Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-06-09
NORTH DAKOTA
HORSES EXCEL
y. L. Burdick Writes that North
Dakota Horses Are Great
ly in Demand.

That North Dakota horses are
greatly in demand because Of their
proven superiority; that the war is
taking many Of the lighter weight
ones, aud that we should give special
attention to breeding heavier draft
horses, is the o%piniono { IN expert.
enced horseman, U. l.. Burdick. OF
Williston, N. D., in a Letter to Com
missioner OF Agriculture 4. F. Flint,
as follows:
During the last four or five years
almost every public speaker, who ad-
dressed a farmers gathering, has
emphasized the importance Of cattle
raising in North Dakota, and to this
end almost every agency in the state,
has combined to assist in starting
anew the cattle industry Of the state.
While this is a good thing, It seems
to me, from my long experience in
North Dakota, that n Of the most
important industries, and the one
which can be carried on with the least
expense, at the greatest profit, has
been overlooked, and that not enough
emphasis has been in the past, or Is
now. placed upon the horse industry
OF this state. ..' ~"".
believe 1t is admitted by everyone
that from the natural conditions Of
North Dakota, there Is no place whore
better horses can be raised than on
tho Llains Of North Dakota. ! have
not time to state statistics on this
point, but will state generally, and
It can be proven, that horses reared
in North Dakota and in the Northern
states, when put to a test in Eastern
cities 'outlive the horses raised In the
Central and Eastern sec lions ~ q
marked degree. The world will prob.
ably never produce a horse with
greater stamina than those raised In
the rigorous climates Of North Dakota
and Montana. #2"- %sE@.&la ..-u.
| believe, however. in giving the in.
centive to the increased production Of
horses in North Dakota that we
should take care that the best class Of
horses is produced. Nearly all the
large ranches In this state have been
broken up by the coming OF settlers.
and horses arc to be raised In small
units. and from an economic stand
point farmers must start with the
mares which they have. They cannot
afford to dispose of them and buy bet
ter stuff. Their only salvation is, then,
to start with the very best sires they
can obtain in their community. 1t
does not make a great deal Of dif-
ference what breed Of draft horse is
used as a sire. That is a matter Of
personal preference. But inasmuch as
the P%ercheron predominates so strong.
~ In North Dakota. I believe that
communities having the Percheron in
q greater number should continue that
line and develop a distinct breed in
that particular locality.
The European war Is draining the
country of the smaller horses, and is
doing the breeders of the Western
states a great service in that respect.
But while the small horse is in de-.
mand during this war, breeders should
not be deluded by keeping on breed
ing this class Of horses. When this
war is settled there will probably be
no more wars for at least 100 years,
hence the demand for war horses in
the years to come will be very slight.
When the var is over there will be
q greater demand for the good. big.
draft horse than has even been known
before, and l predict that those who
stick to the good horse will be fully
indicated, and fully paid for their
efforts in behalf Of the horse. .
(From R. F. Flint, Commissioner Of
Agriculture, Bsmarck.)