14 



BULLETIN 642, 17. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



EXPERIMENT NO. 4 (COWS CLEANED AND BEDDED, FLOOR CLEAN, MANURE RE- 

 MOVED DAILY, UDDERS AND TEATS OF TWO COWS WASHED AND OF TWO) 

 OTHERS NOT WASHED, UTENSILS STERILIZED). 



The results obtained in previous experiments show that it was pos- 

 sible to obtain milk of a low bacterial count from dirty cows in a 

 dirty stable. Under such conditions it is absolutely necessary to keep 

 the udders and teats of the cows clean, but when the barn floor is 

 covered with manure it is very difficult to do so. To attempt to 

 produce low-count milk under conditions previously described would 

 certainly show poor judgment on the part of the dairyman. It 

 would be unreasonable, therefore, to attempt to keep the udder and 

 teats of the cow absolutely clean when the animal is lying in manure 

 a part of the day. The reasonable way to lessen the work of keep- 

 ing the cows clean is to remove the manure at least once a day and 

 to keep the floor clean. To keep the cows clean is a matter of 

 economy as well as of common decency. 



As may be noted in figure 8, the conditions of the walls and ceiling 

 of the barn were the same as in previous experiments. Straw was 

 used for bedding and the floors and gutter were practically free from 

 manure. A picture of one of the cows also is shown in figure 9. The 

 cows during this experiment were cleaned daily with currycomb and 

 brush, and very little effort was required to keep them free from 

 visible dirt. 



Fig. S. — Condition of barn during Experiment No. 4. 



