Showing the gutter behind the cows with some of the grates removed. The gutter is being filled with water. When full the cover to the opening to a 10-inch tile is removed and the rush of the water carries all with it.
Electric-driven sump pump with 3-inch intake and 2-inch discharge which pumps manure and water at the rate of 200 gallons per minute.
Interior of the barn showing large ventilating flues. At the side of the room are the air-intakes.
Our water pump requires a ten horse-power motor and will throw 150 gallons per minute. Besides a means of getting manure hauled out, we expect to do some irrigating in dry weather. While running both the pump at the well and the sewerage pump we require about ten kilowatts of current per hour. This costs us about five cents per kilowatt.
We have installed the King ventilating system. Where a large herd of cows are kept in a barn such a ventilating system is a great help. Our barn is warm and comfortable but not steamy and close.
These systems cost a good deal of money and may not all prove practical. We are not urging that our example be followed but will be glad to give any of our readers such data as we may have concerning the success of these operations. At our barn we prepare the feed for all of our delivery horses and we expect to keep sixty cows. The method of handling manure will eliminate most of the breeding places of flies. Since this milk will be used raw and is produced for babies especially, extra precautions are necessary in our case. These things we have taken into consideration when planning so expensive a layout. In a few months we will know more about these systems and in a few years we will have a conclusive test made. Those who wish to drop in occasionally to see how we are getting along will be welcome.
Interior view of milk house showing sterilizing oven, cooler, bottle filler and conveyor for cases.