The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1917-05-12
CUT-OYER Lands AS
LIVESTOCK RANCHES
Nay Be Greatly Improved BY Planting
Bermuda and Other Pasture
Grasses.

Extension Service. L. 8. U. indicate
that there is a growing tendency
among the owners and prospective
purchasers OF cutover 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 win
ter feeding; the estimated value Of
land for grazing purposes; methods
Of improving them for pasturage; the
best crops to grow for winter grazing.
silase and grain; the best class and
breeds Of cattle to use; and q few
asked about the construction Of
fences. sheds. barns and silos.
The observations made by the spe-
calist Of this service seem to indi-
cate that cut-over pine lands do not
provide sufficient forage in winter to
prevent cattle from becoming badly
smaciated and showing a high rate of
mortality: and inQuirers have been
advised that while Only . few acres
will be required for each animal dur.
ing the summer, even an unlimited
range In winter would not suffice to
keep the cattle IN a condition to pro-
duoe 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.
Lespedeza, paspalum. and rescue
grass seed may be sown on the ma
1.-Two grass sod on the better portions
" the land. especially along the
branch bottoms and other places
where there Is an abudance Of moist
are throughout the year, and win
Dpread over the other lands BY graz
ng after they have produced seed. As
he lands improve, tho white and bur
clovers will spread in the same way.
Further improvements in the use Of
such land for ranching purposes
could be made by clearing from 10
TO 20 per cent and planting 1t III corn
with oowpeas and velvet beans, sos-
ghum and soy beans for silage, lespe-
te1a. cowpeas and crab grass for hay
md harvesting . part Of the velvet
beams to be ground on q fed mill 20
supply bean meal feed, which is a good
homegrown substitute for cotton seod
meal. Corn and velvet beans make
Inc winter feed for cattle, sheep and
hogs II pastured after frost. Oats and
vetch sown in October will furnish
sraxing during the winter and spring.
Although it IL not necessary to keep
rattle In full flesh over the winter II
they are 10 be grazed the following
spring and summer, they should not
b allowed to get so thin as to 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 Of
cattle kept. The value Of tho land for
I've stock production can be figured
On the value Of the animals produced
on given area. II ten acres will
produce a scrub yearling that will sell
Tor $500 and the cost Of operations,
interest on Investment. taxes, etc
amount to $1,000 per head. the net in
como will be SOC per acre, or 10 per
cent on a value Of $500 per acre. II.
With improved cattle and methods, a
good grade yearling that will sell for
5000 can be produced on acres at
4 total cost Of $500, figured as above.
NE net income will be $500 per acre
- 10 per cent on a valuation Of
5000. G.. F.. Nesom.
Live Stock Extension Service Louis
F.. lana State University.