The Bossier banner., 1917-05-24
CllT-OVER LANDS AS
LIVESTOCK RANCHES
MAY &c Greatly Improved BY Planting
Bermuda and Other Pasture
Grasses.

INQUIRIES received by the Live Stock
Extension Service, l.. S. U. Indicate
that there is growing tendency
amauS the owners and prospective
Dur zhasers Of cut-over lands in Louis
iana to use them for establishing
cattle ard sheep ranches. Among the
questions asked by inquirers are the
nursEer of acres required per head
OF animals kept with and without Will
ter feeding; the estimated value OF
land for grazing purposes; metncus
cs improving them for pasturage; the
best crops to grow for winter grazing.
silage and grain; the best class anu
breeds Of cattle to use; and a few
asked about the construction OF
fences, sheds, barns and silos.
The observations made by the spe'
cialist of this service seem to 1ndi-
cate that cut-over pine lands do not
provide sufficient forage in winter to
prevent cattle from becoming badly
emaciated and showing high rate u
mortality; and inquirers have been
advised that while only few acres
will be required for each animal due
| ing the summer, even an unlimited
| range i, winter would not suffice to
keep the cattle in a condition to pro-
duce profit. They were advised to
undertake the improvement OF the
pastures by planting Bermuda on the
cleared land or In open strips in the
fenced area which could be cleared
up easily, and sow lespedeza, white
and bur clover on the Bermuda sod.
I.cspcG aza, paspa!um. and rescue
grass seed may be sown on the ra-
tive grass sod on the better portions
Of the land, especially along the
branch bottoms and other places
where there is an abudance Of moist
ura throughout the year, and will
spread over the other lands by graz
ing after they have produced seed. As
the lands improve, the white and bur
clovers will spread in, the same way.
Further improvements in the use oi
such land for ranching purposes
could be made by clearing from II
to 20 per cent and planting it in corr
with cowpeas and velvet beans, scr
ghum and soy beans for silage, lespe'
-deza, cowpeas and crab grass for has
End harvesting part OF the velvet
beans to be ground on feed mill te
supply bean meal feed, which is gooe
homegrown substitute for cotton sect
meal. Corn and velvet beans max:
fine winter feed fo- cattle, sheep an.
hogs if pastured after frost. Oats ant
vetch sown in October will furnis}
grazing during the winter and spring
Although it is not necessary to keel
| cattle in full flesh over the winter !!
| they are to be grazed the followint
. spring and summer, they should no
| be allowed to get SO thin as to impai
, their health and vigor before sprin,
grazing is available.
, The carrying capacity Of cut-ove
, pine lands can be SO improved b.
/ these methods that much less than
: acres will be required per head q
: cattle kept. The value of the land 70
live stock production can be figure
!, on the value of the animals produce
( on a given area. If ten acres wi
. produce a scrub yearling that will Sc
4 for $500 and the cost Of operation!
4 interest on investment, taxes, ett
+ amount to $1,000 per head. the net il
e come will be SOC per acre, or 10 pe
|, cent on a value Of $500 per acre. l
with improved cattle and methods,
;, good grade yearling that will sell fc
i $4,000 can be produced on acres {
n a total cost Of $500, figured as abov,
Y the net income viii! BE- $500 per acI
e or 10 per cent on valuation /,
J. $4,000 G. E. Neson1,
l. Live Stock Extension Service Loui
o lana State University