CHAPTER XXI 

 SOME FEATURES OF THE DAIRY BARN 



The stable need not be expensive but should be made to 

 furnish as nearly as possible the condition which naturally 

 surrounds the cows during that time of year in which they 

 universally produce milk most abundantly, naniely, the spring 

 or early summer. The cow does not care for the time of year, 

 but rather for conditions (Fig. 61). 



Certain features of the dairy barn and cow stable are very 

 often under discussion, chief among which are such matters as 

 the preferable kind of floor, whether cows should be faced out- 

 ward or inward, and the like. 



Hay storage over a cow stable is thoroughly permissible even 

 in well organized cow bams, provided simply that there be a good 

 tight floor between the hay and the cows. The breath of stock 

 injures, or even ruins, hay or fodder if stored above without 

 being protected. It is economy to provide the hay floor. Also 

 the dust that gathers on hay or straw over stock will so easily 

 and so often be knocked off into the air of the stable that clean 

 milk could only with difSculty be produced under such conditions. 



The floor material best adapted for use in dairy cow stables 

 is concrete. This may well be left exposed in walks, alleys, 

 gutters and mangers, and may be a foundation under the cows, 

 but should be overlaid with some non-conductor of moisture 

 and heat where the cows must stand and lie. Common soft-wood 

 plank soaked in tar or creosote will render much good service, 

 but has the disadvantage of wearing out too quickly and also of 

 offering many cracks which, if not filled with tar, will collect 

 dirt. Cork bricks are made of bits of cork compressed into the 

 form of common bricks, being held together by asphaltum or 

 similar material. Such brick are good as covering for a strong, 

 coarse concrete foundation, especially in being warm, not severely 

 hard on the cow's feet, and waterproof (Fig. 62). 



The cost of cork brick is about $48 to $50 per 1000 and 



179 



