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Planning and Construction of Cow-Sheds. [July, 



culty experienced in well lighted cow houses of combating the 

 nuisance of flies. It may not be generally known that in Italy 

 it is possible to keep houses absolutely clear of flies provided 

 the louvre shutters are not opened in the day time. The glazed 

 casements within may stand wide open but flies do not enter 

 unless the louvre casements are opened back as well. 



It is admitted that this does not get over the fact that flies 

 also come into the cow-house on the bodies of cows returning 

 from pasture, but it would undoubtedly assist in minimising the 

 nuisance. 



In each scheme the total width of the buildings is the same, 

 but in Scheme B, the tail to tail method, it is clear that not only 

 is the construction less costly but it is claimed by the authors 

 that the method of lighting and ventilation is more perfectly 

 suited to the placing of the cows than in the head to head 

 method. 



It should be noted that the trusses throughout the whole 

 length of the building are placed, as at Hucknall, at JO ft. 6 in. 

 centres, and each complete bay provides for 6 cows, admitting of 

 easy extension if it is desired to commence with a smaller herd. 

 In Model E the individual standings have not been shown but 

 would be constructed in the same way as in Scheme A, viz., 

 tubular stall divisions and Yoke ties. 



In Scheme B provision is made in the centre of the building 

 for a side entrance to enable milkers to pass quickly from all 

 parts of the building to the dairy and utensil cleaning room which 

 are considered essential and integral parts of a dairy homestead. 



Cost and Cubical Contents. — It is difficult to give more than 

 an indication of the probable cost of such buildings as are here 

 illustrated, especially under present conditions, but the following 

 facts may be some guide. 



The total cubical content of the entire cowshed excluding the 

 silos is approximately 54,500 cubic feet. Before the war such a 

 shed as this could have been built at about 5d. per foot cube. 

 It is not unreasonable at the present time to put building costs 

 at twice the pre-war rate, say lOd. per foot cube for such work 

 as this, which would give an approximate estimate of £2,227, 

 say £2,200, for the complete building. Scheme B would certainly 

 work out at a lower price. 



These figures must only be regarded as a rough guide, as 

 obviously there are differences in cost due to site, locality, local 

 materials, etc. The main point is that owing to the character 



