128 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



this farm to the age of 2 years was found to average $102 for a 

 957-poiind mule. 



A herd of 40 beef cows is being kept to determine the cost of 

 maintaining a beef-breeding herd, to test the relative merits of fall 

 and spring calving, and to determine the cost of producing a feeder 

 steer or a breeding heifer. 



During the winter 60 steers were fed 100 days to compare different 

 kinds of silage as roughage when used with cottonseed meal for fat- 

 tening. The lot of 10 fed on corn and soy-bean silage made the 

 greatest daily and total gain, with the lots fed respectively on corn 

 silage, sorghum, Japanese cane, whole cane, and cane-top silage fol- 

 lowing in the order named. 



A dairy herd of 13 registered and 16 grade Jersey cows was 

 acquired during the year. Three of the registered cows already have 

 been entered in the Register of Merit with records of production, two 

 are under test, and the remainder will be entered as soon as possible. 

 The completion of the dairy group of buildings makes it possible to 

 begin experiments to determine the cost of producing a gallon of 

 milk and the cost of raising dairy heifers. 



In the summer various crops were used for hog grazing. These 

 included sweet corn, field corn, cowpeas, soy beans, and sweet pota- 

 toes, some alone and some in combination. The greatest gains were 

 made with field corn and cowpeas. 



LIVE-STOCK EXTENSION. 



In many sections of Louisiana the growing of cane and cotton has 

 caused live-stock production to make slow progress. In order that 

 stock raising might be extended throughout the State, local demon- 

 strations in the different branches of live-stock husbandry have been 

 conducted, in cooperation with farmers, in the several parishes. By 

 this method is has been possible to show in actual operation the most 

 economical and approved methods of handling, feeding, and man- 

 aging live stock. During the year 88 demonstrations of that kind 

 were carried on, of which 28 were with beef cattle, 32 with swine, and 

 28 with poultry. Already there is a noticeable increase in the live 

 stock on farms and great improvement in general methods of live- 

 stock management. 



Emphasis has been placed upon the use of winter grazing crops 

 for live stock; the use of legumes, especially velvet and soy beans, 

 planted with corn for finishing cattle and hogs was encouraged; and 

 effo'rts were made to increase the acreage of the clovers, lespedeza, 

 Bermuda, and the native grasses that are suitable for forage. 



Local live-stock demonstrators were advised by the specialist as to 

 the best crops to grow and proper methods for haiKJlling them. Every 

 effort was made also to increase the acreage of crops grown for food, 

 in order that this region may do its share in the emergency. 



To demonstrate the possibilities and methods of managing a beef- 

 producing herd, 28 local demonstrations were carried on in the 

 different parishes. In these herds beef bulls are being used to 

 grade up native cattle, although there are a few beef females. 



Interest in hog raising has increased through Louisiana. Demon- 

 strations in 32 communities have resulted in a greatly enlarged acre- 

 age of forage crops for hogs. The better feed used and the greater 



