134 PROFITABLE STOCK RAISING 



hand milking is done. The relative cheapness of a 

 structure of this sort makes it possible to give each 

 animal a large amount of room and a large amount 

 of air space. Movable racks are placed at con- 

 venient intervals for containing the feed, for the 

 cows, and they are allowed to help themselves, 

 except to the concentrated feeds, which are given 

 during milking time. By this method most of the 

 manure is deposited near the feed racks and is so 

 thoroughly tramped and mixed with straw or other 

 litter furnished for bedding as to practically ex- 

 clude air. Little or no heating takes place, and 

 there is no loss of fertility through leaching or any 

 of the processes which take place when the manure 

 is piled in heaps in the open air. 



The problem of keeping the cows clean is a sim- 

 ple one and consists in supplying plenty of bedding. 

 Straw is usually very cheap and can be had in un- 

 limited amounts under most conditions. Shredded 

 corn fodder also makes an excellent bedding for 

 cows, and is used with great success by some dairy- 

 men for this purpose. After the cows have eaten 

 all of the fodder they will, there will be consider- 

 able quantities left which are not edible, but which 

 will make very good bedding. It has great ab- 

 sorbent properties and is especially desirable on 

 this account. Cows managed in a yard of this kind 

 will undoubtedly have better health, because they 

 are free to move about, receive more air and have 

 access to water as they desire instead of stated in- 

 tervals. Air, sunlight and cleanliness are essential 

 in every dairy barn of whatever type. 



ILLINOIS DAIRY EXPERIENCE 



The question of the returns from market dairy- 

 ing, or the making of milk for the city markets, is 



