Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1871-02-24

sts cOrolally invited to write for Ii.
Breeding Horses.
We make the following extract
from John H. Bacon's lecture OH the
horse:
The breeding of horses is a very
important branch Of husbandry, and
every year makes it more so, not
only to the breeder but to the coun-
try at large. A fine young horse
pleases everybody, and always has
commanded and always will COM
mand a remunerative price, while
ordinary animals go hard in the
market, and especially in times like
these, when everything is at a dis
count.
There has, it is true, been a great
revolution in the means Of trans
portation in this country, in the last
ten or twenty years; but while this
change has been going on there has
been constant increase in the mar
ket price of good horses. And lar
ger prices have been paid for hor-
ses in the last five years than ever
before. The man of business tray
els in the most expeditions way that
presents itself, yet when he rides
for pleasure, or health, he wants
fine, spirited and beautiful animal,
and is willing to pay for it. The
man who puts his money into rail
road or bank stocks looks well to it
that he gets the best, or that which
pays the greatest dividends; and the
horse breeder, with proper care,
may make his profits equally sure.
Poor stock takes low rank in the
market, and the same is true of poor
horse stock; and he who would make
his profits sure, should be careful to
get the best without much reference
to the original cost. A poor colt is
poor property, while good one OF
pure blood is the most profitable
kind of stock to be raised on farm.
No man can be sure of a good colt
without he breeds to first-class
stallion, of whatever breed he may
desire.
l wish l had the power to impress
upon every farmer the Importance
of never looking with favor upon
the ordinary sc,'sj stallion, no mat
ter how low the price may be de-
manded for his services.
This is nearly the season of the
year which this subject should be
brought home to the mind of every
farmer who has a particle of pride
in his profession, a proper pride of
his country, or steady eye to his
future profits.
No mistakes have been more COM
mon among farmers, and none at
tended with more serious conse-
quences, than that of raising colts
from mares untitled to bear them.
With all the keenncss of obscrva-
ton, and the experience which ma
ny horse breeders possess, it is sur
prising that they have not yet dis
covered the great error of breeding
from imperfect dams.
1t is Law of nature "that like
begcts like" and if the slightest at
tention were paid to this rule, it
would seem as if no one would use
a mare to perpetuate race which
was known to be defective in any
points which go to make up good
animal. The same rule holds good,
too, in regard to dis, osition, temper,
or character, which are important
traits-traits so valuable that com
fort, safety, and even life itself, may
depend upon them; and yet because
mare has some one or two good
qualities, she is kept for a breeder,
though she may possess several 9TH
crs, any one of which ought to con-
denim her for that use.
If few general rules were OBJ
served by all breeders, such as the
following, great changes might be
wrought in a few years:
Never breed from an old mare
whose body or constitution has been
injured by injudicious treatment, or
by too severe labor. The results
which follow these are obvious to
every observing mind, both in man
or beast.
Never breed an unsound mare or
All unsound stallion, let the unsound-
ness be in what shape or form it
may. The common practice with
many farmers is to keep the old
mare for breeding, when she is I'M
fitted by age or disease, from any
further service upon the road, or on
the farm.
This is where the evil generally
commences. She is favorite ami
NAL, an excellent driver, has fine
style and action; but now she is
aged, spawned, curbed, or one or
two other trifling diseases, which
are little inconvenient for work
animal, consequently they will keep
her for breeder, and in this man
ner she will pay for her keeping.
This is the conclusion arrived at,
and thus the old mare, crippled and
diseased, is to become the progini-
tor of race, which is to occupy
certain locality, for perhaps a cen
fury. Far better to knock her in the
head and throw her carcass tn tho