142 DAIRY FARMING 



one. The main objection, of course, is that it cannot be 

 kept clean. A fairly good arrangement in a cheap barn is 

 a dirt floor for the cows to stand upon with a cement gutter 

 behind, provided with a strip extending forward about one 

 foot to catch the urine. A tight wooden floor is comfortable 

 for the cows and may be kept in good sanitary condition if 



FIG. 38. A well-lighted barn. 



in good repair. The main objection to this material is its 

 high first cost and lack of durability. Concrete is durable 

 and sanitary, but not so comfortable for the cows as the others. 

 It requires a liberal use of bedding. In putting in a con- 

 crete floor care must be taken to have the surface given a 

 rough finish, otherwise the animals will slip and sooner or 

 later seriously injure themselves. It is not necessary to 

 make the floor as thick as is sometimes recommended. 

 On solid earth four inches is as good as more. 



129. The Platform. The best arrangement for keeping 

 cows clean is the platform and gutter. It is well to have the 

 platform about 6 inches wider at one end than at the other 



