DRAUGHT HORSE BREEDING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3829, 2 August 1927, Page 12

DRAUGHT HORSE BREEDING.

The downward trend in heavy horse breeding has, wc believe, been stemmed, and high time too. A “ Back to the Horse ” campaign is overdue. Although the motor car has curtailed the work of the draught horse more or less, the latter still performs most of the farm operations in Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. The trouble is, however, that breeders have been badly scared, and have neglected breeding, until now in the Dominion there are scores of old horses, and it is difficult to secure heavy geldings and farm horses, except, and not always then, at big money. Good young draught horses are hard to get. At a meeting recently in Canterbury of those interested in horse breeding it was alleged that more than half of the team horses in New Zealand were over 10 years of age. The position is serious, and warrants the attention of all concerned. The latest figures disclose the effects of tractor propaganda and the development and lure of motor power in the realm at one time assigned to the draught horse. The report states, inter alia (1925-26), that there was a danger of a very serious shortage of horses developing within the next few years, and of farming operations being seriously affected thereby. Since 1917, when there were

373,600 horses in the Dominion, they had declined by 15.7 per cent, to 314,867 in 1926. This decline was probably justified by the motor trucks invasion of the cities and towns and by the considerable use of . tractors on farms, but the lack of breed- . ing, extending as jo did back over a . considerable period, threatened to reduce , the numbers far below what these factors . justified. Both statistics and observation ; indicated that a large number of horses - were aged, and must be replaced soon, 5 but how? f The opinion was expressed that farmf ing was economically impossible without horses, and there is no doubt that tracj tors, good as they may be 'on some s country, are not yet able to handle our . hills and dales to one’s complete satisj faction. It is interesting to note that 0 London hay dealers are on the verge of launching a movement having as its

object the more general use of the horse, whilst the Clydesdale Horse Society of Australia is emphatic on the matter. It is pointed out in a recent bulletin that the demand for stallions in America and Canada has much increased of late months. Professor R. B. Cooley (secretary of the Stallion Enrolment Board of Indiana) states: “It may fairly lc said that, after a 10-year lull in ho>~.e breeding business throughout this country, farmers are beginning to realise the serious shortage of good work stock, and have started breeding more marcs. There is a much greater demand for good stallions this year than there has been for the last 10 years.

“ It is a fact, however, that mechanical power has grown somewhat in favour with the American farmer, which has contributed in no small degree to the farmer’s lack of interest in horse breeding. On the theory that farmers continue to farm as badly as they' can afford to do, a good many farmers who cannot well afford mechanical power are still operating with it under increased costs. “ In. our farm survey records in this country, it is pretty generally recognised that farmers who depend on horse power to do their work make from one-third to one-half more profit annually than those depending on high-priced mechanical power.”

It is well, therefore, to realise that the draught horse is far from being a spent force in the agricultural and commercial life of any country depending upon its primary industries for its welfare. Farmers in their own interests may well endeavour to right a position in the Clydesdale world which looks far from promising in regard to an adequate future supply of good, useful draught horses. Owners of good types of mares, in view of the approaching breeding season, might well consider whether there is not a future for draught horses in the Dominion. Avoid the mistake made by' American farmers, and do not leave the matter of breeding to the other fellow. There is a grave danger of a shortage of heavy horses in a few years’ time. Indeed to-day we know as a fact that good horses arc hard to get. Apparently' the breeders of stud Clydesdalesin Australia feel wre of their ground, seeing that only the other day' a yearling colt changed hands at £l5OO, while the Cooring stud made £BOll, or an average of £445 for each animal. The time is

now due when owners of marcs can consider how many' they intend to breed from, and get in touch with stallion owners who own the best.