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58
"Your Committee were much struck with the small allowance of standing
room (floor-space) allowed to the cows in some of the sheds, and they are of
opinion that this is a matter that needs attention, for in several instances they
found the cows standing very uncomfortably on the edge of the stalls, their hoofs
overhanging the channel; while in other cases the animals had great difficulty in
lying down, through being so much cramped for room. In any bye-laws that may
be framed hereafter for regulating the structure of cowsheds, this question of floor
space should not be overlooked. The flooring of many of the sheds is very defective
in point of material, condition, &c., and the mangers likewise.
"With respect to the general condition of the sheds, it was on the whole very
fair, though many of them are in want of whitewashing. The temperature and
the condition of the atmosphere varied much, some of the sheds being hot, close,
and oppressive; but in a few, where there is fixed through ventilation, the temperature
was cool, and the air was sweet and pleasant. Some cowkeepers appear
to be governed in the management of their cows by the opinion that a high
temperature conduces to the secretion of a larger quantity of milk, and this may
be so; but it is more than probable that in such a case quality is sacrificed in order
to secure quantity, and thus the consumer becomes a sufferer from a hot and illventilated
cowshed. It being the opinion of your Committee that a cool temperature
and efficient ventilation contribute to keep the cows healthy, the attention of
the "local authority" should be drawn to the subject whenever the Privy Council
shall have authorised the making of bye-laws, one of which might very properly
provide for keeping a thermometer in a specified place in each shed.
"At a few of the cowsheds a considerable quantity of dung was observed; and
it would appear from the reports of the sanitary inspectors that the removal of
dung, &c., is not always effected with the proper regularity, though every cowkeeper
engages, as a condition of the renewal of his license not being opposed by the
Vestry, "to have all solid manure removed from the premises at least
three times in every week, before 8 o'clock in the morning." As there is at
present no penalty for default, the due execution of this engagement depends
simply on the good faith of the licensee, or, it may be, on the obedience of his
employes.
"The sheds vary much in point of suitability of site, construction, &c. With
few exceptions the premises have not been designed for the use to which they are
applied, and many of them are unsuitable, being nothing more than the ground floor
of stables, the upper portions of which are sublet as dwelling rooms to private
families. In other cases the shed is ceiled, the loft being used for storing fodder.
In all these examples the shed is more or less hot, badly lighted, and offensive,
owing to the difficulty of ventilating it in an adequate manner. Your Committee
are strongly of opinion that the shed should in all cases be open to the roof; and
that in addition to fixed ventilation in the roof, there should, wherever it is practicable,
be through ventilation over the heads of the cows. They were very
favourably impressed with the satisfactory results attending the employment of
pan-tiles in the formation of the roof, especially where the tiles are fixed without
mortar, for while the rain is effectually excluded, an abundance of fresh air is
admitted, apparently without draught, and with obvious advantage to the health of
the cows. A few of the sheds stand in their own yards, and it is desirable that
every cowshed should have a yard, in which the dung pit should be built. In two
cases the dung pit is within the shed itself—there is no other place for it—and in