HOUSING AND CARE OF COWS 91 



freedom to the head. The swing stanchion, however (p. 87), allows 

 of much freedom of movement and is a good form of tie. The par- 

 titions between the cows are made in the form of metal or wooden 

 gates about five feet high, but not touching the floor. The cows 

 are held in place also by a chain or rope fastened by snap hooks to 

 the uprights at either side of the back of the stall, and in front there 

 is a movable partition of metal or wood adjusted to the length of 

 the cow, so as to keep her standing well back to the edge of the 

 manure trench. The whole length of the stall is six feet to six feet 

 eight inches, according to the length of the cow. The cow is fed off 

 the floor, or from a gutter cut in cement inside of the front partition. 

 Metal stalls are comparatively expensive. The chief object is to 

 keep all of the stall structure off the floor, as far as may be, to have 

 a clean floor-space free from nooks and crannies to harbor dirt and 

 dust. The width of the cow stall varies between thirty-eight to 

 forty-five inches, according to the size of the animals. The milker 

 opens the gate of the stall just behind him when milking, which 

 gives him more room and keeps the next cow away from his back. 



When the cows are let out the chains may be retained in place 

 and the gates are opened. For details and illustrations of service- 

 able stable arrangements, see Appendix. 



It is well to round up the cement floor to a point six inches or 

 so up the wall of the stable. The urine should be drained into a 

 tank, which can be emptied once or more daily, or be received into 

 a regular drain with a trap. If the urine cannot be so removed it 

 is well to have the gutters tight (without outlet) and use rotted sod, 

 sawdust, or leaf mold to absorb the moisture and save the fertilizing 

 properties of the urine. Chains or ropes should be stretched length- 

 wise with the stable under the cows' necks to prevent them from 

 lying down after grooming and before milking. The manure must 

 be removed as soon as it falls, except one-half hour before or 

 at milking- time, and carried not less than several hundred feet from 

 the barn, so as not to attract flies. When this is not feasible, by us- 



