VOL. LXVII
INDL #APOLIS, JULY 20, 1912
NO. 29
S
Breeding Useful Farm Horses
Good  Ones Will  Always
be in Demand.
HELPFUL   POINTERS   ON   SELECT-
IXG  AND   CAKING   FOR   BREEDING STOCK.
The scarcity of good heavy horses
and the remunerative results that
come from the few good horses that
do go on the market show that we
must work for more intelligent and increased   horse   breeding.
Horses are indispensible to work in
the country and large cities, and will
continue to be so, even though it has
been anticipated that they will be replaced by mechanical contrivances. It
will be several generations before the
usefulness of the horse will vanish
for never was he in such demand as
today and never was his price so
great. •
The breeding of horses has been directed along several lines, but that of
draft breeding has been to some extent neglected in America. Even what
draft breeding has taken place, has
been for type, size, bone, weight and
immense hauling powers, while disposition and temperament have been
too often overlooked.
Buyers want shapely horses with
good feeding ability. Finish on a
gelding is worth three times that on a
steer. The perfect success in horse
breeding and the perfection of all the
great breeds is due to the thoroughness, the persistance and the determination of the breeders in selecting
ind mating animals, and in supplying
them and their offspring with an abundance of the right kind of foods.
Breeding for bone, substance, quality,
Individuality, size, weight and power,
with the necessary stamina, action and
disposition must be the constant endeavor of all  breeders.
For breeding and rearing horses,
Indiana has a perfect climate; the
soil and water are rich in mineral maters; feeds of all descriptions are
grown everywhere— clover, grass and
corn forage being ever available. In
°ur State where corn is so abundantly
Srown, we can fatten and finish our
draft colts to a mature development
more easily and  cheaply than can    be
°ne in other states not so forward.
Importance of Good Stock.   -•-
I'. breeding operations most farmers
don
have followed no definite-* plan. Grade
mares are often mated io stallions of a
different breed, or possibly both individuals are of very poor breeding. The
prepotent, pure bred sire will do wonders if he is used judiciously on common, high grade or pure bred mares.
The scrub stallion is worse than none.
He is playing havoc with our draft
breeds. He lacks the breed characteristics and prepotency sought for and
must be barred from breeding service.
The  trouble  and   expense  of  breeding
first class foals. The breeder should
acquain* himself with the diseases and
unsoundness that may decrease the
vaiue of the offspring by their hereditary tendencies. It is as likely that the
bad points be transmitted and intensified as the good points. The greatest
success is attained by coupling animals
that are as nearly perfect as possible.
The breeder should determine the
breed suited to himself and his conditions and purchase his mares as nearly
true to the ideal type as possible with
the means at his command. They
should all be of the same breed. They
should be mated to stallions of the
same type .and breed. Stallions and
mares  selected   for   breeding  purposes
A profitable farm mare that raised  three   mule   colts,   one   each   >em.
and developing are justified only when
the animal is the very best.
It is here that tho breeder's judgment must be used. Selection is one of
the principal factors that make success. Only actual experience and study
gives the breeder the familiarity necessary. He must be in love with his
work. Being able to judge stock and
pedigrees is of much importance and
of great value, and he must be able to
make a fair and accurate decision on
an animal as an individual. He must
be impartial with his Judgment and
personal ownership should not affect
it.
It is equally important that the
mares be of good breeding,—that they
be free from unsoundnesses or diseases
that are hereditary, transmissible or
communicable to the offspring. Many
unsound mares are bred to good stallions,   with   the   expectancy   of  getting
should have clean, wide flat legs, with
sufficient size and development of tendons. The hoof should be properly
shaped and sound. The bone should
be clean and free from any coarseness.
Be sure that the breeding stock have a
good underpinning, for this is a point
on which the buyer will discriminate
above all else.
Feeding and Caring for Breeding Stock
It must be remembered that a
breeding animal may be fed in such a
manner as to depreciate his or her
value as breeding stock. An over fat
condition is conducive to sluggishness
disease and impotency. We cannot expect these qualities to be associate with
vigor, activity, power and ability for
hard work; they are just the reverse.
Stallions that get the most and best
colts are perfect in condition, put thus
by feed, exercise and care. The development of desirable qualities cannot
be expected unless liberal feeding is
practiced and care and attention given
the animal. Many a hard working
but uninformed breeder has failed just
because he forgot that the growing
animal requires definite amounts and
kinds, of nutrition for the development of bone and muscle. The stallion owners who put their stalliond
into harness claim to be able to insure
more strong foals than when they are
allowed to go idle. So also are the
best foals gotten from mares that have
worked through the period of pregnancy. Natural conditions must exist.
Animals out of condition, half starved,
over-fat, or over-worked cannot possibly bring the best of results.
Handling Marcs and Colts.
After foaling, the mare should be allowed to rest for twelve days, when she
can again be put in harness. The foal
will learn to eat by nibbling on the
feed box of the mother and by the time
it comes to the age of one month will
greatly relish a mixture of oats and
bran. Later ln the season it is advisable to keep the colt in a paddock or
a roomy box stall but never allow it to
nurse when the mother is warm or has
Just returned from work. By weaning time the colt should know thoroughly how to eat and will receive no
set back.
Mares nursing foals should be given
a ration that will tend to increase their
flow of milk. Oats and bran in equal
bulk, with about one-fourth in bulk of
corn added makes a good practical ration. Daily exercise is of much importance during the winter previous to
foaling. One feed of stalks and one
of bright clover or alfalfa hay, with
access to fresh straw, with a few ears
of corn daily, will prove to be economical as well as safe. If at work they
should be fed a heavier ration,—such
as hay with oats and corn mixed with
wheat bran.
In regard to the management and
care of stallion; flrst let him attain his
maturity. Feed and work him as you
would any horse, taking care as should
always be taken, not to overwork or
overheat him. If unable to work him,
give him a roomy yard where he can
exercise of his own accord. Remember
that idleness and pampering with foods
and putting him to service too young
are all conducive to weakness and unsoundness in the progeny.
Local Associations are Very Helpful.
Probably one of the most influential
agencies toward Improved horse breeding is that of the local horse breeding
associations.      These   associations   may
Continued on page 4.
A row of choice  breeding horses.    These kind are always in demand.