Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-05-17
FARM MARES ARE
MOST DESIRABLE
Besides Doing Her Share of Work
Animal Has Produced Many
Highly Valuable Colts.
PLACE DOUBLE DUTY ON Them
TIVE Outstanding Requirements Are
That They Be Breeders and Work
ers-Purebreds Give Better
Returns Than Grades.
prepared by the United States Department
of An,in 1f1,,.o \


prepared by the United States Department
of Agricultural
The small farmer who works a pair
of mares will find it possible and
profitable to raise a pair of good colts
from them while they are doing their
regular work. It is not uncommon,
says the United States Department Of
Agriculture, to read of some remark
able mare that, besides doing her
share Of the farm work, has raised
many hundreds Of dollars worth of
colts These accounts seldom tell of
more than one such mare on par
ticular farm, whereas to obtain the
greatest returns nearly all the work
animals maintained on the farm should
be mares of this character.
Breeding the working mares places
double duty on them; consequently
they must be robust individuals prop
erly formed and must have good care
and treatment. With two sources Of
profit from one animal, farmers can
well afford to pay more for such stock,
feed it more heavily, and give It
Is the one who is most likely to get
the best results from such a plan, be
cause he usually works his own teams
or is in position to watch them closely
and see that they are not Ill treated.
Breeders and Workers.
The two outstanding requirements
In profitable farm mares are that they
be breeders and workers. If a good
registered stallion Is available, pure
bred mares of the same breed will
probably give better returns than
grades. 1t costs practically no more
to raise a purebred colt than it does
to raise a grade, and the returns are
much greater. The amount Of capital
that-can be invested in the mares
would be an important factor in de-
termining whether purebreds should
be used. The particular breed that
the purebreds or grades should con-
form to would depend largely on local
markets. Some communities are noted
for and attract buyers of high-elass
drafters; others have local dealers
who handle many choice harness
horses, and still others have a steady
outlet for saddle horses; consequently
In a locality favored with any such
markets it is generally advisable to
breed the prevailing type, since by SO
doing sales are more easily made and
the services of high-class stations are
practically assured.
However, some persons have de-
cided preference for a particular breed
or type, and where this is so a greater
success often will be made in raising
the kind naturally preferred, although
it must be remembered that it is diff
ficult to show profit when raising
something for which there may be
limited demand. It is generally ac-
cepted that light horses are best suited
to rolling and ssemi-mountainou land,
while drafters are more adaptable to
level country.
Uniformity Desirable.
The uniformity in the mares kept on
a particular farm generally is not
given much consideration. There is
satisfaction and convenience In having
mares similar enough in type and
action so that one can readily fill the
place Of another at any kind of farm
work. Such mares are especially de-
Eirable when it is necessary to work
three or four abreast. In case four
are needed to wagon, it is good adj
vertisement of the owners judgment
and ability as horseman to have
them all uniform, in good condition,
and hooked up to nicely. If the
mares resemble one another and are
bred to the same stallion it will often
be possible to sell the young horses
as pairs, in which form they nearly al
ways sell at a premium. The market
for horses bred in this manner will
not be overcrowded very soon, as
readily will be attested by any one who
has been confronted with the difficult
task of purchasing from farmers
mated pairs Of a certain type.