474 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



THE DAIRY BARN. 



One of the first requisites for successful dairying is a barn adapted to 

 the purpose. In building the dairy barn in Iowa, it must be remembered 

 that it is to be the home of hard working animals for about six months 

 of the year. The dairy cow, in order to produce milk economically, must 

 be kept under the best conditions possible. She is a mother once each 

 year, and, therefore, in order to produce large quantities of milk between 

 these periods, she must not be subject to adverse conditions. 



In choosing the site for the dairy barn, we should have in mind a 

 warm, well-drained place. It is best to construct it on slightly sloping 

 ground, so that the surface water will drain off readily and not cause 

 mud holes around the barn doors. The well-drained site also furnishes 

 a drier atmosphere for the animals, which is very desirable in the winter 

 time. 



In building the dairy barn, there are four essentials which should re- 

 ceive prime consideration, namely: Light, sunshine, warmth and ventila- 

 tion. At present there are many so-called "basement dairy barns." Al- 

 though some of these are furnishing the quarters for our best herds, 

 yet they are undesirable. The barn which is partly buried in the earth 

 does not have dry walls, and the air is damp, due to the lack of sunlight. 

 It is always advisable to have the dairy barn constructed on a good 

 foundation and have the cows on the surface floor. 



There are many types of barns being constructed. Some of them have 

 double rows of cows, some single and some triple. It matters little as 

 to the arrangement, provided it is handy and that it has some system of 

 furnishing plenty of fresh air and an abundance of light. It should not 

 open into a horse barn, and is preferably built separate from the other 

 buildings. 



The size of the barn depends entirely on the size of the herd. As a 

 general rule, it should not be too high, so that the animal heat of the 

 cows will be lost on cold days in winter. Most barns built now are sealed 

 about eight feet from the floor, which makes less space to heat and, at 

 the same time, furnishes the necessary volume of air for each animal, 

 if the ventilation is installed properly. The floor should be constructed 

 so that it will drain readily and dry quickly. Cement is rapidly taking 

 the place of wood for barn floors. It costs very little more than plank 

 and will wear much longer. If cement is used it should have the rough 

 flnish, which will avoid injury to the animals when the floor is damp. 



The average double-row barn should be thirty-two feet wide. In the 

 barn where the cows face outward this allows four feet on either side 

 for feed alleys. Two feet for each manger, four feet six inches for the 

 standing platforms, fourteen to sixteen inches for gutters and seven feet 

 for the alleys between the cows. The feed troughs and alleys should be 

 so constructed of cement, which affords an easy means of cleaning the 

 barn. 



