Feed and Care of the Dairy Cow. 465 



almost daily during the whole period of her usefulness, and the 

 milk so yielded must be wholesome in character, fit in all partic- 

 ulars for the most delicate. It is certainly reasonable to hold 

 that the cow cannot maintain the high standard of bodily health 

 and vigor essential to the production of healthful milk when she 

 is closely confined in the stable for long periods without oppor- 

 tunity for outdoor air and exercise. She should be allowed 

 several hours' exercise daily out of doors, or in quarters other 

 than where she passes most of her time, the change affording 

 opportunity to breath the pure air and drink in the sunshine, as 

 well as to exercise the muscles which have not been called into 

 action while in confinement, and resting those taxed by occupying 

 a forced position in the narrow stall or stanchion. 



699. Professor Roberts' system. At the North, where the 

 winters are severe, it is difficult to give cattle the requisite exer- 

 cise without forcing them to undergo exposure during inclement 

 weather. At the Cornell Station, l Professor Eoberts has for years 

 followed a plan of seemingly great value in its teachings to the 

 dairymen of the North. Here the cows stand in stanchions while 

 feeding and being milked, but are afterward turned into a 

 covered enclosure, where they are free to stand or lie at will; 

 thus they have a feed room and an exercise room each specially 

 adapted to its purpose. The accumulations from the horse stable 

 are spread over the floor of the covered yard, and this in turn is 

 covered liberally with straw, on which land plaster is sprinkled 

 to prevent odors arising. This perfect system of saving manure 

 should of itself, in a few years, pay for the cost of the additional 

 space required. By this plan the stable proper can be reduced 

 to the smallest size compatible with holding the animals while 

 being milked and fed. It can be kept scrupulously clean and prop- 

 erly aired, since the cows are out of it several hours daily. The 

 animals come to their provender at meal time with the best of ap- 

 petites, and return to their larger quarters to ruminate in comfort. 



700. Regularity and kindness. To skilful feeding the successful 

 dairyman will add regularity and kindness in the management of 



* Bui. 13; The Fertility of the Land, p. 201. 

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