FARM ANIMALS 183 



a period of four months, and it is estimated that if 

 this method of milking were adopted by all dairy- 

 men throughout the state of Wisconsin there would 

 be an annual gain of thirty million pounds of butter 

 fat. 



Shelter. A great difference of opinion prevails 

 regarding the question of the proper amount of 

 shelter to be furnished dairy cows, especially 

 during the winter. Some dairymen recommend 

 that cows should be protected against cold tempera- 

 tures during the winter season, even to the extent 

 of furnishing artificial heat for the stable if neces- 

 sary to secure the best results. In fact the state- 

 ment has been made that a high temperature is 

 more necessary in the cow stable than proper 

 ventilation or arrangements for the escape of oclors 

 and of animal substances excreted by the lungs. 

 By no means all dairymen, however, follow this 

 practice and the opposite statement is frequently 

 met with, viz. : that dairy cows do not endure con- 

 finement and yield more milk and keep in better 

 health when allowed a reasonable amount of outdoor 

 freedom even during the coldest weather of winter. 

 In order to obtain data regarding the common 

 practice of dairymen in this respect, the Experi- 

 ment Station in Illinois sent out circular letters to 

 the most prominent dairymen of the state asking 

 for a direct answer to the question regarding the 

 comparative merits of freedom for cows versus 

 stabling. Nearly all the dairymen replied to this 

 series of questions that the cows kept cleaner when 

 allowed to remain in the open shea for a consider- 

 able portion of the day and furthermore that the 

 milk stable may be kept in a more sanitary con- 

 dition and that cleaner milk is, therefore, produced, 

 and that the cows do not worry or injure one 



