12 BULLETIN 736, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



The weights of the bedding used in each stable were recorded daily 

 for 3 months during the trial, and the average was taken as the basis 

 of comparison. The data thus obtained showed that the cows in the 

 open shed required a daily average of 8.3 pounds, as compared with 

 4.94 pounds for the cows kept in the closed barn, or an increase of 

 68 per cent. Cornstalks, which at times were used for bedding the 

 stock in the open shed, were so nearly decomposed when the manure 

 was hauled to the field that they gave no trouble in loading on the 

 spreader or in being evenly distributed on the land. No doubt other 

 kinds of coarse bedding can be used with better results in open sheds 

 than in closed barns, which is one advantage that tends to offset the 

 extra cost of bedding in the open shed when only straw is used. On 

 damp, rainy days more bedding was needed than in dry weather. 

 Regardless of climatic conditions, however, the more space allowed 

 each cow the less bedding will be required. 



Good drainage is necessary for success with any open shed. With- 

 out it the quantity of bedding required is certain to be increased and 

 the comfort of the cows seriously lessened. Water from the sur- 

 rounding ground must flow away from, not toward, the shed. Eave 

 spouts to carry the water from the roof of the shed to a place where 

 it will readily flow away are provided for most sheds. 



HEALTH AND CONTENTMENT OF THE COWS. 



There seemed to be little, if any, difference in the amount of actual 

 sickness observed under either open-shed or closed-barn conditions. 

 In the closed barn the animals sometimes would get "big knees" from 

 kneeling or falling on the concrete platform. This trouble was not 

 observed when the open shed was used. Of the 21 cows used during 

 the 3 years of the investigation two had their hips "knocked down" 

 while in the open shed. Very probably the injuries were the result 

 of being knocked against the side of the shed or the feed rack by 

 stronger, more greedy, and aggressive cows. 



In general, little difference could be noted in the contentment of the 

 cows under either open-shed or closed-barn conditions. Some of the 

 animals appeared to be more contented in the barn stalls; others 

 appeared to be more at ease in the open shed, while still others seemed 

 to have no preference. Under open-shed conditions the cows had 

 more freedom. They could he down and get up with ease, and could 

 pick a clean place on which to He whenever they chose. For them 

 fresh air was abundant. Inasmuch as the closed barn used in the 

 investigation was a modern, well-ventilated structure, no observa- 

 tions were needed on the subject of ventilation. In many of our 

 poorly ventilated dairy barns, however, the impure air would doubt- 

 less be an important factor in determining the comparative merits of 

 the two systems. 



