HORSES FOR OUR ARMY

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2214, 29 July 1914, Page 8

HORSES FOR OUR ARMY

NOT ENOUGH OF THE RIGHT STAMP.

SYSTEMATIC BREEDING

ADVOCATED.

Addressing the A. and V. Societies' Conierenco yesterday, Dr. 0. J. Reakes, Now Zealand's Chief Veterinarian, made some very interesting references to the Dominion's supply of horses. "It is somewhat difficult to form an opinion as to the future prospects of horse-breeding here, or anywhere else," said Dr. Reakes. '"The development of motor traction for various purposes has affected both heavy and light breedV, especially the latter, and there is every probability that mechanical power will replace horse traction more and more as years go on. Of late years draught horse-breeding has ,beeu profitable, there not only being a good l local market, but a good export trade to Australia having been maintained till recently, when the market fell away considerably. I believe it will revive, but probably not to a sufficient extent as to bring about so good a state of affairs for us as existed for a.time up to 1912, and, for our own purposes alone, the. breeding of good draught stock should prove a paying business for years to come, at any rate. ' ■■.■■.-.

i"An intermediate class of horse, possessing draught blood in varying degrees, is very saleable in New'.Zealand, being, used largely for- milk carts, exetc. There is a total lack of uniformity of type in these animals, and lately, when purchasing horses for the New Zealand Artillery, though - plenty •were offering which could pull guns, and pull them well, it proved a difficult matter to secure teams of a stamp approximating to the standard type of artillery horse. As horses of this class are.prin-' cipally. bred by farmers, all sorts of mares being utilised for the purpose, it ;is difficult to see how anything . approaching uniformity of type can be.assured, in the absence of a large enough and good enough market for the particular 6tamp of animal. The number of hors'es_ needed here for artillery pur-, poses is not sufficient to provide the inducement .necessary, y ■[

"New Zealand is -well'to the fore with thoroughbreds, and trotters have evidently not only come to stay, "but are increasing in number. A fair criterion of the stamp of horses for hack purposes now in the country is ;afforded by the mounts brought to camp by Territorials. While these show a minority of animals unfit and, unsuitable for useful work, either .through 'weediness'or undue .coarseness of type, yet a very large number of good liorses are seen; and, during the strike period, the horses brought,.in by the' special constables showed a very high standard of quality. The first Wellington contingentsrespeciallyvwere splendidly mounted. There are still a good number, of good hacks in tho country, and it is to bo regretted that'the great : handicap resulting' from our distance from a "good market prevents an export trade in. this class of horse'being established, and a stimulus thereby given to' breeding on the best lines. 'But for our own military purposes, it is wqll worth while paying more attention to-the breeding of good mounted.infantry horses. .',' }

"We are fortunate in- being entirely free.from any serious .contagious diseases affecting horses. Strangles and influenza cause a good deal of trouble, but.these are practically.the only_contagious diseases affecting these animals, that we have to cope with The. tion of effectively dealing with hereditary unsoundness in firstilass breeding stock still remains to be determined." Subsequently, the conference resokedj"That thq council viows with, apprehend sion the material decrease in the number of light horses bred, which are suitablei.fo'r troop horses."' v :.-■■.■' ■ ■:. The familiar ouestion of a Stallion Bill was discussed at length, and it was' resolved: "That if ifois not practicable to obtain compulsory examination of entires, ,the Department of Agricu'ture should bo renuested to arrange for the Chief Stock 'Inspectors of the several districts of the Dominion to' open an official register, in which, on the payment, of a small-'fee, any stallion could be entered as free',from hereditary disease, after an examination by a duly qualified State Veterinary Surgeon." Mr. J. G. Rutherford _ (Auckland) moved: "That with' the object of improving tho various breeds of horses in the Dominion, the Government should be urged to,institute a, system of premiums for arroroved stallions to travel the various districts, and serve mares at a limited fee." Mr. Rutherford thought that at least £2000 should bo set aside for the purpose mentioned out of the totalisat'or revenue. The French and the Germans had been buying ui> horses in-Australia/frcelv, and this means tliat thev were takinp the best horse-;.out of the country. The motion was defeated. ■• • ' ■-