136 ANNUAL. REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



LIVE-STOCK PRODUCTION IN CANE-SUGAR AND COTTON 



DISTRICTS. 



Tlie experiments and demonstrations in live-stock production in the cane- 

 sugar and cotton districts have been continued under tlie direction of a com- 

 mittee now consisting of William A. Taylor, chief of the Bureau of Plant In- 

 dustry, chairman; B. H. Rawl, assistant chief of the Bureau of Animal In- 

 dustry ; George M. Rommel, chief of the Animal Husbandry Division of the 

 Bureau of Animal Industry ; and W. K. Dodson, director of extension service, 

 I^ouisiana State University. 



IBERIA EXPERIMENT FARM. 



At the Iberia Experiment Farm, Jeanerette, La., a four years' study of the 

 relative merits of mules and brood mares as work animals was completed. The 

 average annual maintenance cost per mule was $313.69, which was slightly 

 more than for mares. The mules, however, performed more than twice as 

 many days of work as the mares did. Mule colts foaled in the spring of 1918 

 were raised to 1 year of age at a cost of $56.94; colts foaled in the spring of 

 1917 were raised to 2 years of age for $156.20 and to 2^ years of age for $201.95. 



Completed experiments showed that the average cost of a feeder steer at 2 

 years of age was $51.62, while the average cost of raising a heifer calf to 2 

 years of age was $52.88, and to 30*months, $88.83. 



A number of steers were fed for 90 days on various silage crops suited to the 

 southern coastal region. The steers fed on corn-and-sgy-bean silage made the 

 greatest daily gains, and this silage pi'oved to be the most economical with a 

 cost of $11.14 per 100 pounds of gain, followed by silage from sorghum and soy 

 beans, corn, sorghum, whole sugar cane, Japanese cane, and sugar cane, in the 

 order named. 



The average cost of feeding steers from birth to the fattening period (2 years 

 8 months) was $69.13 ; fattening raised the cost to $113.77; the net selling price 

 was $132.84 and the net profit $19.07. A second lot of steers was raised to 2 

 years of age at a cost of $55.04, fattened for $39.45, and sold at a net profit of 

 $19.40 each. The third year's results of feeding beef cows showed that the 

 yearly cost of maintenance per cow was $29.98. The average cost of raising 

 calves to 2 years of age was $53.68. 



The average cost of raising pigs to weaning time was $3.05 for fall pigs and 

 $3.55 for spring pigs. In grazing experiments fall pigs (1917) made the great- 

 est gains on field corn supplemented with tankage, while spring i)igs (1918) 

 made the best gains on corn and soy beans. 



The dairy herd, headed by the Jersey bull Hillside Torono 101729, now con- 

 sists of 12 purebred Jersey cows, 13 grade cows, and 23 head of growing stock. 

 The average cost of producing 1 gallon of milk, including labor, feed, and pas- 

 turage, was $0,339. The cost of raising heifer calves to the age of 1 year 

 averaged $77.50 per head. Seven of the registered cows have been entered in 

 the Register of Merit and three are now on test. Purebred cows gave a profit of 

 $143.44 per head over feed cost as compared with $115.08 from grade cows. 



LIVE-STOCK EXTENSION. 



By means of demonstrations, short courses, and lectures, extension specialists 

 have brought before the farmers of the cane and cotton sections the value of 

 live-stock production. Direct aid has been given to beginners in live-stock 

 growing, both in the care and majiiagement of the stock and in the planning and 

 construction of barns, silos, and other buildings, and assistance has been given 

 in the selection and purchase of breeding stock. Marketing problems have 

 also received special attention. 



