South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-06-29
FEAR A SHORTAGE
OF DRAFT HORSES
Nebraska State Veterinarian
Urges Breeders to RepIen-
iSh Depleted Stocks.
international News Service:


LINCOLN. Neb.. June 2s.-That
this state and the whole United
States is facing a serious shortage in
draft horses and mules is the belief
OF J. S. Anderson, state veterinarian.
Great Britain. Italy and France have
already taken one and one-fourth
million animals out OF this country
and with the United States getting
ready for hostilities and requistion
ing a quarter million animals as a
starter. he fears there will be
enough left for domestic purposes.
1t 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 a
younger age, Mr.. Anderson explain
ed. An extra year is required for the
production of a colt after breeding.
This means that breeders who start
now to increase the equine product
will not be able to achieve substan-
tial results, so far as relieving the
prospective shortage is concerned
for five years.
Should Start Breeding.
Before the war, Mr.. Anderson
said the market for horses and
did not always come up 10 the sup
ply. When the war broke out and
foreign buyers came to the United
States, il was regarded as a golden
opportunity 20 unload the surplus
stock at good prices, but breeders as
a rule, did not expect the war to
last long enough to make any great
difference permanently They sup
posed the production of horses and
mules would keep pace with the de-
mand, and hence there was no spe-
cial reason for Systematically increas-
ing the number OF colts.
The state veterinarian suggests
that breeders will find it profitable
TO themselves. and at the same time
do their country a service, if they
/ will breed mares in. the fall as we'll
as the spring That is, if 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 fer
spring colts, which was we'll enough
in the old days when farms were
not equipped to care for them dur
ing the winter; but nowadays, with
good warm barns and other facili-
ties 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.
Demands High Grade.
A class of horses was taken by the
| European buyers which the growers
of this country were glad to get off
red was an intermediate one, too
| large for first class 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 re
Gently with a buyer Of horses for
the British government. and was
told that much of the allies recent
success during recent months has
been due TO their possession Of
plenty of horses and mules for NOV
! ing heavy guns and bringing up
supplies. The Germans have been
unable to get horses fast enough to
take places of those killed in SER
vice. he asserted. and as a result
have had to abandon many cannon
when conducting retreats, many Of
which runs the allies are using.