Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 74, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 March 1911 — Winter Months on the Farm [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Winter Months on the Farm

How to / Than

Improving the Stable How to Bo3d Sanitary Stalk, Concrete Floon and Otherwiee Make the Old Barn Mora Healthful By PROF*. C. A. OCOCK Wltcomlm Coils of jlgHcut!mm

Copmzht. 1910. by Wen.ru Ntmptpw Uatoa

State and city requirements as regards sanitary milk production are becoming so strict that it ill behooves farmers to continue the slipshod and disease-distributing methods so generally followed in housing the dairy herd. The time has arrived when milk produced tor human consumption must be tree from disease-producing bacteria, it must not be tainted with filth and therefore must be produced under sanitary conditions These restrictions require the general improvement of the dairy barn and stable, not only aa regards Its proper ventilation and thorough sheltering of the dairy stock, hut also as to the character of the stable floor, the elßctency of the stalls, the mathoda used in cleaning the bam. How is the termer who cannot afford to build aa up-to-date, sanitary barn to meet these difficulties? The Initial difficulty which must be corrected in the majority of old and even modem barns la the lack of proper ventilation. The King system of ventilation, devised by Prof. F. H. King, formerly professor of agricultural physics in the Wisconsin College of Agriculture, consists of two sets of fines, one of which admits fresh air while the other furnishes an escape for the bad air. The Inlet or fresh air fines should be placed not more than ten feet apart and located In the exterior walla of thq ham; tho greater the number the more effective the ventilation. since they enable the fresh air to displace the foul air more rapidly. The outlet may include one or more flues, but should be located aa to provide the quickest means of removing the foul air. Fresh Air Ventilators. In the location and construction of the Intakes for fresh air it should always be borne In mind that the air should enter at the ceiling of the stable. Then the fresh air entering

How to put frooh air Intake* Into an old barn. The opening, A, muet be at the surface of the outside ground and, B, at the eelling. Six-inch tile may be used. will mix with the warm air at the celling and become warned before It setties to the floor. The flues for this purpose should be air tight and may he constructed of galvanized Iron—--25 or 26 gauge Is preferable, or of matched lumber lined on Interior by a heavy grade of tar felt paper such aa la used for roofing purposes. Seveneighths inch lumber should be used and the Joints nailed as closely as practical. Then cover with paper followed by a second thickness of lumbar. This will insure an air-tight flue if care is taken to break all the Joints. Should drop siding or stock hoards be used, nail the paper on the aiding and then cover It with a thickness of seven-sixteen ths-lnch lumber. Foul Air Flues. Wrong construction of foul air flues baa led In some cases to the failure of the system. They should not be made like an ordinary boxed opening, aa some farmers have them, who later have condemned the method. The

Hum may be of either galvanised iron or of a combination of paper end lam' bar like the intakes. They should be sa straight ss possible, for every turn or bend greatly redaces the carrying capacity as it increases the friction of the moving air on the Hum. A good ventilating flue should have the same qualities as a good chimney. It should rise above the highest part of the roof, so as to receive the full foroe «of the wlndStable walls and ceilings should be practically air tight and non-oonduc-tons of heat and cold. Doors and windows should fit well. Fresh air Intalma should have the outside opening st least three feet below the Inside opening, with the inside opening at the ceiling, provided with a valve or shutter. Foul air flues should be air tight end non-conductors of heat and cold. They should have their lower opening about one toot above the floor level, and with ss low bends ss possible pee. upward to a height of at least 26

feet, and should always be two or three feet above , the 'ridge of the roof or of any near-by roof. In building these flues around a girt or plate they must be enlarged In proportion to the slse of the obstruction passed. Cheap, Yst Sanitary Stalls. There seems to be a prevailing impression among dairymen that a com-

sortable sanitary stall or stanchion is an expensive factory product, while the fact is that any fanner who is handy with carpenters’ tools can build a stall which will secure as good results as any patented stall upon the market. The stall here described embodies In its construction all of the principles found in any of the patented stalls. The model stall is a home-made product and it is probably the nearest approach to a perfect stall of any in use at the present time. It Is constructed, as shown In the figure, so as to force the oow to have her hind feet between the cross-bar and gutter where standing, thus preventing the fouling, of the stall by her own droppings. When lying down she la brought forward and compelled to lie in front of the crossbar. The cow is forced to stand back from the hay rack when eating beeause of the position in which it is hung. The crossbar la adjustable and the stall will accommodate a large or small cow. . The chain or fastening is so arranged that as the cow starts to lie down she is drawn forward and will

step In front of this crossbar to prevent an uncomfortable position. The door In front Is hinged at the top and opens upward when grain and water are given. Hay Is placed In the hay rack from the front The partitions are so constructed that It is almost impossible for s cow to step upon the udder or teat of one lying down next to her. This feature alone Is worth the oost of several stalls to the owner of valuable Individuals. A wooden mat Is laid over the concrete floor. This mat Is removable, permitting the cleansing of the entire floor whenever occasion demands. If It seems desirable the manger may be constructed of ooncrete the same as the floor, and where new stalls are being erected the manger and floors should be made at the same time. This construction will be more durable than separate construction. Cost of s single stall Is about six dollars. Concrete Floors Best. Concrete Is the best and most sanitary floor that can be used In a dairy barn and efforts should be made to have such floors Installed whenever a barn is being constructed. Stable florae should be laid with a elope or , pitch either to a common center of to rate end of the barn. < A slope of one or two inches In eight feet Is ample, and three-fourths to rate inch Is usoaly considered desirable for the average cow stall. In the figure are shown a good gutter design. The rail of a gutter should be about one Inch In 60 feet, but this may vary to meet conditions. If a cistern Is used for retaining the liquid manure It may be desirable to have more falL Mangers for Coer Stalls. Many questions arise aa to the type of manger to use when one Is building or remodeling a barn. In the figure is shown a design which la both sanitary and modern. This type is considered best alncea less work la required in keepink the walk in front of the cows clean. A oow. while eatlug. sometimes throws some of the grain and hay forward and out of reach, but with this construction It far a vary easy matter to return the feed to the manger. If It seems desirable partitions may be built between each manger. In many ways this is to be desired, especially where oows are In the habit of stealing grain from their nelgbbon.

Intakes A B, and bad-air chimneys, C D, In an ordinary stable.

The model sanitary cow stall on a concrete floor.

Manger for concrete stable.