The Dickinson press., 1914-08-29

By r. N. DoLvE. Professor Of Agri-
cultural Engineering, North Dakota
Agricultural College.)
The managers used in up-to-date
barns vary considerably in shape and
size, dependent upon the ideas of the
owners, but whatever the difference in
design the consensus Of opinion seems
to be that concrete is the best material
for this construction. The design
shown in the illustration Is simple to
construct and meets every require
ment. AS shown, it is 20 inches wide
and 6 inches deep. The retaining wall
between the manager and stalls, while
high enough, to prevent the waste of
hay, Is not so high as to catch the
breath Of the COW. The bottom of the
manger is on a level with the cows
feet, which Is the natural height at
which she procures her food when
grazing. The width is sufficient to
prevent COWS from throwing hay out
of reach and the feed alley floor is On
a level with the top Of the manger
and sloping toward 1t, which makes
feeding very convenient and the alley
easy to clean. The bottom is SO shap
ed that a minimum amount Of water
is required to permit COWS to drink
out Of the manager.
The Manager should be made at the
same times as the floor, and with con.
crete and facing Of the same proper.
tons. The construction is very SIM
pie. A plank set on edge on the stall
side and two templets-one for the
concrete and the other for the facing
lis all that Is necessary. The tenn
plets are made from boards cut in the
desired shape, the one for the con-
crete being made larger SO as to allow
for the one-inch facing. The bottom
should be given a slope of three inches
In so feet, so that water may be readi-
ly drained out of the manger at the
lower end.
Manure cutters, like hangers, differ
In size and shape, but for concrete
floors the design shown in plate I Is
most common. This gutter is s inches
deep and IA inches wide. Some cattle
lei prefer cutters 16 to IS inches
wide and only 4 inches deep, still 9th
ers place the stall as much as IL
inches and the manure alley 6 inches
above the gutter bottom. In order to
facilitate the draining away Of the.
liquids a three-inch U-shaped channel
is sometimes made in the bottom Of
the gutter next to the manure alley,
but this is not necessary where a slope
is given the gutter bottom. The gutter
should be given a uniform fall Of three
inches to 100 feet, and the floor Of the
manure alley should have a slope to-
ward the gutter Of one inch in ten feet.
The stall floors should be given a one
inch drop from manager to gutter.
A small water-tight liquid manure
cistern may be provided outside the
barn into which the gutter drains, but
If a manure shed is used the cistern
should be In the shed. The gutter
should be connected to the cistern by
means Of a drain pipe effectively
trapped like the soil pipe in a house
and so arranged that the trap may be
easily cleaned.
Stalls, although the question of
economy and first cost must not be
lost. sight of, should first be consid-
cred from the standpoint Of the hui
manitarian and no patented or home
made stall should be decided upon UNI
less it is made SO as to insure the
greatest possible comfort for the ami
mails. This Is no mere sentiment, but
sound business and any reasonable
expenditure in this direction is money
well invested. This is true for types
of cattle, but more especially 80 for
the dairy cow, which Is a very sensi.
tive creature, highly susceptible to
kind treatment. II she is kept clean
and comfortable all her energy will
be devoted to the production Of milk.
while II her quarters y filthy and un.
Portable a certain portion will be di.
verted and lost. This has been con.
clusively proven time and again by
the almost fabulous yields OF milk OF
butter TAT from COWS when given ideal
care and treatment.
"a stable To- be comfortable must
needs be sanitary. ItS should be 81
constructed that COW cannot lie
down in her own filth, and 90 arranged
that it q be easily cleaned and AZ
ford the least possible chance for th,
permanent lodgment OF NTH and Sdia
!. ease germs.
The type Of stall which most nearl
meets the requirements Of coIifOr
and sanitation p undoubtediy som