Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-11-21
PRACTICAL HINTS For
s5sRENoosLlNa DAIRY sARN
70 GAIN MORE PROFIT

Now Is the time for the farmer and
dairyman to think OF the comfort OF
their cows during the coming winter
months. No class of I'VE stock responds
to good care and treatment as does the
dairy COW. A little time and expense
which may be used for this purpose
Will more than be repaid by the In
creased production during the time.
There are any number OF barns in this
state which viii be used for the hous-
ing of cows this winter which are en-
tirely unfit for this purpose, but which
by the expenditure Of very little
time and money can be made very
comfortable as well as heathful anu
sanitary.
The very first thing which would
come to the mind of every dairyman
would be the lack of light and ventila-
ton In the average barn. 1t is q very
simple task to put in number of ex-
ira indows. Each COW which is kept
in the barn during the winter should
nave four square feet of window glass.
There is nothing that will keep cows
as thrifty and in as good health as
plenty OF sunlight and good ventilation.
There is on the average farm a num-
Der Of windows In some old little used
building that might Just as wei be
doing some good. With very little ex.
ira work the windows. may be placed so
that they will have additional value as
part of simple but fairly efficient
ventilating system. The windows
should be hinged at the bottom and be
opened inward from the top. At either
side one inch by six inch board
should be nailed SO as to prevent air
from entering the side of window and
blowing directly on the cows. This
should be left six inches wide at the
top OF window being Saver OF, an angIs
coming to an acute angle at the base
OF window. A piece of lath should be
nailed to the inner edge OF. each board
SO as to act as support to hold the
window while open.
This arrangement when open viii act
as an inlet for air currents. In barns
that have silo in connection the sflo
shaft and hay chute will do as outlets.
Where there is no silo in connection
shaft about three feet square run.
ming from within one and half fest
from floor up and out thru the roof to
SoNt Q Apot .dVUfS- the nlRns
est altitude Of the barn, will act as an
outlet. Inis chute should be boarded
usht. some prefer to use a hay chute
as an outlet, boarding it tight except
Just at the bottom and providing II
with trap doors in the haymow thru
which the hay may be thrown down.
Either OF these arrangements are in-
expensive, because on the ordinary
farm there Is more than enough old
lumber laying around which win an
,swer for this purpose.
One Of the worst possible conditions
existing In many old barns Is that OF
having currents Of air coming up thru
the floor. This is due most ofen to
poor foundation or In some cases to
their absence. entirely. BY very little,
work these foundations can ordinarily
be repaired. Foundations that are NOT
in too bad shape can easily be ,flxed by
the use OF q little cement and any
bricks and stone which are always
available. Where there Is no founda-
ton. the sides Of the barn should be
banked with manure or with leaves or
chaf1 up to at least six inches above
the floor. Boards should be placed
between the material used and the sid
ing of the barn so as to prevent It's
rotting. This will prevent currents OF
air from coming up from below and
will also make the barn much warmer.
Where drainage is poor, water and
other filth is often known to stand
underneath the floors. This makes
the floors very damp and cold and con-
seauently are very unhealthful and un-
sanitary. A few tile laid will easily
remedy this. The floors II they are
not concrete should be made tight
There are any number OF other sims
pie and inexpensive improvements
which can easily be made on ordinary
barns which will add very much to the
health and comfort Of the dairy COW
II every dairyman in Iowa would make
at least one OF these improvements
mentioned It would have great effect
en- the profit Of this great industry in
Iowa. ~
Bear Island; lying 800 miles south Of