160 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF MILK HYGIENE 



1. Method of Cleaning the Stable. If manure is 

 allowed to collect in the stable the cows will become soiled 

 and odors of decomposing manure and urine will per- 

 meate the stable air and may be absorbed by the milk. 

 The manure should be removed twice daily if possible, 

 being taken out before each milking. It is necessary to 

 complete this work at least an hour before the cows are 

 milked in order to allow time for the air to become free 

 from dust and odor before milking is begun. When the 

 cows must be milked very early in the morning it is not 

 always practicable to get the manure out of the stable 

 an hour before milking time, and in such cases it is better 

 to remove it after the cows are milked and fed. Milk of 

 good quality can be produced under these conditions. If 

 the manure is not hauled immediately to the fields, it 

 should be stored as far away from the stable as possible. 

 The stable and its immediate surroundings should be kept 

 as free as possible from manure and other decaying or- 

 ganic matter because flies breed in such material. House- 

 flies may travel considerable distances from where they 

 breed, flights of one-quarter to nearly a mile having been 

 observed, but, as they seem to be attracted by odors, keep- 

 ing the stable clean will in a measure serve as a protec- 

 tion when flies are permitted to breed in the neighbor- 

 hood. 



After the manure has been taken out, the litter on 

 the rear end of the platform, which is usually soiled, 

 should be swept into the gutter and given an opportunity 

 to absorb any liquid which may be present. When the 

 cows have been cleaned, the rear end of the platforms 

 and the floor back of the gutter should be sprinkled with 

 water and swept clean. In some stables the platforms 

 and floors are again sprinkled after sweeping. This is 



