18 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



DEVELOPMENT OF STOCK RAISING. 



Experiments by the department, in cooperation with the State 

 experiment stations, have shown conclusively that the South is 

 well adapted to economical beef and pork production. It is begin- 

 ning to take its place with other sections as a stock-raising territory. 

 Numerous breeding herds are being established. The leading beef- 

 cattle breeders' associations are featuring the southern trade, and 

 two of them are holding sales in cooperation with the department. 

 Cattle from southern herds have won the highest honors in northern 

 show rings, and steers from southern feed lots, after being properly 

 fattened, now command good prices in northern markets. This work 

 is not for the benefit of one section alone; the entire country will 

 profit from the extension of meat production into new territory. 



A study of growing beef animals in the corn belt also was made, 

 and records were obtained of the cost of raising calves from nearly 

 15,000 cows. The results show that calves, as a rule, can be raised 

 at a profit, although the cost of production is higher than is usually 

 thought. 



The boys' and girls' pig and poultry clubs are valuable agencies 

 for enlarging the meat output, as well as for training and developing 

 the coming generation of farmers. The membership of both classes 

 of clubs more than doubled during the year. The pig clubs now have 

 more than 21,000 members and the poultry clubs 8,500. 



National Forest ranges. — The investigations conducted at the in- 

 stance of the committee appointed to study the meat situation indi- 

 cate that there has been an increase of from 15 to 30 per cent in the 

 carrying capacity of the National Forest ranges. This has been 

 brought about by systematic regulation, better methods of handling 

 stock, improving and increasing the number of watering places, open- 

 ing up unused or inaccessible ranges, the building of drift fences, and 

 the lessening of losses from poisonous plants. These ranges now are 

 supporting over 1,750,000 cattle and 7,850,000 sheep, exclusive of 

 calves and lambs. It is estimated that within the next 10 years their 

 carrying capacity will be increased by an additional 15 per cent and 

 that they will be capable of supporting fully 2,000,000 cattle and 

 9,000,000 sheep. 



As previously pointed out, regulated grazing on the public lands 

 outside the National Forests would permit a considerable addition 



