Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1917-04-28
CUT-OVER LANDS AS
LIVESTOCK RANCHES
May Be Greatly improved BY Planting
Bermuda and Other Pasture
Grasses.

Inquiries received by the Live Stock
Extension Service. l.. S. L. indicate
that there is growing tendency
among the owners and prospective
purchasers of cut-over lands in Louis
lana to use them for establishing
cattle and sheep ranches. Among the
questions asked by inquirers are the
number Of acres required per head
of animals kept with and without will
ter feeding; the estimated value OIL
land for grazing purposes; methods
! OF improving them for pasturage; the
best crops 10 grow for winter grazing,
silage and grain; the best class and
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 70 indi-
cate that cut-over pine lands do not
provide sufficient forage in winter to
prevent cattle from becoming badly
emaciated and showing a high rate "
mortality: and inquirers have been
advised that while only few acres
will he required for each animal dur
Ing the summer, even an unlimited
range in winter would not suffice 10
keep the cattle In a condition to pro-
duce a profit They were advised to
the improvement OF the
pastures by planting Bermuda on the
cleared land or IN open strips in the
fenced area which could be cleared
tip easily, and SOW iespedeza, white
and bur clover on the Bermuda sod.
i.espede2a, paspalum, and rescue
grass seed may be sown on the ma
tive grass sod on the better portions
Of the land, especially along the
branch bottoms and other places
where there IL an abudance OF moist
rre throughout the car. and will
spread over the other lands by graz
ng after they have produced seed As
the lands improve, the white and bur
elcvers will spread In the same way
Further Improvements IN the use Of
such land for ranching purposes
could be made by clearing from y
10 20 per cent and planting It in corn
With cowpeas and velvet beans, scr
shum and soy beans for silage lespe-
ieza, cowpeas and crab grass for hay
Ind harvesting q part Of the velvet
beans TO be ground on a feed mill 20
supply bean meal feed, which is a good
homo grown substitute for cotton seed
meal. Corn and velvet beans make
line winter feed for cattle, sheep AMI
hogs IL pastured after frost. Oats and
vetch sown in. October will furnish
grazing during the winter and spring.
Although It is not necessary to keep
rattle n full flesh over the winter q
they are 10 be grazed the following
spring and summer, they should not
be allowed TO get so thin as 70 impair
their health and vigor before spring
grazing is available.
The carrying capacity OF cut.over
pine lands can be so improved by
these methods that much less than 10
acres will be required per head ~
cattle kept. The value OF tho land t0r
live stock production can be figured
on tho value CT The animals produced
on 4 given area. II ten acres will
produce a scrub yearllng that will sell
for $500 and the cost Of operations,
Interest on Investment, taxes, etc.
amount to $1,000 per head. tAe net in.
come will be soc per acre, or 10 pr
cent or vaiue Of $500 per acre. II.
with improved cattle and methods. a
good grade yeariing that viii sell for
5000 can be produced on 3 acres az
a total cosr OF $500 figured as above.
the net income will be $500 per acre
or 10 per cent on valuation ~
5000 G. Z. Nesom,
Live Stock Extension Service Louis
tara state University