cow-stables which 

 have no light except from one side. This light comes from the over- 

 shute and very little is admitted even from there. Occasionally win- 

 dows are placed on the ends of bank barns, but these are often filled 

 with straw or manure during the winter. 



The ventilation of stables is necessary: 1. To furnish oxygen. 2. 

 To remove exhalations, carbon di-oxide, moisture, ammonia, marsh 

 gas and organic matter. 3. To remove micro-organisnjs, dirt, odors, 

 etc. All of these are necessary to the production of pure milk. The 

 ideal ventilation would remove these products as fast as formed. 

 Ventilation may be secured by means of shafts located in the walls. 

 Each shaft can be arranged to ventilate two or more rooms; the im- 

 pure air in passing out, enters the shaft through an opening near 

 the floor, while the fresh air can be admitted to the stable room from 

 an opening near the ceiling. The source of the fresh air should be 

 the best obtainable. It should always be secured from an elevated 

 point instead of near the ground. 



I^loors: The floors, except of the stalls, may be made of cement. 

 If the stalls have cement floors, the cattle are frequently troubled 

 with rheumatism. For "stall-flooring," gravel or wood is preferable; 

 but the latter, however, is difficult to keep free from odors. Some 

 modern stables are provided with cement floors with plank cover- 

 ing so arranged that it may be readily removed and cleaned. A dirt 

 or cinder floor if well-drained and kept in good condition is often 

 found satisfactory. If odors arise, gypsum may be sprinkled over 

 the floor occasionally with good effect. For bedding, sawdust may 

 be used, if easily obtainable; if not, straw will be a good substitute. 

 Any feeding material is objectionable for bedding purposes on ao- 



