The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-10-31
TURF PROFITS FOR FARMERS.
Federal Government Gathers Data on
Breeding of Race Horses.

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Breeding of Race Horses.
The application of John 3. Mad
den, breeder Of thoroughbred race
horses, by the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture, through George
NJ. Rommel of the Bureau Of Animal
Industry, for Information concerning
the cost of breeding and marketing
race horses, with a view Of bringing
out the profits Of the breeding busl-
ness in comparison with the profits
Of rearing horses for othe- purposes,
has put on record for the Govern
ment's use statistics which in view Of
the fact that Mr.. Madden has made
fortune out of breeding and
marketing race horses in the last
dozen years have aroused wide inter-
est among horse breeders.
The inquiry is made by the De-
partment of Agriculture, Mr.. Rommel
states in his correspondence with Mr..
Madden, because the department be-
lieved that under favorable con-
d.tions benefits might be secured by
the use of sound standardized or
thoroughbred stations for breeding
bv farmers for the production of gen
eral purpose horses. The department
wished especially to know whether
ta, greater profit would come to the
farmer breeders from the general
market or the race course. In Mr..
Madden's estimate Of the cost of rear
ine thoroughbred horse to the age
of two years he based his average on
his own experience as a breeder, as
set forth in the following tabulation:
Second year. ..1oo
Keep of mare. oO
Interest on cost of mare and al
lowance for barren years.. :. so
Total. ..SzoV
These figures are based on Mr..
Madden's expeditures as a breeder at
the highest reasonable cost, employ
ing skilled labor and high-priced
stock. In Mr.. Maddea's opinion, the
average farmer should be able to
rear thoroughbred horses for an av-
erage cost of $100 less per head,
where if breeding on a moderate
scale much Of the expense for labor
would be avoided. The farmers pos
sible outaut for a thoroughbred of
marketable age, Mr.. Madden believes,
would be covered in the following:
Pasture at 81 month. :. $1,000
Grain with pasture at 10 cents
day.. 24.OO
Cost of wintering at Sc a
mOnln. oo.oV
Estimate of stallion service,
keep of mare, and labor. 5000
Total. ..S1oo.oV
Many farmers could use their brood
mares and so Offset cost of keep. An
average price for brood mare might
be put at $500. Where one or two
mares are kept no extra labor is
hired, and Mr. Madden's $50 would
cover all expenses beyond the s106
estimated.
The demand for hunting and
steeplechase horses is very much on
the increase, and the farmer, in Mr..
Maddenrs opinion, is the man to sup
ply this want in breeding good type
of thoroughbred.
Of the profits of rearing thorough
breds, Mr.. Madden cites sales for a
number Of years, where brood mares
were sold for prices averaging about
$500, and their produce as yearlings
brought sums ranging from s400 up
to $4,000. Mr.. Madden's belief is
that at the prices which have pre-
vailed for brood mares through the
past few years farmers who are strug-
Cling to earn their livelihood through
agriculture alone, could, with little
extra expense, keep a few brood
mares and realize handsomely from
their produce
"a cold is much more easily cured
when the bowels are omen. Kenne-