STABLE CONSTRUCTION AND SANITATION 



29 



The length of the platform on which the cows stand should be four and 

 a half to five feet, according to the length of the cows, and the width needs 

 to be three feet for medium sized cows, and more for large ones; very large 

 cows needing, in some cases, as much as four feet, but the stall must not be 

 so wide that the cow can turn around in it. These stalls may be built of 

 wood or iron. Wood is all right and much less expensive than iron. The 

 barn may be so arranged that a wagon can be driven through onto which the 

 manure can be thrown and drawn immediately to the field; it may be wheeled 

 out or it may be carried out in a conveyance running on a suspended track, 

 and it may also be dropped into a basement and drawn out when we get 

 ready. This plan is all right for the manure, but I do not like it for the 

 cows to live over. 



I cannot recommend any kind of a stall for cows that will permit one 

 cow to step on its neighbor's teats. When I used the stanchion as a cow 



SIDE VIEW OF "DROWN" STALL. 



Showing Method of Construction of Cement Manger and Floor and Setting of the Iron 

 Partition and Feed Rack. 



tie I lost more teats from this than any other cause, the bruise causing in- 

 flammation which could not be reduced in time to save that quarter of the 

 udder. I can recommend no stall in which it is possible for such an ac- 

 cident to occur. 



When finishing a cement floor for a cow stable, do not smooth the surface 

 with the trowel, as it will be so smooth that the cow will slip on it, but leave 

 it as it is from the wooden float and she will not slip on it. 



I cannot decide whether a person shall build a one story cow stable or 

 whether he shall make it two or three stories; that depends on what he is 

 going to do. If storage room is needed for hay, grain or other purposes, put 

 the barn up and get this needed room under the same roof with the cows. 



