Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-02-09
RAISING MULES ON
LOUISIANA farms
Production of Work Stock Equally Inn
portant as That Of Home Supplies
Cotton Farmers Spend One Bale
In Seven For Mules.

1t is being urged by most agricul-
tural workers that the farmers make
their living at home as far a. posi-
BILE, regardless of the high price OF
cotton, sugar or rice. II IL is import
ant that the farmer produce his own
vegetables, poultry, milk and meat, 1t
is equally important that he produce
his own work stock. It is estimated
that Louisiana farmers are spending
one bale Of cotton out Of every seven
for farm mules. Sugar mules are OF
the highest class on the market, and
are more expensive than those used
on the cotton plantations.
It is evident that there is an in
creased interest in Louisiana in rails.
ing mules for the farm. At almost
every parish or district fair this fall
there were shown one or more good
brood mares with mule colts. The
mares are Il part of the farm work
stock, and do their part toward the
cultivation of the land with such IA
vOrs shown them as are necessary for
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, they are generally
conceded 10 be well worth the price
paid for them as work stock. What.
ever they do toward the production Of
mules for future use on the farm may
be regarded as clear profit Another
Interesting fact is that a large percen-
tage OF these mares were bred BY
their owners or on nearby farms from
lions.
At q number of the fairs the ser.
vice stations used on the farms by IN
dividuals or for community breeding
were shown with their progeny and
their dams. Most of them 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
Of 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
on Louisiana farms. 1t also seems
clear 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 fillies OF
this progeny selected for mule breed
ing. There is nothing new in this
idea, as it 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 will
maintain at least one good draft stall
lion and a high-class jack. 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 to breed
horses to any greater extent than Is
necessary to give him a supply of
~ tatl aiz
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 a tendency to
have fine bones, clean limbs and good
action. These qualities are trans
mitted to their mule colts, 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 preference for
very heavy mules.
The present price of cotton, sugar
and rice enables the farmer to pay
out more money for work stock than
he could in former years with low
prices, but on account of the high
price of all live stock he really gets
no more for a given portion of his
crop than he did formerly. It would
be wisdom for all who have to pur.
chase work stock to include a few
good brood mares in each purchase,
put them in the hands Of careful driv-
ers on the farm, breed them to good
Jacks at the first opportunity and raise
the mule colts to replace the older
mules as they are worn out and dis
carded. Mules, like all other farm
stock, can be maintained the greater
part of the year on pasture, and, as
almost every farm has more or less
waste land where an abundance Of
feed remains unused each year or on
which a good sod could be establish.
ed, the cost of raising few colts
should be much less than their pur-
chase price. But even should they
cost as much as to buy them, it Is
more economical and safer as q bust
ness proposition to use the existing
resources OF the farm to produce them
than to face the certainty of having to
purchase the mules required for cash
at a high price.