548 The Construction of Cow Houses. [oct„ 



cows can be much more quickly tied up than with our method 

 of chains and hooks, while the attendant runs less risk of 

 being hurt by the horns of the animals while so engaged. 



Troughs. — Each cow should have a separate feeding trough 

 of thoroughly glazed fireclay, as separate troughs for each 

 animal are much to be preferred to continuous ones. It is a 

 mistake to put in very large troughs, those 20 by 16 by 8 ins. 

 being quite large enough for most purposes. Each double 

 stall should have the space between the two troughs filled up 

 with brick. This keeps each trough sufficiently far away from 

 the neighbouring animal that it cannot steal any food. All 

 the corners along the back and ends of the troughs should 

 be filled up with cement to as long a slope as possible, so 

 as to prevent unconsumed food, bits of straw, and filth of 

 any kind from lodging there, and, when putrefaction begins, 

 setting up bad smells. 



Where it is desired to provide facilities for supplying the 

 stock with water when in the house, one of the best of many 

 methods is to have small circular troughs 9 ins. or so in 

 diameter, set in a recess cut out of the stall division close 

 to the wall or division, and 1 ft. or so above the trough. These 

 troughs should have a lid which is hinged at the back 

 and projects over the edge J- in. or so, and it should be so 

 arranged that it cannot be lifted up to a perpendicular, 

 position. All stock seem to learn to lift the lid with their 

 nose in a few days, and as soon as they have satisfied their 

 thirst, the lid falls and keeps out dust, straw, &c. The level 

 of the water in the troughs may be regulated either by a 

 ball cock, or, if water be plentiful, it may pass off by an , 

 overflow at any or all of the troughs. If there is a feeding 

 passage, the overflow may pass away by an open shallow 

 gutter in the floor along the side nearest the troughs. 



Manure Channel. — Probably no part of the average cow- 

 house is constructed in so faulty a manner as the manure 

 channel. In no case should it be less than 24 ins. wide, 

 and for large sized cows it may with advantage be increased 

 to 27 or 28 ins. It should not be less, and need not be greater 

 than 6 ins. deep at the cow's heels, and at the side next the 

 passage 4 ins. will be quite enough. A fall lengthwise in 

 the floor of the channel of J in. for each cow is quite 



