STABLING FOR DAIRY CATTLE. 189 



the light must all be secured from one side and end. Thus 

 it is difficult to furnish ample sunlight. In the spring of the 

 year such a stable is often very difficult to drain properly. 

 Nothing is more detrimental to the health of the dairy cow 

 than dampness. The basement barn is another kind which is 

 popular in many districts. The advantages of this structure 

 are much the same as those claimed for the bank barn, 

 the main difference being that the bank barn is built partially 

 underground while the other one is built above ground, thus 

 much more easily lighted and drained. 



Concerning the interior construction of the dairy barn, 

 many methods of tying the animals are used. There are 

 many advantages and disadvantages claimed for each system. 

 Some are easy on the cow and hard on the man (the chain 

 system of tying around the neck) ; others are easy for the 

 man and not so comfortable for the cow (such as the 

 stanchion system). The Bidwell stall, which fastens the cow 

 in place by means of a chain behind the animal, is easy on 

 both cow and man, but not so convenient at milking time. 

 With the stanchion system it is much easier to keep the cow 

 clean, which in the eyes of many men is a very important 

 point. 



The stalls should be roomy and the alleys wide. The 

 gutters behind the cow should be about eighteen inches wide 

 with from six to eight inches drop behind the cow and from 

 two to four inches drop from the alley way. 



Every precaution should be taken to have every con- 

 venience possible arranged for, so as to make the feeding of 

 the animals an easy task. 



Concerning the materials used in the floors, various kinds 

 are used with good results. Cement is easily kept clean, but 

 rather hard on the cows and inclined to be slippery. Brick 

 laid on edge is durable and not so slippery as cement. Plank 

 is easy on the cow, but not so durable as the other kinds 

 mentioned. 



In recapitulation we would say that the stables should 

 be well lighted, well ventilated, have plenty of fresh air, 

 plenty of room, convenient for both man and beast and built 

 in such a way and of such material as to warrant durability. 



