Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-09-15
Watering Cows in the Stable.

The following excellent hints on watering
cows from the Live Stock Journal is worthy
of attention at this season, when preparations
can be made much cheaper than during cold
weather:
Iu answer to a number of inquiries, we
propose to give even at this unreasonable Pc
riod, some considerations upon this subject.
1t is an Improvement worthy the considera-
ton of all dairymon. There is really every
argument in favor Of watering cows in the
stalls that can be given for feeding them in
stalls. 1t is as important that they should
be able to drink without molestaton as to
eat in peace. Everyone knows that master
animals take pure delight in keeping the
weaker ones away from the spring or water
ing trough. These underlings must wait till
the others 20 away, aud in cold weather this
exposes them too long, and frequently they
90 without water in consequence Accidents
also happen from their slipping on the ice
that accumulates around the watering place.
Then, water given in stable may be moderated
in temperature, so as not to chill the ami
mails like ce.water in the cold air. Tho wa
ter drawn in a comfortable stable will seldom
be below so degrees. There have been
many ways devised for supplying cattle with
water in the stable, but most of them have a
separate trough for each animal, which must
each bo cleaned separately. 1t is impor-
tant to simplify and save labor in all ways.
BY making trough the shape of V the
whole length Of the stable, and placing it di-
rectly it front Of the cows under the manger,
so that the lid to the trough may form part
of the bottom Of the manger, water may run
in at one end, and the COWS drink as it passes
them, any surplus being drawn off at the
other end.
This being a straight, smooth trough, it
can be swept aud cleaned from end to end as
fast as man can walk. 1t may be made
from pine planks. / I inches thick one side
10 inches, and the other III inches wide,
the one nailed upon the edge Of the other,
the ends being halvod together and white
| lead being put 10 the joints. The ends should
be nailed with fourpenny brad.clinching
nails. The lid should be hung on the floor
side with rubber cloth hinge, which being
flexible, it is not injured by wet, and will
prevent any bits of hay or dirt from going
| tnIOuBu lntO tuc tIouSus luz ONHOi siuO VI
the lid should have a strip Of inch
hoop-iron nailed on the upper side and lap
ping over one.half inch to prevent food from
getting into the trough on the side. Th'
trough and lid should be painted inside anC
out with two coats Of raw linseed oil anC
oxide Of iron before the lid is hung. Thest
lids being sixteen feet long, are thrown oPer
on long trough in minute. The side o
the manger next to the feeding floor shoul'
consist Of plank 10 inches wide, set on edge
This makes when tho lid is shut, a plail
straight manger, easily cleaned. To preven
the cows from hooking each other, or reach
ing after each others food, fasten plank ;
foot wide in the center, between them, reach
ing into the mAnger, and cut half-circl'
from the lower end, so that the lid will open
The water to be used in stable may b
brought in pipes and drawn by cock int
the trough, the fountain being an elevate
spring, or a reservoir, the bottom Of whicl
is higher than the trough or, it may b
pumped.
There is practically, not much difficulty
supplying the water in stable. We use
reservoir Of $4,000 gallons, only fifty fec
off, by pipe and drawn by cock. Thi
reservoir is filed, partly by a pipe from
dam 300 feet away supplied by surface wa
ter, and partly from the roof,