Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-06-23
FACING SHORTAGE o. HORSES.
War Drinsine Critical situation 40 4
Farm Animals.

Farm Animals.
Il Lincoln, Neb., June 21.-That this
state and the whole United States is
facing serious shortage in draft
horses and mules is the belief OF j. 8.
Anderson, state veterinarian. Great
Britain. Italy and France have already
taken one and one-fourth million ami
mails out Of this country, and with the
United States getting ready for hos
tilities and requisitioning a quarter
million animals as starter, he fears
there will not be enough left for do
mestic purposes.
It requires horses and mules at least
four years old to do heavy work. and
the armies of the allied nations will
not take them at younger age, Mr..
Anderson explained An extra year IS
required for the production OF colt
after breeding. This means that breed
ers who start now to increase the
equine product will not be able to
achieve substantial results, so far as
relieving the prospective shortage Is
concerned, for five years.
Before the war, Mr. Anderson said
the market for horses and mules was
limited and the demand did not always
come UP to the supply. When the war
broke out and foreign buyers came to
the United states, It was regarded az
golden opportunity to unload the
surplus stock at good prices. but breed
ers az rule, did not expect the war
to last long enough to make any great
difference permanently. They supposed
the production of horses and mules
would keep pace with the demand, and
hence there was no special reason for
systematically increasing the number
OF colts.
The state veterinarian suggests that
breeders will find 1t profitable to them
selves. and at the same time do their
country q service. IL they will breed
mares in the fall as we'll as in the
spring. That is, II foal be not secured
from breeding this spring, the same
mare be bred again In the fall.
Too many, he says. have followed the
old custom Of breeding only for spring
colts, which was well enough in the
old days when farms were not equipped
to care for them during the winter.
but nowadays. with good warm barns
and other facilities at hand, he thinks
colts can be raised more cheaply, and
better horses produced from the fall
breeding than spring, also the mares
will thus be available for farm labor
during the drop season.
A class Of horses was taken by the
European buyers which the growers
Of this country were glad to get off
their hands. The type they preferred
was an intermediate one too large for
first class road horses, but not large
enough for heavy draft work. The
United States government, on the other
hand. buys high grade saddle horses
and draft horses for army use.
Mr. Anderson said he talked recent
ly with a buyer Of horses for the Brit
ish government. and was told that
much Of the allies success dur
ing recent months has been due to
their possession Of plenty Of horses and
mules for moving heavy guns and
bringing up supplies. The Germans
have been unable to get horses fast
enough, to take places Of those killed
in service, he asserted, and as re-
suit have had to abandon many can
non when conducting retreats. many Of
which guns the allies are using.