The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-02-23
BIC STOCK Center
Speakers at Parsons Predict
Future of Southwest.
Livestock Men Gathered for a
TwO-Day Session.

Parsons, Kan, Feb. 23.-Speakers
at the opening session of the third an
nual Southeast Kansas Livestock con-
ference here today predicted that this
section of the state is destined to be-
come a great livestock center. 1t was
pointed out that the natural and COM
mercial conditions are suitable for
livestock and that there is an impera-
tive demand for livestock to build up
the soil and utilize the rough forage
feeds produced here every year.
The conference attracted farmers
and livestock men from throughout
the state. it having been announced
the two-day session would be given
over to discussions of the industry,
especially as it concerns the farms in
this part of Kansas. Early arrivals
discussed, also, a movement to obtain
the establishment of a state agricul-
tural experiment station in southeast
ern Kansas, it being pointed out that
this corner of the state has agricul-
tural problems peculiar to itself. 1t
was suggested the district to be served
by such a station might include the
territory east of the Flint Hills from
Burlington to the Oklahoma line.
Much interest was manifested today
in the livestock exhibits, a number of
Kansas breeders showing their ami
mails. A carload of demonstration
sheep was sent here also for demon
stration purposes from the Kansas
State Agricultural college farm at
Manhattan.
Can Build Horse Industry.
America has an enormous oppor-
tunity to build up a horse breeding
industry as a result of the European
war, e. V. Wentworth. professor of
animal husbandry at the Kansas State
Agricultural college, told delegates to
the Southeast Kansas Livestock con-
ference here today. He laid stress
upon the necessity of breeding more
American draft animals.
The bulk of American horsemen. in
the past have been traders and not
breeders" he said. Their vision has
not been that of men who would make
American horse breeding independent
Of the rest of the world, but rather of
vendors who seek to create further
market for their wares. The best
proof Of this lies in the fact that with
only one or two exceptions there is
not an American bred draft stallion
that is famous the country over as a
sire.
Horse breeders generally look to
the present war as a means of estab-
fishing the horse breeding industry of
the United States on a par with that
of Europe. This idea seems justified
because the price of horses has risen
significantly during the period of each
great war in the last two decades
and it never has dropped back to its
theater of war on the western front
has been in the heart of Europe's draft
breeding district and it will be years
before Europe can produce her own
draft breeding stock. America will be
called upon to supply a part of the
stock when peace is declared Also
since the European breeding industry
| is at a standstill American breeders
are enabled to catch up with European
competitors.
ut is only because America may
| produce better horses that she may
reap any permanent reward from the
! present advantages. If the horses
which America exports to Europe fol-
lowing the war are inferior to the
remnants OF the breeds formerly
there, European hOrsemen will use
their own animals for breeding and the
American horses for work stock. Then
it will be only a few years until we
again are dependent upon France and
Belgium for the best of our draft
stock