a JEFFERSON DAVIS PARISH article

Cultures of Acadiana
a look at the French, Cajun, Creole, and Native American cultures of south Louisiana
(a project of Carencro High School - 721 West Butcher Switch Road, Lafayette, LA  70507)

Lafayette (LA) Daily Advertiser, October 28, 1997

Cattle industry was one of the first in Jefferson Davis

by Jim Bradshaw

According to a 1947 study by the Jefferson Davis Parish Planning Board, "This portion of the state was sparsely settled and expansive prairies were almost covered by herds of wild cattle and horses. This stock was corralled and branded once or twice each year. No provision was made by the owners for shelter or feeding the stock, and the resultant losses were often great in a severe winter. The only remuneration from this loss was obtained by the sale of hides which were removed and cured as soon as possible after the death of the animals.

"Hogs also ranged at will although they manifested a preference for timbered land where nuts and wild fruits were procurable. When grown, they were captured by their owners and fattened for slaughter," the report said.

The early cattle stock was a poor grade from Mexico that did not bring the best price at market. But the stock still brought a profit. Practically the only expenses for the Jefferson Davis area cattlemen were branding and marketing. The cattle grazed on open land and drank from area ponds.

By the 1800s, cattlemen had learned better techniques of raising cattle and also started using barbed wire. Roundups took place twice a year to brand new cattle and count the herd. After branding was completed, the cattle were released.

Cattlemen faced hazards of drought, insects, diseases, lack of fresh water, blizzards, and lack of grass. According to a contemporary report during the winter of 1877, "Cattle are commencing to perish from the inclemency of the weather and lack of forage, and if the winter continues as severe as now, the grim skeletons which will dot the surface of the prairies will be legion."

In 1893 and 1895, 50 percent of the cattle in this area were killed in a blizzard. That blizzard of 1895 is still regarded as one of the worst ever in Louisiana history. Weather records of the time report low temperatures of 9 degrees at Opelousas, 11 degrees at New Iberia, 12 degrees at Lafayette, Lake Charles and Shell Beach (on Lake Arthur). and 13 degrees at Cameron.

The Monthly Weather Review for February 1895 reported: "The cold may be said to have been continuous throughout the entire month, there being only five days when the temperature averaged normal or slightly in excess thereof for the day. The coldest weather occurred on the morning of the 7th and 8th; more particularly on the latter date in the southern half of the state, and no such cold was ever known before in February in Louisiana. ..."

In the early 1900s, Northerners came to the area, bringing better livestock and better breeding operations. A. R. McBurney was a major influence on the cattle industry of this area. He brought in better cattle and spread them throughout the area. Others who helped the cattle industry of the area were George Conner, W. L. Day, C. W. Estes, J. M. Petitjean, Theobert Cormier, Ray Bucklin, and Henry Phenice.

This article is copyrighted © by the Lafayette (LA) Daily Advertiser and is used with permission.  This web site was originated through a grant awarded to Carencro High School (Joel Hilbun/Bobbi Marino, Grant Administrators) by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education from the Louisiana Quality Education Support Fund - 8(g).