It is not necessary to have a large yard connected with the stable, as
a cow is seldom inclined to exercise her locomotive powers more than
is required to secure her food, and if this is placed before her at
suitable times and in sufficient quantity to supply her demands, she
will remain perfectly contented in an enclosure twenty feet square. In
planning our buildings let us bear in mind that sunlight is essential
to perfect health. Therefore we should have the yard on the sunny side
of the building. At the same time we should see that there is a shady
corner, where the cow may take herself during intense heat. A hint in
this direction is sufficient. Nothing can be more cruel than to force
any dumb animal to stand exposed to the rays of an August mid-day sun, or
where she is tormented nearly to death by flies. Yet we often see just
such inhuman neglect on the part of those who should know better.
Although in many respects desirable, a pasture lot is not absolutely
essential, and in the case of the villager, whose land is measured by
feet instead of acres, it must be dispensed with. Hence we have recourse
to what is termed the soiling system, which is simply cultivating such
crops as will produce a succession of green food throughout the season,
and placing the same before the cow in such quantities and at such times
as she may require, instead of allowing her to tramp around after her
feed, and thereby waste more than she eats. It requires some skill and
judgment to carry out this plan successfully, but wherever it has bean
practised judiciously and intelligently, the results have been uniformly
satisfactory. As to what amount of land is required in order to keep
a cow through the year, I will not pretend to say; nor do I think it
advisable to try to produce the entire amount of food required for a full
year’s sustenance.