144 Effect of External Influences. 



upwards to the height of the head or the shoulder and at the same 

 time have fastenings which are used for tying the cows. 



To prevent the cows from backing into the drain, a moulding 

 of one-half inch is provided along the upper border of the drain 

 trough. This moulding holds the slipping foot and makes possible 

 the placing on the floor of wooden slats when pregnant -animals are 

 about to calve. The fundamental principle against the possibility 

 of slipping is the above-mentioned provision of a sufficiently rough 

 stable floor. 



The width of the stalls should be about S 1 /^ feet, the length 51/4 

 to 53/4 feet. 



The most satisfactory feeding troughs are those which cor- 

 respond to the conditions of natural feeding in the pasture, and 

 they should be so constructed that they will serve for animals of 

 all ages with the possibility of providing partitions in order to 

 separate the individual rations. For watering the animals it is 

 advisable to provide each stall with automatic water supply. 



The accumulated litter in the drain trough should be mechan- 

 ically removed as often as possible into liquid manure pits which 

 terminate in a tunnel with collecting canals, or the litter may be 

 thrown into a chute through a shaft leading to a water-tight liquid 

 manure pit the size of which should be so arranged that 88 to 106 

 cubic feet of manure space are allowed for each animal. 



Over the liquid manure pit on wooden lattice frames, or along- 

 side of it, should be placed the manure pile, with 30 square feet of 

 surface for each grown animal. On account of the desired decom- 

 position of the material the first-mentioned arrangement of the 

 manure over the liquid manure pit is most desirable. There should 

 be a separation between the stable and the manure pile of at least 

 20 feet and the latter should be placed on the side opposite to the 

 principal direction of the wind in that locality. The outlets of 

 the manure drains should be closed from the stable by trap or slid- 

 ing doors. 



Good straw should be selected for the bedding of animals. 

 The question of straw which is very important in localities where 

 but little is grown is favorably solved by the Holland method of 

 stabling, since by this method a great deal of straw is saved by 

 the short stalls with but slight soiling of the animals. Forest and 

 shade leaves are not recommended, since it is claimed that milk 

 troubles result from their use. Turf straw, shavings and saw- 

 dust should be avoided if possible on account of the formation of 

 dust, but should not be excluded if good straw bedding cannot be 

 obtained. The use of bed straw should be prohibited in milk 

 stables. The feeding of the cattle must be performed after milking, 

 on account of raising the dust. The removal of the manure and 

 the cleaning of the animals should take place at least one hour be- 

 fore the milking. 



Complaint is frequently made to hygienists that the require- 



