Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1919-11-27
DR.. ALEXANDER SEES
GOOD HORSE MARKET
Predicts Brighter Future for
the Draft Animal In
duStry.

lIiV III alt HllIiIldl III.
dustry.
DR.. A. S. Alexander, who is leading
WfscOnsin's campaign for more and
better horses, is predicting a dearth
OF desirable draft horses and a cor
responding increase in prices.
Despite the high price Of feed, and
the rapid increase in the number of
motor and farm tractors, the national
horse population still totals over 90
UO.OOO head and of these WiscOnsin's
quota exceeds 100000 he said in a
regent interview.
while light horses practically have
been driven off our roads by the auto
mobile, and long haul work in the city
Is being done more largely by motor
trucks, heavy drafterS are proving
most economical for short haul trans
pOrtatiOn. And our farming operations
out horses.
Brighter Future Ahead.
1.-THE present decrease in horse
breeding seems unfortunate and ill
advised as regards the production of
drafters of high class and quality.
Should breeding operations be further
restricted there must inevitably come
a dearth of desirable draft horses and
corresponding increase in prices.
The best Informed men predict that
such an era is near at hand and are
advising farmers to buy pure-bred
foundation stock now while Il Is cheap
er than at any time during the last
twenty years.
"Those who have an abundance of
feed and good pasturage certainly
would do well to invest in a few pedi-
greed draft mares of good family, indi-
vidual excellence and high quality.
Mated with pure-bred sires of equal
excellence, the resultant progeny
scarcely can fail to prove to be equally
excellent, provided it is generously fed.
1t seems reasonably certain, too, that
an appreciative market will be ready
for such horses when developed to sale
age. Similar mating of high-grade
for everything points to brisk de-
mand for work horses IN the near flu
! ture and available stocks will be
scarce unless farmers at once resume
breeding operations.
MonqreIs Not Needed.
"More than ever before, in Wiscon-
sin and other horse-breeding states, 1t
Is imperative that all undesirable
sires and dams should be discarded.
Only by the invariable, consecutive and
! persistent employment of sound, indi-
vidually excellent pure-bred stations
and high-class mares can improved and
profitable horses be produced. Low
quality mOngrel horses are not needed
or wanted and cannot be fed and sold
at profit. They are largely the prod
uct of low-class pure-breds, one or
two top-cross grades and worthless
scrub sires. All of these should be
eliminated as quickly as possible, and
the process is proceeding fairly well at
the present time.
"In 1907 pure-bred public service
stations in Wisconsin numbered 1886,
or 35 per cent, and grade and scrub
stations 1875, or .65 per cent. In 1919
the percentage of pure-bred sires was
66 and of grades and scrubs "a.
State Makes Record.
"Tn 1911 scrub stations numbered
673; in 1917, 260; in 1918, 213; and In
1919, 40, or a decrease Of 20.2 per cent
for 1919 alone. But pure-bred sires
1919, whereas they should have In.
creased in number. Grade stations in
1913 numbered 661 and in 1919 500, a
decrease of 1913 per cent, and only 30
new ones enrolled. In 1919 only II
new scrub stations were enrolled,
compared with 35 in 1913. 1t is hoped
that these disreputable and detrimen-
tai sires will soon be wholly eliminat-
ed, as they are a disgrace to all impli.
Gated In their maintenance and
menace to the horse industry wherever
they are used.
"All things considered, we deem Ii
safe and proper to advise that draft
horse breeding should be again active
" engaged In, provided only the best
of pure-bred sires are used to mate
with just as excellent and desirable
pure-bred and high-grade mares. At
the same time. grade SireS should
only be used when desirable pure
breds are not available, and scrub stall
lions should be Internationally retired
from service"