HORSES IN DEMAND

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18849, 20 January 1933, Page 12

HORSES IN DEMAND

UPWARD TENDENCY IN SCOTLAND The Scottish Farmer in an editorial says:—“Horse breeding appears to be the only branch of farming that is not under a cloud a't present. While the prices of all other classes of stock have been going steadily downwards, and in many cases have reached a level that is altogether unremunerative to tire breeders, the trade in draught horses has shown a welcome upward tendency.’’ The article quotes prioes realised for geldings at various sales where two and three-year-olds sold at from £6O to £BO. At Lanark two-year-old fillies changed hands at up to £9O, while six prize-winning yearlings, averaged £53 i3s Filly foals 'brought as high as £125, £7O, £62 and £4l.

The article concludes: “The motor has not ye't driven the horse off the road, and the machine is a very much longer way from driving the horse off the farm. But the machine has come to stay, and were developments in the production of oil or of electricity suddenly to lower 'the cost of mechanical power, there would no doubt be a marked increase in its use. However, the indications at present are that’the draught horse will be wanted for many years to come, and 'the farmer who breeds good, sound, weighty Clydesdales can look forward to a period of prosperity in this branch of his business.” In the same issue of the paper there is a report of the annual show ■of the ■ Carrick Farmers’ Society, Maybole. In the Clydesdale section there was a good show and the female championship was awarded to a two-year-old filly which was first at Ayr, Kilmarnock, "and 2nd at the 11. and A. S. The reserve championship was awarded to a promising filly foal. The male 'championship went to a colt foal and reserve to a yearling. The Scottish judges have been notorious fthis season for placing foals and yearlings in the proud position of champion. Probably there are no finer judges of Clydesdales in the world than are round at Ihese 'shows, but it seems to savour of a gamble placing an unfurnished animal as champion. There are many prize winning foals and yearlings which are never again heard of in the show ring in later life.

The average price for the Collynie Shorthorn bull calves this year is £55 s>s Id, the lowest since 1894. In 1919 the average for 24 bull calves was £I4OO 8s 7d. This year the total for 24 was £1326 3s.