Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-15
Weekly Bureau of In
formation for All Who
Till the Soil or Are In
terested in Making Homes
COMFORT OF DAIRY HERD;
CLEANLINESS, CONVENIENCE

In order 10 successfully maintain 2
good dairy herd, the owner must provide
adequate equipment with which TO care
for his animals in At least three cS-
sent!als-comfort, cleanliness and con.
renience. Along these lines VIII Kelly
man OF large experience, writes:
Good stable management Is an i'm
portant factor in determining the
PROFITS from the dairy herd during the
winter. Tho first essential Is that the
COWS be comfortable. because Il COW
Kept otherwise can never do her best.
She must have II comfortable place
TO lie down. stand up. move and stretch
her limbs and lick herself all over tho
body. She must have sunshine and
plenty of light. She must have pure
air TO breathe and this means that
tho stable must ne provided with some
system OF ventilation TO give 4 frequent
change OF air.
This need not he expensive. only n
little forethouGht and n few dollars
worth OF material and labor. She must
have good pure water ut lcas; twice n
day, or better still have an automatic
water basin at her side.
The stable should he cleaned daily,
and he thoroughly disintcctcd, The
ceiling. tioor and sides should he ali
smooth ana or concrete constructions
and ;he fNyurcs largely iron It is
rct EXPENSIVE. and they ave sanitary
Sne permanent
",arce smooth. concrete managers for
feeding are aNou; The best We know Of
To-Day tuGE:ao.; ana common sense
MIS-; - exercised - the methods Of
feeding a1t handling ;hc cows. Fined
7a.es Il :ss5!as a.e nor p:act.cai.
v-eN oou-.sAe3 :; al times. bu: X
given more than ;hey need fo- main
teaAaoe ana 9-otvc;!on, they waste &,
IS rule
70. cus,!,y .: ,n,:s-;Aa, IS, the
amour, q milk ard IA; ira; Il con-
sa:uional characteristics Q. the COW than
By the feed
Never stir UP dus, OF foul odors a,
milking time, II you do lot % Il
is SUR 20 set into the milk.
Whether 20 feed ihe COWS just be-
fore milking IS much debated Ques-
ZION. II is no, ~ Al! dangerous 70
feed them a lt:!- grain. provided YOU
stir up no dust or disagreeahle odors
LAS n rule. the cows viii give down
their milk more freely when they have
contented minds. and q l!:;le of the
right kind OF feed goes a long way to-
ward bringing about this con;crtcd
state Of mind. Nevc- clean the stables
Just before milking. for I; will stir up
Il tenfold worse odor than any feed
tho COWS will eat
IF there is any question before the
farmers OF this country Of more i'm
portnnce than that OF conserving the
soils fertility. am not cornizaut OF it.
The most important business OF
dairy farmers Is TO increase tho guam
;!ty OF rnanurial substances and apply
Il where II is most needed
'All OF the manure. both liquid and
solid. should hc saved and applied TO
n Inv, ,..lg
il from the stable to the field ard ap-
ply il rs fast rs made
When all the liquids have been
saved 10y use OF absorbents. large
amounts Of manure may be made and,
If II Is hauled TO the fields direct from
the stable these liquids will drain
INTO the soil TO the depth OF the fur
row slice. and there will be little loss
from exposure.
In addition, tho cows will no, he
waddling knce-deep in the mire and
filth every time they arc turned on;
in the yards for water and exercise.
Most OF the work comes ut a time
when other farm operations are slack:
and the SOIL besides being enriched,
plows easier and works up better dur
ing the whole OF the next season. on
account Of hc!n" made porous by be
ing covered with manure during the
winter
ttii itiiiiB iHt manure from the
stable 10 the field we plan 20 haul TO
the farther fields while the ground is
frozen and close 10 the barn while soft
ana muddy
There is no reasonable excuse for n
dairy farmer 10 allow more than one
third OF his rnanurial fertility TO wash
away In dirty. filthy barnyart,, and
spend one or two weeks during the
nnsY season In the spring to haul IL
across the n..Gdy Halds 10 get 1t on
his land - a.
"Clcanl!ness can. hes, be secured In
stable Of plain, smooth. construction in
side The walls, ceilings. stalls. etc.
should he smooth and tight, and. II
rossihle washable. The relation of
cleanliness 10 a wholesome product
and I" the health OF the cows Is vital.
convenience has TO do Win tho nos
sihility OF doing The dairy work easily
ana rapidly. This is best accomplishcd
ny storing all tools and supplies ns
near TO the place where ,h.y are to
"e used rs may hc consistent with san
ltarN precautions II Il barn is nrop-
"rly located and arranged, there is no
valid objection 10 storing feed above
the ca't!c other than the greater loss
nf ir.