46 



Bulletin 827, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 



does not affect its value as a feed after it is produced and is not a logi- 

 cal reason for using it in a wasteful manner. 



Cottonseed meal should not be used as fertilizer until it lias been 

 fed to cattle. Enormous quantities of cottonseed meal are used in 

 the Piney Woods as a direct fertilizer when it could be fed to cattle 

 and fully 75 per cent of the fertilizing value recovered and applied 

 to the land in the form of manure. 



BUILDINGS AND SHELTER. 



Because of the short, mild winters cattle need little shelter and 

 no expensive buildings are necessary. Cattle seek protection only 



Fig. 11. — An open shed for cattle on a Louisiana ranch. 



from the cold winter rains of December, January, and February 

 and a dry place to lie down is all that is needed. Mature cattle 

 should not be closely housed and cattle space under barns should 

 be boarded up only on the side of the prevailing winds. 



Where the land is not heavy enough to be injured by trampling, 

 cattle will do better if allowed to run in the open with available 

 shelter when needed. Where velvet beans are pastured during win- 

 ter, shelter should be provided, as exposure to cold rains causes the 

 rapid loss of expensive gains. 



Figure 11 shows an inexpensive type of open shed used on a 

 Louisiana cattle ranch. Such a shed provides all the shelter neces- 

 sary. 



In the Piney Woods region, where rains, make the curing of hay 

 difficult, barns should have ample storage space to take care of 



