340 VETEEINAEY HYGIENE 



when in the store condition, may be placed in hammels 

 or boxes as the time approaches for finishing them oS. 



There is still a difference of opinion regarding the advan- 

 tage of stall feeding over box feeding for fattening animals, 

 but this is a matter for agriculturists rather than sanitarians. 



Cattle Stalls. — If stall feeding be adopted we cannot from 

 a sanitary point of view depart from the principles pre- 

 viously laid down for cows. The animals must have suffi- 

 cient space to lie comfortably ; there is far less objection to 

 two in a stall for fattening cattle, for their life is a short one, 

 but the ground must be impervious, and the drainage surface 

 reliable. The fittings employed throughout may be far 

 cheaper than those used in an ideal dairy ; for example, the 

 stall divisions may be of wood, which, though by no means 

 a sanitary substance to employ, may with very little care 

 be kept clean and disinfected as necessary. 



If the wood employed be ' dressed ' the surface can be 

 painted ; there are joaints for woodwork now obtainable 

 which are unaffected by washing, and cleanliness is an 

 important point to aim at. Under any circumstance that 

 portion of the woodwork in contact with the litter should 

 be coated with tar, and this repeated as necessary. 



Bedding is allowed stall-fed fattening cattle, not in order 

 that they may lie more comfortably, but to ensure the 

 saving of the manure. This bedding is generally removed 

 two or three times a week, but it is universally regarded as 

 inferior to that obtained by the system employed in box 

 feeding, owing to the unavoidable loss. 



The plan of the stalls must depend upon the number 

 to be fed, but heads towards a central feeding passage 

 appears the most labour-saving system. 



It is quite possible the windows considered as desirable 

 for the lighting of the cow house may be objected to here, 

 and shutters may have to be provided. Feeders like their 

 stock keeping in a subdued light, they rest better and fatten 

 quicker. To this probably no exception can be taken, 

 considering the brief life of the animal and the artificial 

 existence led. 



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