DAIRY FARMING DAIRYING UJROTECHNY. 895 



Should dairy cows be confined installs? \V. .1. Fraser Tllii 

 pp. 25, figs. :'>>. This circular contains information obtained from L8 practical dairy- 

 men "ii the results of allow ingcows the freedom of a closed shed or covered barnyard 

 instead of confining them in stables. The greater part of the data ie presented in 

 tabular form and illustrations are given of man) of the barns. 



The very favorable results reported by the dairymeo led the author to pul the 

 method into actual operation at the University of Illinois. Twenty-two cov 

 cared for in this way. with very satisfactory results. It was found thai the cows 

 kept much cleaner than when stabled, thai the milking stable was in amoresanitarj 

 condition, and consequently that it was easier t<> produce clean milk. Tin- cows 

 were believed to be more vigorous ami healthy than when kept in the ordinary 

 stable. The Baving <>t" labor ami also of manure arc other strong points advanced in 

 favor of this practice. 



"The informational hand is not sufficienl from which to draw definite conclu- 

 sions for all sections of the country and all conditions. A tentative report i- now 

 published, as this system ha- been a marked success wherever we can find that it 

 has been tried, and it seems probable that it could be pul into practice by many 

 dairymen of the State greatly to their advantage ami to the general improvemenl of 

 the milk supply." The station is desirous of communicating with all who have had 

 experience in keeping cows in this ma unci- ami of receiving suggestions and criticisms 

 concerning the method. 



Suggestions for the improvement of dairy barns, II. A. Hopper lllh 

 ( \re. 95, />/>. 20, figs. 15 ). — The subjects discussed in this circular are the construction 

 of floors, the interior arrangement of the harm fastenings for cows, ventilation, and 

 whitewashing. 



Tests of materials for bedding- cows, C. F. Doane {Maryland Sta. />'"/. W4, 

 pp. 9). — Cut wheat straw, cut corn stover, sawdust, shavings, and rye -haw were 

 compared with uncut wheat straw as regards t he quantity required to keep <•< .w - clean. 

 Tests were also made of the absorptive power of each of the material- mentioned. 



Cut wheat straw was not found as satisfactory as uncut wheat straw. At the rate 

 used in the experiments. L\ 300 lhs. of the cut straw as compared with 1,800 lbs. of 

 the uncut straw would he required per cow yearly in order to keep the animals 

 equally clean. About one-third more by weight of cut corn fodder was required to 

 accomplish the same results a- w heat straw. The corn fodder was considered better 

 bedding material than the straw, and where wheat is grown purposely t<> secure 

 straw for bedding purpose- it is believed that corn fodder might well he substituted 

 to a considerable extent. Sawdust was found the most satisfactory of the bedding 



materials used. Good results were also secured with shavings. The8e two mate- 

 rials are believed to he ideal bedding materials in sanitary dairying. Rye straw was 

 not thought to he as good as wheat straw for cows. 



From the results of Laboratory tests as to the amount of water capable of being 

 absorbed by each of the materials used, it was estimated that 2.8 lhs. of cut stover, 

 .">.:; lhs. of wheat straw. 8.3 lhs. of sawdust, or 3 lhs. of Bhavings would he required 

 to absorb the liquid manure produced by 1 cow in L6 hours. The yearly cost of 

 bedding for cows Btabled the entire day was estimated as follows: ( 'ut stovei 

 cut wheat straw $4.82, uncut wheat straw >\.\~->', sawdu-t $0.45, shavings $4.81. 



Concentrated feeding stuffs and stage of lactation, A. Osterm n i a: Osterr. 

 Molk. Ztg., : - No. 9, pp. 117-119). — This is a report of an experiment with 



17 cows, the results of which showed greater profit in feeding an additional supply 

 of oil ,ake to cows in early than in late stages of lactation. In the first of the 3 

 periods of the experiment 9 of the cows were fed the additional feed with profit, 

 while in the third period the number was reduced to 3. 



Increasing the fat content of milk by feeding, P. Difflote Indus, /."it. 

 Beige, 6 {1905), No. 85, pp. 976-879). — Using the data obtained at the dairy tests a1 



