168 FARM BUILDINGS IN SOUTH AFRICA 



CO, the cowshed, has stall room for 20 cows, and two loose-boxes 

 which are useful for cows near calving. To give more room in these 

 boxes the manger is placed close up to the wall, and a small sliding- 

 panel door (M) above the manger is provided for feeding. The cow- 

 stalls are in pairs, with short partitions in the middle to give room for 

 the milking machines (O) to stand between the cows forming each pair. 

 The vacuum pipe (V.P.) is attached to the uprights of these short par- 

 titions about 6 feet from the ground, and at these uprights there are 

 stall cocks (/) which are connected with the milking machines (pulsators) 

 by means of a 6 -foot indiarubber hose. 



The cows, which enter the shed at N, are prevented from going out 

 at the other end of the shed by the double bar-gates KK, and are 

 secured by the stanchions {g) with their heads over the mangers (h). 

 The feeding alleys (PP) run in front of the cows, and are served by the 

 overhead carriers. 



The drop (or gutter) Gu at the back of the cows can be cleaned out, 

 and the manure and litter removed in the overhead carrier running 

 out through the entrance (N) of the cowshed ; the track can be continued 

 outside the shed and the litter-carrier can be arranged to dump its load 

 on a waggon or manure- spreader, or on to the manure-heap. By means 

 of adjustable switches on the carrier track the litter and manure from 

 the calf pens can be brought round and dumped at the same place as the 

 manure from the cowshed. 



The gutters have a fall towards the entrance (N) sufficient to drain 

 off any urine, which runs through 4-inch pipes under the floor of the 

 alley (QQ) into covered catch-pits (HH). 



On the vacuum pipe, in the stall nearest the engine-room, is the 

 vacuum gauge (i), which should register 16 inches to obtain satisfactory 

 results with the milking machines. 



At the end of the vacuum pipe, in the stall on the opposite side of 

 the shed, is a valve (J) adjusted to allow air into the pipe should the 

 vacuum exceed requirements. 



EE, calf-shed. This consists of 17 separate pens for calves, five 

 feet square, each with a gate and a 3-foot manger (&) with a division 

 of 1 foot at the gate end. This small division, one foot square, is handy 

 for standing the milk buckets in when feeding calves, and prevents 

 the calves upsetting the buckets. When the calves have finished 

 drinking, the buckets can be removed, and the feed of bran and meal 



