DAIRY INSPECTION 143 



if the stall is too wide and the cow stands diagonally 

 the result will be the same as if the platform was too 

 long. The stall should be constructed with the view of 

 preventing the dropping of manure where the cow can 

 lie down upon it, in so far as this is possible, and thus 

 save labor in keeping the cow clean. Other points to 

 be considered are the comfort of the cow, convenience of 

 cleaning the stall, milking, and feeding, and the cost. 



The feed trough or manger may be built of wood or 

 cement. Cement is better because it is easier to keep 

 clean. A continuous cement trough, extending in front 

 of a row of cows without any divisions, can also be used 

 for water. In addition, the continuous trough is more 

 conveniently cleaned, but on the other hand it favors the 

 spread of infectious diseases, especially tuberculosis. 

 Feed placed before a tuberculous cow may be contami- 

 nated by infected saliva and material ejected in cough- 

 ing, after which it can be readily obtained by cows in 

 adjoining stalls; the tuberculous cow may also contami- 

 nate the feed of the cows standing on either side, and also 

 of cows standing opposite, and when water is run into 

 the trough infection may be carried from one end of it 

 to the other. On the other hand, separate feed troughs 

 or mangers, although decreasing the danger of infec- 

 tion, increase the labor of cleaning; they also make it 

 necessary to have individual drinking cups or to drive 

 the cows to water outside of the stable. When a herd is 

 regularly tested with tuberculin and the reactors 

 promptly removed, and when the trough is swept and 

 washed daily, the danger of infection from the common 

 feeding trough is greatly reduced. The bottom of the 

 feed trough should be 2 inches higher than the level of 

 the platform. When cows have to reach too far for their 



