Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1917-03-24
RAISING MULES ON
LOUISIANA FARMS
Production Of Work Stock Equally I'M
PoTJant as That Of Home supplies
Cotton Farnsrs Spend One Gale
In Seven For mulca.

their living AZ home as ia as pus+i.
bic, regardless OF the high prize. Of
cotton, sugar or rice. If ID is import
ant that the farmer produce his own
vegetables poultry, milk and meat. it
Is equally importau, rha; he produce
MS own work stock. II is estimated
thal Louisiana farmers are spending
one bale Of cotton out Of every seven
for farm mules. Sugar mules are or
the highest class on the market, and
are more expensive than those used
on the cotton plantations.
1t is evident that there is an in
creased interest in Louisiana IN rails
ing mules for the farm. A. almost
every parish or district fair this fall
there were shown one or more good
brood mares with mule colts. The
mares are pert OF the farm work
stock, and do their part toward the
cultivation Of The land with such IA
yors shown them as are necessary Cor
the successful handling Of mares
used for breeding purposes On the
average, these mares when purchased
cost less than good mules and while
they probably DO a little less work
during the year ther are generally
conceded 10 be- well worth the price
paid fer them as work stock. what
ever they do toward The production OF
mules for future use en- me farm may
be REGARDED as clear profit Another
interesting, iacJ IS that a large parcen.
tage Of these mares were bred by
their owners or on nearby farms from
native mares and sired by good stall.
lions.
At a number Of the fairs the ser.
vice stations used on the farms by in
dividrals or for community breeding
were shown with their progeny and
their dams. Most Of hem were reg
istered or high grade PercherOn
horses, with an occasional Belgian.
Shire or Standred bred
A study of the animals exhibited
and those TO be seen on the farms /
81 the state indicates that the farm |
ers are rapidly coming to the conclu-
sion that the home production OF
mules is both practical and profitable
or Louisiana farms. II also seems
GEAR that they have reached the con-
clusion that the understood, small ma
tive mare is Improbable as a pro-
Queer OF farm mules and that she can
be best used for breeding a larger
horse stock by means OF improved !
draft stations, and the best FLIES OF
this progeny selected for mule breed
ing. There Is nothing new in this
idea, as IL follows the common course
adopted In all other states where the
raising OF mules has been made a sue.
cess.
The movement has now received
sufficient impetus to warrant the for.
nation in many communities OF CO.
operative breeding associations, where
each farmer Will keep one or more
brood mares and the association VIII .
maintain az least one good draft stall .
lion and hieh-class tack. Both are .
essential to the greatest success be- /
cause the average louisiana farmer .
prefers mules for all his regular farm .
work and is not inclined 70 breed /
horses 10 any greater extent than is /
necessary 70 give him a supply OF F.
mares Of suitable size and conforma-
ton to produce the mules he requires.
The average Louisiana mare carries
more or less improved blood. derived
from thoroughbred horses or other
light harness and saddle stock. and
their colts. even when sired by heavy
draft stations, show f tendency 10
have fine bones, clean limbs and good
action These qualities are trans
mitted TO their mule cons, which are
more active and speedy than mules
from draft bred dams, and while they
are lighter in weight. they are general. .
" preferred by all of the farmers Of
this state except the cane planters.
who usually show a preference for
very heavy mules,
The present price Of cotton, sugar
and rice enables the farmer 10 pay
out more money for work stock than
ne could In former years with low
prices. but on account OF the high
price OF all live stock he really gets
no moro for a given portion OF his
erop then he did formerly. II would
be wisdom for all who have TO pur-
chase work stool; 20 include e few
good brood mares in each purchase,
put them IN the hands Of careful driv-
ers on the farm, breed them 10 good
lacks A. the first opportunity and raise
the mute colts 70 replace the older
mules as they are worn out and dis
esvded. Mules, like all other farm
stock. can be maintained the greater
uert Of the year on pasture, and. as
almost every farm has more or less
waste land where an abundance or
feed remains unused each year or on
which 3 good sod could be establish
ed. the cost Of raising a few colts
should be mitch less than their pur.
chase price. But even Should they
cost as much as TO bly, them, II IL
more economical and safer as bust.
ness proposition 20 use the existing
rseources OF the farm 10 produce them
tAen 70 face the certainty OF having n
purchase the mules required fcs cash
at : high price.
G. E Nelson.
tive Stock Extension Service, LOUIS.
lana state University