The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1915-08-05
SANITARY DAIRY FARMS

N'@' 49, cA% SA " III AANA
is no live stock. This is particular
true of a dairy farm, for the success
of which thorough sanitation is
necessity, says the L. S. Department o
Agriculture.
TO obtain the most sanitary condi
tons, the dairy barn should be bull
on high ground, with good natura
drainage and sheltered from the colt
winds of winter. Horse stables, poul
try houses, hog sheds, privies, anC
manure pits should be far enough
away not to routsminate the COW
stable air. There is always & ten
dency for the ~hsrRyard lots and pad
docks surrounding the stable 20 se;
muddy and foul, but when tie barn is
situated on S high wcl!-6rs3ned spot
this tendency is reduced 70 s minimum
as the lOts soon become dry after 4
rain and in the spring vhfC The .-oS;
leaves the ground II me ward is in.
clined 10 ne muddy a may ae .-aprov-
&c by drainage and ~ the use G! On
ders OF grave Il should he free from
~nu3eoles. a1G manure should not be
allowed 70 accumulate Y a. Il severe
winter weather. or Il the sg-.Cc when
the ground Is soft and aou can not
be hauled 10 The fields daily. il should
be stored in s. manure pit some dis.
lance FROM the stable and rot II the
basement OF the barn or any place in
the dairy stable.
An ideal site for q a~arnyacd IS on
a south slope that drains away from
the barn. \ clean yard Is a great
help in keeping the cows from becom-
ing soiled by mud and manure.
Drinking water for COWS should be
fresh and uncontaminated from any
source. The we'll should be so locat-
ed and protected that there is no dan.
ger of pollution of the water by the
drainage from the barnyard, manure
piles, or other sources. The water
tank or trough should be so convenient
to the stable that il is unnecessary TO |
expose the COWS 10 extreme cold or
severe storm. II should be kept clean
and filled with an abundance of fresh,
pure water, TO remove any doubt as TO
the ability of each animal TO satisfy
its thirst.
The construction of the dairy barn
may be less important in keeping down
the bacterial count of the milk than
careful methods in handling milk.
Proper construction, however, lightens
the labor necessary to keep the barn
and its equipment in a clean, sanitary
condition. In the old-time basement
dairy barn little attention was paid to
proper ventilation and distribution of
the light. This type of barn is not
recommended and if used for housing
dairy COWS the lighting and ventila-
ton should receive special attention.
A one-story dairy stable is a very
good type. 1t should preferably be
located with its length extending north
and south and have an abundance of
window space. If the stable is locat-
ed this way it receives the purifying
benefit Of both the morning and after
noon sun. The construction should
be such as to minimize the labor neces-
sary to keep floor. walls, ceiling, and
stable fittings in a clean and sanitary
condition. The floor, gutter, and man
gers should be hard, impervious to
moisture, and free from cracks in
which filth may collect. The gutter
back of the cows should be large
enough to hold the ~droppings; a width
of 16 to is inches and a depth of 7
inches are usually sufficient. The gut.
ter should incline SO as to drain radi-
ly unless the liquid is taken up by
absorbents. !,
All drains and waste pipes should be
water-tight and alright. Every waste
pipe should have a trap to prevent foul
air from coming back through the
waste pipe.
Those types Of stables and managers
are best which present the least posi-.
Bile surface for collecting dirt and dust
and the least obstruction to the circu-
lation Of air. Stalls OF wood have many
fiat surfaces and cracks which are
difficult to keep clean and in case
Of an outbreak of disease are not easy
to d~isinfect thoroughly. Stalls and
swing stanchions made Of metal pipe
are more sanitary. A low, smooth
manager without sharp angles is prefer
able for 1t Is easy to keep clean. Cob.
webs, dust. or dirt should not be allow.
ed to accumulate on the walls and cell.
ing. With a tight, smooth ceiling and
smooth walls without lodges there
should be little trouble from dust and
cobwebs. Whitewash should be freely
applied at least twice a year, both to
walls and ceiling. as It helps to purify