442 A STUDY OF FARM ANIMALS 



The competitive side of the work demonstrates the value 

 of good blood in farm animals and its relationship to profit- 

 able production. Thus better breeding will be stimulated. 

 The cost of production will teach the boy how to use the 

 forage crops and concentrates of the farm to best advantage 

 rather than purchase expensive feeds on the market. Boys 

 through live-stock clubs study the breeds and compare them 

 with grades and scrubs, thus becoming judges capable of 

 measuring up values. In this same connection boys become 

 interested in promoting certain breeds, thereby contributing 

 to live-stock improvement. Live-stock clubs of necessity 

 place a premium on proper management, involving breeding, 

 feeding and sanitation, each of which is of vital importance 

 in profitable production. During the late World War, when 

 an appeal was made to the American stockmen to produce 

 more meat, it was estimated that the 45,000 pig-club mem- 

 bers produced about ten million pounds of dressed pork. 



The organization of live-stock clubs is comparatively 

 simple. In 1915, Mr. W. H. Balis, in charge of Boj^s' Pig 

 Clubs in Louisiana, wrote.* 



"The organization of a pig club consists simply in enrolling each 

 boy and girl of the school who is willing to raise a pig and keep a record 

 of how much the pig is fed, etc. Any teacher may do this and send the 

 names to the parish demonstration agent, or if there is no parish agent, 

 to the Junior Extension Department of the Louisiana State Univer- 

 sity. Before sending the names to the club agent it is very important 

 that the parents give their consent, as very few will be able to carry on 

 the work unless the parents are willing to co-operate." 



Boys' and girls' live-stock clubs are now generally under 

 the supervision of the extension service of our state agricul- 

 tural colleges, in co-operation with the United States Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture. As a rule, county agricultural agents 

 where such persons hold office, organize the clubs, and see 

 that the work is properly started and supervised. Where 

 there are no county agents, the work may be conducted by 

 local clubs, supervised by volunteer leaders. Teachers in 

 the rural schools, especially those teaching agricultural sub- 



*Organization of Boys' Pig Clubs, Circular No. 2, Louisiana State University. 



