Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1905-07-15
Government Aid in
Horse Breeding

clined to criticise the government de-
partment of agriculture for having APP
propriated some twenty-five thousand
dollars for the carrying out OF horse
breeding experiment in Colorado, but
we are not Of this mind. In other
countries the governments do far
more for this important industry than
has ever been the case here. Our
government has done practically moth
ing, with the exception Of taking some
interest in the matter of regulating
the importation of breeding stock. Yet
there is much that might be done to
help farmers improve their stock, and
the most necessary work, perhaps,
would be to help them obtain the
services OF the best class Of stations
each year.
AS an example of what is being done
abroad we may cite the case of Aus
tria-Hungary. 1t is reported that in
1897 the Austrian ministry expended
1851 500 for the encouragement OF
horsebreeding. OF this sum $166,50U
was for state studs, 100000 for stall
lion depots and $125,0O0 for purchas-
ing new stock from breeders. AS re-
CARDS receipts from service fees alone
$4,000 was received. Great care was
taken, says recent British speaker
on the subject, that every stallion
was suited to the requirements Of the
district. The management of the state
stud was entrusted to a military de-
partment, and the other studs to
civilians. In addition to this, in sew
eral districts where the Minister of
Agriculture thought necessary, stall
lions were supplied free of charge.
They also paid $61,50O the same
year for prizes for private owners
raising foals. Every stallion had to
have a license, which was granted
free after a veterinary examination.
Where actually necessary mares were
sold much below their value on the
condition that they were to be kept
for breeding purposes only. The num-
Der of stations owned by the state
was 2,13S in that year. The same
authority gave it as his opinion that
there was no state where the legisla-
ture had given so much encourage
ment on sound lines, and there was no
doubt that the Hungarian horses were
of good quality. From time to time
surplus stock was sold, but stations
were acquired, firstly, by buying year
ling foals, which were kept upon the
foal farm for three and one-half years
secondly, by buying fully developed
stations; and, thirdly, by agreement
made with about one hundred private
farmers, who bred the foals and turned
them over when three years old The
total number of state stations two
years ago was 6,014. They served
$4,000 mares and the service fee
amounted to about $165,000. In 1895 a
little over $4,000 horses were exported
and in 1903 the number had increased
to $4,000. This is certainly a good
showing for Hungary and should fur.
nish an example for other govern.
ments to pattern after.
We do not mean TO say that in this
country such measures could yet be
| adopted, but others of somewhat SINH
lar purport could be gradually taken
up under the auspices of the depart
ment of agriculture, and the expert
ment started in Colorado may be taken
as an indication that our government
intends to do something along this
line for the benefit of farmers. What
the next move will be we cannot say
but it will doubtless be associated
with some more general interest than
that of carriage horse production, and
will deal with the improvement of our
horse stock in general rather than in
an attempt to manufacture a new and
unnecessary breed of any kind. We
have plenty of breeding stock of a
kind in the country. What we want
most is to direct the mating and
management Of these animals in the
most sensible, intelligent and practical
manner. We want more supervision
of the soundness Of imported stations
and this is matter which the govern
ment can well afford to consider and
undertake. Pedigree inspection is not
sufficient. Soundness is of vital i'm
portance and some plan by which the
soundness Of every imported stallion
and mare could be assured before en-
try to the country would be a good
move in the right drection.-A. S.
Alexander in Farmers Review.