The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1920-11-17
WHERE THE HORSES ARE
Y Is}st tssa RAIGEn Ea rEarf

A very. interesting map Of the Unit
ed States, showing the horse popula-
ton In various sections of the country,
has Just. been published by the Horse
upon which the map Is based are from
; the 1910 census report, but they apply
! with considerable accuracy to present
Z conditions since the increase in the
number Of horses during the last ten
wears has been comparativ uniform
the country over. From this map we
learn that over half the horses in the
United States are produced in the fol
lowing ten central western states:
North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebras-
ka, Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri. IN
diana, Iowa, Illinois and Ohio In this
group OF states 10 per cent of the hOrs-
es are yeariing colts, a larger percent
age than is found anywhere else in this
cbuntry. The horses in this section al
SO contain great deal more draft
blood than those in any other group Of
states and, therefore, furnish the bulk
of the good horses and mules that go
to the other sections where less than
the required number ore raised. This
fact is that in these central western
states practically all the draft horses
produced in this country are raised.
Montana, Wyoming, Colorado = and
Texas produce range horses, Many Of
> 81
owing to the fact that draft sires have
been used in these states for the last
80 years. In this group 8 per cent of
the total number of horses are year
ling colts, showing that a good many
horses are raised.
y In the eight states west fof the
Rocky Mountains a considerable num-
Der of horses are produced, but they
are all understood and of the unprofit-
able kind. Few of them reach our mar
ket centers as they are not. the profit
able kind. There are a few good hors-
es in the northern section of these
states-Oregon, Idaho and Utah-that
produce some draft horses but the nuns
Der Is so small compared with the total
production that they have a very small
effect upon market conditions. In the
northeastern states as far south as Vir-
.ginia and as far west as Ohio. half the
horses raised and purchased are used
for non.agricultural purposes. This
section buys annually about 100000
horses and mules, which come princi-,
pally from the north central group of
interest to note that only As per cent
Of the horses in the northeastern
states mentioned are yearling colts,
which in itself clearly show that that
section is not self supporting SO far as
horses and mules are concerned.
The states of Virginia, West Virgin
ginia Michigan, Wisconsin and Min
and mules for their own use. The
southeastern states. including. North
Carolina. South Carolina, Florida, Geor-
,gia, Alabama, louisiana. Mississippi,
Arkansas Tennessee and Kentucky.
raise about one-eighth of the horses
and mules required in that section.
They depend upon the central western
Fa ~. 4, AZ. 80 80,
CURED horse and mule supply.
The interesting part about these fig
ures is that they bring out very clearly
that, practically speaking, the grain
belt states must supply the northeast
ern and southeastern states with a big
portion of their horse and mule stock.
The only other section that produces
any surplus of good horses is that in.
cluded in the states of Montana, Wyom-
in Colorado and Texas, but these hors.
es are relatively light and do not fill
the present demand. which is for heavy
horses of draft type,
The demand for heavy drafters is
rapidly increasing. Even in the south.
eastern states where a very. large mum
Der Of mules are used and where a rel
atively light class Of mules were Tor
merly satisfactory, the best heavy type
are now required. With indications of
lower grain prices and cheaper rough
ages. it looks as though it would be
good business policy for farmers in the
grain belt states to breed their heavy, |
sound, well developed mares to draft |
stations Of the best type. Even though |
tractors are increasing at a compare.
lively rapid rate in the grain belt |
states there is bound to continue to be
\ strong demand in the eastern and
southern portion OF This country for
heavy horses and mules. Tractors are
not so well adapted for those sections |
Of the country as they are for the grain
belt states. and it is questionable wheth !
sr tractors will ever be used to any ex-
,ent in the bulk of that territory.
Much optimism prevailed among the
breeders present at the recent national
Belgian horse show at Waterloo, Iowa,
n regard to the future of good draft
lorses. One prominent breeder report.
ID a sale of ia head of purebred draft.