PROGRESS IN HORSEBREEDING.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1024, 13 January 1911, Page 10

PROGRESS IN HORSEBREEDING.

EUROPE'S METHODS. : .. ,'fbo following interesting ••• article' on. progress in hoKe-breediiig' appeared: in a'recent .number >of the "LivefStock Journal," an English agricultural publication :— No great progress can be made in breeding animals of any species so long as the-breeding- stock consists of'unsound individuals ' or ; is of unknown breeding. '...-.'.

While some farmers are beginning, to appreciate the importance -of using sound, purebred stallions, the 'equal importanco'of .'using sound mares is not yet generally understood. . When a mare by reason of unsoundness no longer'is fit for anything else she oftenis set aside for breeding purposes, and. so long as this absurd and'ruinous policy "persists tho penalty will bo paid in'the prevalence of unsound-horses on our- farms:

By'gradual processes' the , farming communities of European countries have § one! straight for purebred sires. They ave' learned by experience that tho greatest profits are to be gained, by tho production of purebred and • high-grade stock". • ' "■• •: .'"•

The French Government for over. 100 .years has maintained stables of carefully selected," sound,'.purebred'' stallions' for liro~linir purposes. The best stallions in France are annually chosen for use in; the studs, and-since'.-188.5," when a Government decree to that effect was promulgated, . all stallions ' not coming within special classes- have been excluded' from public service. Tho classes referred to are'selected-by Government veterinarians, who inspect all horses and grade them.

' In Belgium the Government lias, since1850,:maintained' a great horse-breeding establishment,' and promotes trie'.lireedin'g".of purebred Belgian "draught hr- -es' by, an annual appropriation "of 70,000 dollars,- to 'encourage tho horse-breeding of tho. country. Liberal prizes are awarded, to mares and foals at shows throughout the country; stallions are officially' examined .experts, and both "approved stallions' and mares are granted ''maintenance" bounties to .retain, them inßelgium:. Under such auspices, horse-breeding is ranking wonderful progress, and ■ only: purebred stallions are in.; use for service.

' In Germany Government supervision of horse-breeding" has obtained for centuries.- At tho present timo both the* Government and agricultural societies promote intelligent horse-breeding; Prizes are awarded for animals of special Merit, and such animals must-remain in the country for- a specified' term. First prizes are awarded, only to mature horses and mares that have shown merit as breeders. Stallions shows" havelougbeen held at Aurich, in East Friosland, where -the horses' aro.brought annually for. inspection and approval. Prizes for ' "rood mares are, also awarded by the Government. similar supervision of horse-breeding matters is undertaken by the Government of Austria and large sums of money aro annually devoted': to the encouragement of- the breeding industry. ■ :.,-■. i-,-„-. v,-i -In Austria there are" two State studs and.several stallion depots maintained ny the Government, and about £200,000 is annually expended by the' Government ■in the,encouragement of-the-: hors-i-Breeding industry,': \' y ■ f?Z.