STABLING FOR BEEF CATTLE. 169 



of the east. In constructing a barn in the west one should 

 take into consideration the number of animals he intends to 

 house and the amount of shelter in the form of trees, he 

 has at hand. In many of the prairie districts rock or brick 

 is too expensive for the farmer to think of using them except 

 for foundation purposes. If one is building a barn for pure 

 bred stock, he should build it large enough to hold all his 

 cows tied up; and there should be room for bulls and calves 

 in box stalls. All young stock, such as heifers, are fully as 

 well off in comfortable sheds and well sheltered yards. If 

 the animals are to be fed largely on corn or food of a car- 

 bonaceous nature the stabling need not be made very close 

 or warm. Where a large number are kept in one barn, it will 

 be found warm enough if the walls are simply made of inch 

 boards. Of course all space or cracks between the boards 

 should be covered. A better and a more substantial wall, 

 however, is obtained by placing common boards on the stud- 

 ding; then paper on top of them and finishing outside with 

 drop siding. In such a barn one can feed considerable roots, 

 ensilage or watery foods very satisfactorily. In constructing 

 the basement everything should be arranged so that the 

 greatest number can be housed and attended with the least 

 labor possible. That is, one should have the feed room and 

 all the mature animals near the center of the barn, so that 

 the bulk of the feed will only have to be carried a short dis- 

 tance. It may seem unwise to keep the young animals, such 

 as calves, in the outside box stalls: however, all things con- 

 sidered, it is the best system. That is, the calves can be put 

 in stalls directly behind their mothers; the* droppings from 

 the cows can be readily cleaned out with a wheelbarrow 

 every day and the box stalls at intervals of once or twice a 

 week with the wagon. In tying up cows or matured animals 

 a stanchion is not a fit tie. Some prefer to have a cow tied 

 in a single stall, but such a method is better adapted to dairy 

 purposes than any other. It is true when such a method of 

 tying is employed there is less danger of cows tramping on 

 each other's teats, etc. In order to economize space it is not 

 advisable to tie cows separately, but instead it is far better 

 to tie them in pairs by chains. Bulls of all ages should be 

 kept in box stalls, which should have doors opening to the 

 outside. Water should be available in the barn, so that the 

 cattle may be watered inside on extremely cold days in 

 winter. 



