HABITATIONS 



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manure in these places is not disturbed any more than in 

 the box system, but the hammel is freely open to the outside 

 air, and exhalations are considerably diluted. 



It is said that cattle in hammels do much better than in 

 boxes, and some advanced agriculturists* have adopted the 

 hammel system with certain modifications, and think 

 highly of it. The hammel is practically the same system 

 as that adopted for calves, which has been previously 

 described ; in both it is essential the floor should be made 

 of concrete. 



A very important point brought out in the communication 

 just alluded to is the value of peat moss as litter ; it is more 

 absorbent than straw, and, as a manure, is ready for the 

 land at any time. If this were 

 generally adopted the box with the 

 sunken floor might be dispensed 

 with, and animals fattened without 

 having to live for months on their 

 own excreta. 



O'pcn sheds witli shelters are 

 freely used for the accommoda- 

 tion of fattening stock, especially 

 in the earlier stages. They differ 

 from hammels mainly by the fact 

 that several animals are placed 

 together, while in the hammel only one or two, or at the 

 outside three, are placed within the same enclosure. These 

 open sheds and yards are sometimes spoken of as cattle 

 courts. They should be provided with sufficient mangering 

 and water supply ; in all cases the animals stand on straw, 

 which collects the fteces and urine, and in wet weather the 

 courts are a squelching quagmire. Exposure to the weather, 

 rain especially, greatly reduces the manurial value of the 

 bedding, and has caused advanced agriculturists to devise 

 something better; hence arose a controversy as to the 

 * 'The Best Means of Increasing Home-Production of Beef': Mr. 

 G. Murray, Journal of the Boyal Agricultural Society, 3rd Series, 

 vol. i., part ii., 1890. 



YARD 



', WATER 



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139.— Box and yard used 

 for fattening animals. 



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