The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1873-07-04
farNlers' GnlMlall.
" Speed the PIOlU."
Care of Dairy Cows,

The stalls should be kept perfectly clean,
and not only so, but the walls free from
cobwebs and dust and not less essential
is it that the managers should be kept
clean also. If we would only pay a little
attention to the habits of our farm animals,
it would be seen that they are scrupulously
clean, almost fastidiously so. Much of the
benefit ofgood food is lost by giving it
badly prepared, and in dirty managers or
boxes. Ventilation is important; but the
benefit of this will be to large extent lost
if the interior of the house is not kept
clean. 1t is of little use to admit fresh air
to the interior, if it is only there to be
mixed with noxious emanations arising
from the presence of dirt. Another point
to be attended to is the bedding or litter
ing for the cows; in many cases this is
grossly neglected. the animal being kept
in very uncomfortable condition. AS q
rule, the long straw, which is generally
used, is used in way not economical The
way to use straw, is to cut itwith the straw
cutter. This may appear:te be costly
mode of using it, but it is quite the reverse.
Less straw is required in this form than
if used long, and it not only admits of the
"droppings'' of the COW being lifted easily
away without disturbing the rest of the
bedding, but it is, when done well, in the
best condition for the manure or dung
heap.
Sawdust also forms an excellent bed
ding, as do leaves and fine tanners bark
The ammonia which in even ordinary cir
cumstances, rises from the dropping and
bedding saturated with urine and is lostr-
may be fixed by sprinkling the bedoinsf
and the cutters with sulphuric acid-the
oil of vitriol of commerce; ID. weight of
this will fix the ammonia ofsixty or seven
ty gallons of urine. The liquid should be
led at once from tho house to the liquid
manure tank, which will soon pay for it.
self; the using of sulphuric acid will
raise the value Of the liquid manure,
that being estimated at ten or twelve dol.
lars year per COW. The cost of the
acid thus used will be very trif1ing-an
authority puts it at one-half penny per
cow per week. The best material out of
sight for making floors of cow-houses is
portland cement concrete" it is easily
made, easily laid, economical, and gives
surface as fine and as hard as stone. Grooves
for giving foothold, if thought neces.
sary, and cutters can be formed in it with
the greatest ease. But not only should the
house be kept clean but it is essential that
the animals themselves be so also. 1t is
unnecessary here to describe in detail the
influence which the skin has upon the
health Of an animal; suffice it TO say, that
it performs most important function
which cannot be performed if the coat of
the COW is kept in filthy condition filled
with dust or coated over with patches of
hardened manure; this condition of body
induces the attacks and aggravatcs the
evil effects of lice, &c.
All sorts of cures are advocated for this
plague of parasites with which COWS are
afflicted, but if they were kept perfectly
clean, there would be fewer occasions
when such cures would be necessary
Prevention is better than cure, and by at
tending to the cleanliness of the COW much
would be prevented. Cows should be cur
ry-combcd, or at all events rubbed down
carefully several times day with wisp
of straw, and all manure removed from
their coats All this may be considered
troublesome, as no doubt it is; but then
anything worth doing is not done with
out trouble, and to make COWS pay cannot
surely be called an unnecessary trouble