The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1916-05-12
BREED FOR GOOD
COLTS, SAYSEXPERT
Farm Adviser Declares Farmers
Lose Money in Looking
For Bargains.
By c. NJ. McWiilialns.
C;,De County Farm Advisory

tt;,DG County Farm AdVlSOr.)
This is the season of the year when
the man who raises horses and mules
decides on the stations and Jacks be
will patronize this season. This sub
ioct deserves more thought than it
frequently receives, because the sire,
although not everything, is perhaps
the greatest determining factor when
tlc common OF grade mares are used.
The use OF unsound sireS is a bad
f. ice because spaving, curbs, weak
cy,s, roaring, and host of other un-
a.uudoesses, while they may not be
8..a- y lransmissibic, are inherited.
81 .,a1r words. the colt may not be
!ala with curbs but will have d CURLY
conformation of the hook and when
he is put to work, or in some cases
before, carbs will develop; he will not
be born blind but weak eyes Will de-
vcIcp early IN life and frequently be-
fore he is five years old will be blind
horse and practically worthless. The
samc principles apply to the other I'M
soundnoSScs mentioned, and 10 all in
herited defects. Accidents, wounds,
etc, while they may seriously blemish
an animal are not transmissible;
however, in cases of this kind it is
we'll 10 be certain that the defects
were caused by wounds or injuries
and are rot inherited.
After having found suitable horse
or .iacI, it is poor policy to let 500
or 50. co on the service fee be the rea-
son for patronizing an inferior sire.
High-class animals cannot be handled
at a low fee, and when we consider the
small differences that s. is in the sell
ing price Of 4 colt or a mature horse
or mule. it is readily seen that the
additional money could probably not
be invested TO bring in a greater re-
turn. Missoori has no stallion law
and for that reason the State for years
has been flooded with inferior stock
from adjoining states. This practice
has been detrimental 10 the best in
tcrests OF our local horse industry.
Fortunately. this county has some
horsemen who have invested in good
stock and the man who patTonizeS the
best that is available, seldom fails to
profit by it. Prices for males and
mature horses are higher this season
than they have been recently. Auth
critics are predicting that good prices
will be maintained for at least some
time to come, and anything like d
high-class brood mare is bringing d
good price whenever change is made
in ownership. One thing. however
stands out clearly: farmers are insist
ing on size and quality. They are
willing to pay for it when they find it
The popularity Of the small horse Is
waning and there is not much sign OF
improved conditions In fact, it Is the
demand 70 rwar horses that has large.
" supplied what market there is.
In the case of the breeding mare
what has been said in regard to sound,
ness of the stallion, applies also to the
horse. Unsound mares, if bred at all
should be mated to Jacks. Mules are
rot so subject to unsoundnesses aS
are horses, and furthermore. the mule
cannot propagate the species. In pro
ducing horses and mules the breeder
should endeavor to grow what there is
a demand for. 1t takes at least fiv'