Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 144, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 June 1916 — BUILDING A BARN [ARTICLE]

BUILDING A BARN

Warmth and Ventilation are Primo Considerations. There are farmers who hare ' Ml aorta of troubles and disappointments in keeping a dairy and producing milk, some are displeased because the price is not what they think it should be; others because the yield a head is small. Then there are some who missed their calling when they took up dairying. So, take it all around, I am of the opinion that this dissatisfaction lies more with the farmer himself than with any other cause. The small yield of milk or butter fat from a cow is due mostly to selection on .the part •of the owner. It is often the result, too, of improper housing and care. Of all animals the cow should be made comfortable if we expect to make her profitable. No use trying to get around this fact Should we expect our cows to give a good yield of milk when they are kept in stables where the manure freezes solid every cold night ? A good many stables have warmth enough, but the ventilation is decidedly poor. Both of these are very essen- • tlal. Pure air is needed the same as food, but there are few, apparently who look at the matter in this light A dozen cows in a stable together produce a good deal of heat themselves, but if when the stable door is open on a cold day the steam rushes*out, you may make up your mind that the ventilation is poor. I find that in some of our oldest and poorest barns the ventilation is better than in many pew ones, since the stables are more open and given a better chance of air getting in and out. But neither are right. There are many basement barns built at large expense and with the idea •of having an ideal place for cows. Many of them are nothing more than dungeons. I know of one near hare, built at a cost of several thousand dollars that is almost worthless for stock on account of dampness. Therefore, In making your cow barns comfortable, take this matter of warmth and ventilation Into your mind and see if it is not right.