THE VALUE OF A GOOD BROOD MARE.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2183, 23 February 1881, Page 4

THE VALUE OF A GOOD BROOD MARE.

[« Bural Now Yorker.”] The question is often discussed, as to whether the sire or dam exerts most influence on the produce. We have usually observed these discussions to be conducted under predetermined notions, instead of seeking to unravel facts frith a flow to arrive at logical conclusions.

Breeders of thoroughbred horses alone seem fully to understand the real importance ot attending to the qualities of both sire and dam and that until, by the exorcise of judgment and proportionate good fortune favoring, the latter ia obtained,the former cannot be availed of. A want of understanding the real value of the mare has been a primary eause to check improvement, and has produced loss to the country ot the best mares—those adapted to produce the best horses for all purposes. Lot any one offer what is considered a good price, and the best brood mare has been taken away, and the farmer, without any reason, congratulates himself that he has made a good sale, and has turned in ready money, whilst ho has probably a bad long-legged filly, in no way calculated to become a brood mare, which he, none the loss, keeps to supply the place of the good mare he has sold ; this has been of. constant occurrence, the mares not being sold from one farmer to another, but leave the country and go to the city. ot late years, mares have been more used in cities than formerly; they are more easily disposed of than geldings, after they have been crippled or used up; or become permanently injured from accidents. We wish to impress upon the farmer that it is to his interest to retain hi* good mares, or to Incur a liberal outlay for the best young mare he can find, and then use equal good judgment in the selection of a stallion, though he go some distance in search of him, and to continue the process by equally good management of his stock in all seasons. A valuable broodmare to an intelligent farmer is like his richest field, requiring good seed and diligent cultivation, and then, and not otherwise, will horse-breeding prove a profitable branch of agricultural industry.