546 



The Construction of Cow Houses. [ogt., 



given a fall of from one to two inches, it is difficult to get 

 the floor dried. 



Each stall should be proportionate in length to the class 

 of cow that is expected to occupy it. For the smallest 

 size of cows, such as Jerseys, Kerrys, and young Ayrshires, 

 the stall measured from the wall or division between the 

 cows and the passage to the manure channel should be from 

 6 ft. 9 in. to 7 ft. long, inclusive of the breadth of the trough. 

 For Ayrshires, a stall of 7 ft. to 7 ft. 3 ins. is quite sufficient, 

 while Shorthorns require from 7 ft. 3 ins. to 7 ft. 6 ins., and 

 exceptionally large cows 3 ins. more. If the stalls are too 

 short for the cows they will stand in the manure channel, 

 and sooner or later the feet become soft and diseased. If 

 the stalls are too long for the stock they drop their dung 

 on the floor, and later on when they lie down they are almost 

 sure to soil their hindquarters or udder with it. Where this 

 state of matters exists the extra labour necessary to keep 

 the stalls, and cows, reasonably clean is very great, and out 

 of all proportion to what is necessary to reduce the stall to 

 the proper length. 



For the smaller size of cows, each double stall should be 

 from 6 ft. to 6J ft. in width, and for the larger ones, from 

 6J ft. to 7J ft. wide. If the stalls are too narrow the cows 

 tread on each other's legs, udder, and teats, and in the latter 

 two cases injury to these almost invariably means loss of a 

 quarter. If the stalls are too wide, the cows turn round in 

 them, and drop urine or excrement in the trough, or on 

 the floor of the stall. While the back part of the stall may 

 be of cement concrete, blue brick or stone, the front part should 

 be of brick or hard asphalt only. 



Stall Divisions. — The stall divisions may be of cement 

 concrete, stone, wood, or iron, or in the event of stanchions 

 being used, they may be done without altogether. Coloured 

 or uncoloured cement 1 ins. thick is, however, one of the 

 strongest, neatest, and most serviceable divisions yet intro- 

 duced, as it is almost everlasting, and saves painting, periodic 

 washing with water or lime washing being all that is required 

 to keep it clean and bright. The stall divisions should not 

 be less than 4J ft. long, and 4 ft. to 4 ft. 3 in. high. With 

 the swinging stanchions used in Canada and the States, the 



