The Ladysmith news and Ingram news. [volume] (Ladysmith, Wis.) 1905-1906, 1905-10-14
HORSE BREEDING IN WISCONSIN.
Great Possibilities of Developing the
Industry in This State.

in wisconsin and the means of secur-
ing the best results in this important
industry, form the subject of an i'm
portant bulletin prepared by Prof. A.
S. Alexander, head of the recently es-
tablished department of horse breed
ing of the University of Wisconsin
College of Agriculture. The bulletin,
which is designed for general distribu-
ton to farmers and stock raisers OF the
state, contains in concise form the
principles and the practice OF horse
breeding together with the laws OF the
state regarding horse breeding, a list
of American and foreign stud BOOKS,
and some sixty illustrations OF horses
of various breeds. In addition to the
general discussion of the subject by
DR.. Alexander the bulletin includes
series of shorter articles by men who
are prominently identified with the
horse raising interests in the state.
L1CSS al IIClCo al A1I~ AOAAO "
ing: J. G. Boyd, Milwaukee, Horses
for City Teaming;;" H. A. Briggs, Elk
horn, Draft Horse Breeding Alex
ander Galbraith, GAINESVILLE, Fitting
Horses for Show" and Care and Feed
ing of Draft Stallions;" A r. Ives, Del
avian, Breeding Coach Horses" Pres
ident George McKerrow of the state
board of agriculture, "The General
Purpose Horse James c. McBay,
Janesville,@ Feeding Farm Work
Horses" R. B. Ogilvie, Morrisonville,
Developing Draft Foals;" and F. c.
Warren, Valley Junction, Manage
ment and Care of Stations.
Conditions are so favorable for iais-
ing active, sound and hardy horses in
this state, the bulletin points out, that
Wisconsin farmers and breeders
should engage in the horse breeding in
dustry with enterprise and lntell1-
gence. The soils are rich in mineral
matter and the drinking water is also
strongly impregnated with these sub
stances. Feeding materials are every
where grown in abundance, and, being
rich in protein and earthly substances,
are especially we'll fitted for develop
ing horses of perfect frame. It is al
ways possible to supply horses with
nutritious food from never failing
stores of clover, grasses, and corn
forage. Pastures are kept green by
sufficient moisture and in addition to
oats, wheat, barley and rye, peas and
other legumes luXuriate, while ample
corn is grown to augment these ra-
tons with heat and fat producing ele-
ments during our cold bright, healthy,
bracing winters. The large Touring
mills at ST. Paul, Minneapolis, Milwau-
kee and Chicago make it possible to
secure the by-products used for feed
ing horses readily and economically.
1t is evident, therefore, that the gen
eral conditions in Wisconsin are emf
nently adapted for breeding and rear
ing horses of the highest type and
quality.
During recent years an appreciatlve
demand has sprung up for Wisconsin
yound draft stock of strong frame and
robust, hardy constitution to be fin
ished or fattened in Eastern or corn
belt states AS this demand promises
to last and increase, DR.. Alexander be-
1ieves that Wisconsin farmers and
breeders will find it an especially re-
munerative business to furnish buyers
from Ohio, Pennsylvania and other
states with two and three-year-old
draft horses. Since it is difficult to
finish and fatten draft horses as cheap
ly and easily as can be done where
corn is more abundant and cheaper,
Wisconsin breeders can more profita
bly, produce young draft and carriage
horses Of ideal quality and develop
ment for finishing and fattening else
where. That proximity to Chicago, the
largest horse market in the world, and
railroad connections with all the other
selling centers are additional factors
enjoyed by Wisconsin breeders.
The bulletin emphasizes uniformity
and persistency in breeding, of which
there has been a general lact in this
state as we'll as else where where
imported animals have been employed
In order to encourage pure breeding
and to raise the standard OF Wisconsin
horses DR.. Alexander argues that all
sound pure bred stations and mares
be duly recorded in the stud books of
the particular breeds. In accordance
with the new law passed by the last
legislature the department of horse
breeding of the college of agriculture
of the University of Wisconsin is au-
thoriZed to issue certificates for all
stations used in breeding, certifying
that the animal is free from heredi-
tary, transmissable, or communicable
disease, and setting forth the exact
breeding of the animal, whether pure
bred, grade or cross grade. BY the en-
forcement of this new act on or before
Jan. 1, 1906, it will be possible for
breeders to gain accurate and correct
knowledge in regard to the animals
used in breeding, and it will be of
great advantage to have the soundness
and pedigree of the stations sertified
to by the college of agriculture.
The Importance of the formation of
horse breeding associations in town
ships and counties throughout the