AUSTRALIA'S DEMAND FOR HORSES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1157, 19 June 1911, Page 8

AUSTRALIA'S DEMAND FOR HORSES.

HIGH PRICES AND KEEN INQUIRIES. An interesting articlo on tho Australian demand for horses appears Tinder tho name "P.M.R." in tho. "Australasian.", [ As the subject is one in which New Zealand farmers arc deeply interested at' present, extracts from tho articlo are given here:— ' ■ '"Particularly at this time of the year when farmers are busy getting in their crops is tho demand for extra horses kean. Unlortunatcly many nro in the position of having a tew animals which they liavo to keep busy day after day, and the constant strain of incessant work quickly tells its talc upon tho shoulders and physical condition of tho teams. As tho end of tho season approaches tho real difficulty of securing' suitable animals to fill ■the places of those boing spelled becomes more apparent. The rapidity with which increasing areas have been placed under cultivation has been the chief cause of the shortage, for on all sides and for all descriptions of farm work horses are urgently wanted. This.nlso is largely the reason why all kinds of farm horses have steadily advanced in value .during the past five or six vears. During this time advances of from 100 to 200 per cent, have taken place in the prices realised for useful types of farm animals. At present ruling prices the .purchase- of a few good farm-horse; is'an-expt-nsive item. . . . Nevertheless, the demand that exists nowadays is particularly keen. This is evidenced by the . heavy importations of horses from New Zealand, tho large crowds that muster round the sale rings, and the ■unosually high prices paid for such as. possess greater rjerit, and also, for the comparatively poor specimens that often are catalogued. Nothing could be mode indicative of tho present horso famine. Many of those who attend these salss do so on tho off-chance of an animal going cheap, but more often ■than not they go away disappointed.

HIGH PRICES. "There probably never has been a period inthe history of the State so full of promise for horse breeders as during the past three or four years. Future prospects also point towards a continuance of the demand for all classes of-farm horses, and particularly for those above a medium grade. Perhaps the most unsatisfactory phase of tho position is the fact that although we have what arc regarded as excellent horse-breeding districts . . . yet we are in the. position of having to import some thousands of pounds' worth of these animals each year. Recently when driving through 'a paddock its owner pointed out a couple of two-year-old draught fillies, each of which had cost over 50 guineas. They wen: well-developed youngsters that less than ten years ago >rould probibly have sold for from ,£ls to ;.£2O, certainly very little more. This is what happens almost every time that a sale of horses is held. Anyone who is able to secure an animal for general farm work considers himself fortunate to pick up a.likely animal for a sum of less than '10.guineas. In view of the work that has to lie performed, and the general scarcity, one cannot regard tho 'cost as extravagant, but at the same time greatly enhanced prices are paid. These should be more than sufficient to encourage those engaged in tho-industry .to ..devote more attention to breeding. To a groat extent breeders of the.se animals are independent, for owing to the numbers ready to buy a good type of colt, filly, or gelding, they seldom have to rely upon the sale-ya-ds to find purchasers. "If further proof bo wanting to emphasise the shortage that exists for farm horses, and incidentally the prosnects of breeders, no better example of tho position fan be takefi than the business "that is being done by owners of travelling stallions. A few years ago it was not unusual to find largo numbers of animals travelling the various districts, and while, owing to the increasing numbers', of sires, there has been no falling away, yet owners of. better-class horses have dona so well that they can now afford to discontinue travelling.. . . Even under these inconveniences, the services of sices are being taxed. . . . The farmers must iiavo horses, and if they cannot nurchaso them they must secure "them by breeding from their own mares. ..." The i-lti-mate outccmo of : the procedure will, no doubt,, be a marked increase in the numbers .of low-grade farm horses, but, so long at thoy are able to perform the work that is all tho farmer requires of them,