554 T HE Construction of Cow Houses. [oct., 



The valve may not only be used for reducing the volume of 

 air entering the building, but also for diverting the current 

 in an upward direction, so that it may pass over the bodies 

 of the cows. There are numerous devices for attaining the 

 same end, all of which serve the purpose fairly well. 



The simplest system of roof ventilator is a box extending 

 over two or three of the couples, and rising 1 8 or 24 in. above 

 the ridge, and having louvre boards on the sides. The main 

 point in these is to have them large enough and in sufficient 

 number. Another method is to have the boarding of the 

 roof, for a foot or so on each side of the ridge, hinged on 

 the under edge, so that it opens up and leaves an outlet 

 12 in. or so wide the whole length of the building. Arrange- 

 ments have to be made for raising and lowering the flaps 

 from the floor. 



Light. — Everybody admits the advantages, so far as health 

 is concerned, of an out-door life, but just how much is due 

 to fresh air and how much to the influence of sunlight it is 

 very difficult to say. Sunlight is, however, known to be 

 one of the most powerful, as it is one of the cheapest, germi- 

 cides we possess ; it therefore should be admitted freely into 

 all buildings occupied by stock. It is a matter of indifference 

 whether it comes from the walls or roof, provided it is ample 

 and does not fall directly on the eyes of the animals. The 

 minimum allowance should not be less than 2 or 3 sq. ft. per 

 cow, and it will be an advantage to have even more than 

 that. Of all the details connected with cow-houses, few of 

 them have received so little consideration as that of lighting. 

 This omission has been in part due to the erroneous belief 

 that stock fatten quicker in the dark than in the light ; but, 

 in any case, nothing will contribute so much to cleanliness 

 in the cow-house as plenty of light. It costs little, and its 

 value there is great, if it were for nothing else but to afford 

 an opportunity of seeing the dirt. 



Manure and Food Conveyors. — No cow-house can be con- 

 sidered complete which is not provided with an overhead 

 railway for the purpose of removing the manure, and bringing 

 in food and litter. In Canada and the United States' these are 

 found everywhere, their cost is trifling, and the labour they 

 save is great. The manure bucket is self-emptying, holds 



