The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1893-02-18
care ofcolts.

IL Is q very common expression among
Dakota farmers that horse eau be rais-
ed here as cheap as a steer. II this re-
mark was qualified by the assertion that
when raised the horse is worth about as
much as the steer aud no more it would
give u clever idea of the actual profit in
colt raising a generally conducted in
this state.
The boy is the type Of the man and the
colt foreshadows the future horse. II
we expect our o n and daughters to
succeed in life, we are careful how We
raise and educate them. So IL we ex-
pect the cults to mature into good and
salable horses we should give strict at
tention to their growth and develop
ment. The same care aud conditions
that will grow aud develop a steer into
a profitable head Of stock will more than
likely turn out a colt that will not any
more than bring the value of the feed
put into him. South Dakota Is overrun
with Young horses that would not bring
$40 a head ut any trade center In this
country, and for wait Of u market they
are fairly eating their heads of and get
ting their unlucky owners into deeper
water with every wear OF their growth
The primary trouble lies in breeding q
small mare to some overgrown Junk
head Of a sire, with the expectation Of
getting a draft horse. The offspring of
such matings neither inherit The vim
and energy Of the dam nor the size OF
the sire and the result is an 800 or 9O0
pound colt at three years old worth,
after the care he has received, just about
as much as a steer of the same weight.
out of which must be deducted $40 to SIS
service fees. The principal difficulty is,
however, as limited: improper care as q
weanling and during the subsequent two
years OF the colts life. It is to be ad-
united, Of course, that not every farmer
in this new country and under the prim-
tive conditions OF his farm eau keep
every colt in a roomv and comfortable
box stall and cram it with oats. but that
many OF them can adopt the happy
medium between the two extremes aud
produce q much better class Of horses is
self evident.
The advent Of the electric system to
street car traffic has practically killed
the sale Of the medium grade horses Of
the West and the East now supplies all
the horses for the cities known to the
market as "Streetsrs." The only class Of
horses that are not a glut on the market
are fine drivers, coach teams and draft
horses Of 14OO to 1900 pounds. How
many mares are there in Brule county
capable Of producing a 1900 pound horse,
no matter to how heavy a horse bredl
1t is mistaken idea that the sire con-
trolls the size OF u foal. The dam has
much to do with 1t. as we'll as she also
transmits much OF her other qualities,
good Ok bad. We believe many of our
farmers could go a long ways toward
improvement by breeding their light
mares to French Coach stalliors, stand
ard breds OF other light harness stations,
not with the expectation wholly of get
ting a stylish coach horse or trotter but
with a good chance of rearing a colt
that will either make q salable driver,
or II retained on the farm. one that will
always keep his end up with that inbred
nervous force characteristic OF the
breeds mentioned. But such a colt needs
careful and painstaking care from The
very day he Is foaled; and SO apparent is
1t to any horse breeder that every pound
Of good clean oats and bran put into him
during his first year is returned double
fold In the value Of the colt that 1t is
not necessary to enlarge upon it. Better
raise two or three colts, sired by good
horses. every year end care for them as
they should be and devote the balance Of
the stable room and feed to steers. sheep
or hens than follow the present ruinous
plan Of many-breeding and feeding
horses that are horses in name only.
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