Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-01-02
agricultural.
HO,c to Keep COt0s Clean.

the same time comfortable, Wnen cOhnheu
in stables, is question that has been diff
heult to answer satisfactorily. Before
cellars under stock barns became fashion
able as at present, many farmers made 1t
srule to dry off their COWS on the approach
Of winter, partly because Of the difficulty
and disgust experienced in milking cows
that had Jain all night in their own filth.
We have seen stables, and they are not
all gone vet, 80 narrow that it was al
most impossible to clean them while the
animals were In their stalls, and conse-
uuently the mornings milking had to be
done While the floors and the animals
were both rocking in the Accommodations
Of the last fifteen or twenty hours. 1t i
not difficult to see why milk or butter
from COWS kept in such stables bears i
poor reputation in market With the
barn cellar came wider stables. aud scut-
ties for the discharge Of the manure into
the cellar below, instead Of windows IN
the wall.
Neat farmers no longer had a good ex-
cuse for milking before cleaning the sta
bles. Still the cows were not always
clean. but one step followed another to-
wards n more perfect system OF stabling
animals. ShorIfOOrs we're laid for the
cattle to stand and lie upon, at first only
two or three inches above the common
level, but finally increased TO FIVE or six
inches, and occasionally even more
With the advent of the raised floor for
the cattle came the raised platform or
walk at the rear Of the stable, and the
consequent gutter between, for the recep-
tiOn OF the excrements. Then followed
the custom Of daily scattering dry muck,
loan or sand in tins trench for absorbing
the liquids, and adding 70 the compost
pile. Each Of these steps has been in the
direction Of Improvement In the quality
Of the milk and IN the convenience Of ten
ding the animals.
some trouble has been experienced in
getting the short floors for the cattle Of
lusi the right length and pitch, and III
teaching the COWS 10 stand and lie upon
them, Instead Of stepping back into the
gutter, and thus tracking the manure upon
the short floor, when they again step for
ward. More or less difficulty has also
been experienced from COWS, especially
those found with cali, lying too TAR back
with their rear parts projecting over the
gutter. without she necessary support 70
the reproductive organs. Serious cOnse- .
Juenccs have frequently resulted to cows
that had acquired the habit OF lying TOO
tor bacS On their short floor. Some have
prevented this trouble, in part, by conf
ming the animals between stanchious which
prevents them from stepping back and
forward, except TO a very limited extent.
Others object TO stanchionS IS too con-
ming TO the animals, preventing them
from turning their heads on their sides
IS is their habit when wing naturally in
lho open yard, or in stables fitted with
straps or chains. Some even pronounce
them barharlu>, and cite cases OF severe /
injuries, and DISBURSEMENTS OF the bones
Of tie shoulder. caused By the struggles
and knocks made by the animals when at
tempting % rise or lie down IN their stalls I
Those who Use chains admit that stan
chionS keep COWS cleaner but they cOnSid-
CT them cruel for the COWS, while those
who adopt the stanchions, generally con-
tend that, after cattle become accustomed
10 them, there Is no cruelty in the method .
On our recent visit TO the farm Of Mr..
4. ". Putnam, of Danvers, Mass, we
found the cleanest stable Of cows that We
have ever seen anywhere, without a single
eNccptstion. The cows are confined by
stanchions, and the fools are made TO fit
the size Of the COWS. If one COW requires
little more room than the other. the
floor on which she stands Is Heightened out
BY temporary planks fastened at the rear
OF the platform, and which may be re-
moved when no logger wanted.
Being confined between strong stan
chions, they have but little freedom for
stepping backward and forward, and con-
sequently their excrements are almost en-
tirsly dropped in the trench behind them.
while their platform i as clean as the
nanger from which they feed. If COW
i particularly inclined to step back and
track her filth upon her platform and bed,
she Is taught the evil Of her ways by hav-
ing an inclined plank placed lust back Of
the platform, and upon which she would
ind very uncomfortable standing room.
If this is not sufficient, small pole Is
placed over the plank in such position
that only bird would find easy roOsting.
Only a few lessons Of this kind are re-
luircd 10 teach his cows to stand in their
places. and to keep their beds clean
Meadow hay or straw Is used quite freely
for bedding Although We have been
somewhat opposed to the use Of staneh-
ions, We were forced TO admit that Mr..
Putman's cows looked the most cOmlorta-
BE, chiefly on account Of their cleanliness,
OF any stable Of mich COWS We have ever
seen. With cows trained 10 stand upon
floors Just long enough, there Is no occa-
sion for laying the floors pitching, and we
found his entirely level, thus preventing
that constant slipping and sliding back,
wards so common IN most stables, and
which produce such serious results in
many cases, especially with COWS approach
Ing the period Of calving. But little alb
sOrbing material Is used in the trench, if
We recsllect rightly, only enough to keep
the cows tails above the water, which
may sometime, collect on the surface Of
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