Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-08-21

eSSS
workers when they were finished,
that is, they were we'll broke, sound
and in every way in proper shape
to perform the arduous tasks. de-
manded of drafters in the big cities
The horses were consigned to E. H.
Schloeman, Union Stock Yards
market, Chicago. l had the pleas
ure of acting in the capacity of
auctioneer, which was very easy
task, / assure you. The demand
for heavy horses was urgent and it
required no effort on the part of the
auctioneer to sell them. The load
brought the handsome average of
s337 per head. A bay gelding
that weighed 1900 pounds topped
the lot at $4l5. This was "a mag
nilicent specimen of drafter, in
fact a show horse. The second
highest price was $500, paid for a
gelding that weighed 1850 and
purchased for New York brewery.
A pair OF blacks brought $765 and
went to "a New England lumber
firm. These figures, together with
the average referred to above, show
how the horses sold. Most of them
went to eastern dealers to be resold.
Such evidence as this should prove
conclusively that it will pay farm
ers of this region to produce and
develop horses of the first class
draft type. Don't raise small hor-
ses. They are not in SO urgent de-
mand as are the big heavy ones for
the reason that the latter are scarce
and apparently always will be. 1t
seems that there is only a small per
cent of people who really produce
first class stuff in any line of en-
deavor. Raise big heavy drafters
of good quality and you may rest
assured there will be no trouble in
getting good prices for them as soon
as they are ready for the market.
A man who raises big horses need
not fear any material decline in vol
ues on account of overproduction.
Nothing short of a national calamity
will cause big drafters to sell at un-
renumerative prices.
The way to raise draft horses eco
nomically is to raise them on the
farm where they can do large
amount of work and become we'll
Trained before they are five wears
old and ready for the trade. In my
opinion it is very questionable
whether it is paying proposition
to keep mares only for colt Produc-
ton. This means lot of unframed
k'rses which are not good sellers
when they are old enough to go to
the market. Besides, if they are
not made to work part of the time
while they are getting their growth,
they are too heavy an expense. In
addition to that, young horse will
develop better for the purpose for
which he is intended if he is work
ed moderately after he is three years
old. The farmer is the man who is
in position to give the young
drafter ideal development and do it
most economically. He is, therefore,
the logical producer of the modern
draft horse.
| wish to call attention to some
thing that many farmers have prob
ably not thought of, and that is,
with the present demand for heavy
draft horses it is unnecessary for
farmers to keep their full-aged, we'll
broke horses on the farm after the
fall work is done in anticipation of
selling them for the spring trade.
All classy sorts in good condition
are now. and will continue through
out the summer and fall months, to
bring spring prices. When you
finish your harvest the geldings
that can be spared and the mares
that may have proved to be barren
should be kept in the barn, fed new
hay and fattening grain. ration,
until they can regain their natural
color, get fat and look bright, fresh
and attractive to the numerous
horse buyers who are securing the
country for good horses, ready and
to pay handsome prices.
/ expect this class of trade to con-
tinue strong and active up until a
month before the holidays. But
that I am talking about
draft horses, not plugs or plain i'll
shaped individuals of little or no
They will not sell at good
prices during the fall season. Let
them be worn out at home, or let
them be sold to men who will not
raise the class of horses that are the
most profitable for the producer.
DAN SAYRE.
Woodbury. county, Iowa.
Try to Do This.
Tnke light chair md Dlace II with