262 ANNUAL. REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



(.oiint of i(s high bacterial conlcnt, which may, later, contaminate the 

 milk. 



Stalls; The "BidwoH" stall, slightly modified, is probably one of 

 the best for this purpose. This stall can be adjusted to fit any cow 

 and yet have a continuous manger by making the platforms of differ- 

 ent widths, e. g., make it four feet, seven inches wide at one end of 

 the stable and five feet wide at the other. Then a wide cement man- 

 ger is constructed in which is place^d a hanging lattice work, which 

 can be moved forward or backward. By a little adjusting, the stalls 

 can be made to fit almost any cow, and are at the same time easy 

 to keep clean. Stanchions are not objectionable, provided they be 

 comfortable and some arrangement is used to keep the cows from 

 stepping on each other. 



Cleaning the Stables: The stables must be cleaned daily, twice be- 

 ing preferred to once. In addition to removing all waste material, 

 the floor, stalls and mangers should be flooded with water and scrub- 

 bed, and disinfectants used, whenever needed. Probably the best 

 disinfectant, is a solution of corrosive sublimate (one ounce of the 

 sublimate in eight gallons of water). This will have to be applied 

 with a broom. Spraying pumps cannot be used because of the cor- 

 rosive effect of the sublimate upon the metal. Some of the coal-tar 

 products, as creolin and zenoleum, are useful as disinfectants. After 

 thoroughly covering all parts of the stable with the disinfectant^ the 

 whole should be washed again, so as to rinse away the disinfectant, 

 especially if corrosive sublimate is used, which is an intense poison. 

 A white-washing of the walls is very desirable. It makes more light 

 in the room and at the same time acts as a disinfectant and deodor- 

 izer. 



While discussing disinfection of stables, it might be well to con- 

 sider how the same treatment could be applied to the cow. All the 

 long hairs around the cow's flanks, udder and tip of the tail should be 

 clipped. Then she should be washed thoroughly with boracic acid. 

 The teats should also be carefully washed. A disinfection of the 

 animal, as described, is usually sufficient to remove the micro-organ- 

 isms, which are a source of trouble. 



Feeding : In a model dairy barn, the cows should be fed after the 

 milking period. Onl}^ good, pure food should be used. Distillery 

 feeds, spoiled silage, etc., are objectionable. During the fly season 

 the animals may be fed in the darkened stable during the day and 

 turned out at night. 



Milking Room: This room is not absolutely necessary, especially 

 if the stable is kept clean, but is very desirable, if the highest class 

 milk is to be produced. It need not be large, but should be ar- 

 ranged so that it can be easily kept clean and easily ventilated. 



