FARM AND DAIRY NOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81861, 10 October 1906, Page 4

FARM AND DAIRY NOTES.

As tlii- is iliv -t'a-un when linrsebieedeis aio confid'iing what s'anip of horseflesh they iIU-nd growing, a lew remarks may prove of some interest. In horse-culture it too often happens that not sufficient attention is paid to the qualities of bro u d mares. Some farmers seem to think that because they can obtain good sires (and Taranaki has some of the very best aires in all types to be formed in the colonies), with which to mate their mares, they will be ab'e to breed horses that will follow the sire, in most f their charac.erittics and good qual't.e:. This is absolutely a mistake, i lie progeny of any two animals is just as likely, perhaps more so, to follow the maternal characteristics than those of the male. Then another po^nt—horses are too often bred for appearance and not for toil. A horse that is not a good toiler is not worth his feed. Of course there are lo'.s of horses that are willing enough to work. Although this is a most desirable quality it is no use a horse being willing if he has not the sturdy physique to enable him to do his work without being "knocked-up'\ To breed a good horse, no matter if it be thoroughbred, hackney, light harness or draught, it is just as necesary for the dam to be perfect as it is for the stallion. Numbers of horses are bred in this province which reflect anything but credit on the horses that sire'them. Frequently this is due to breeding from mares that are un'Hiund, ill-formed, and not nicely proportioned, and which look more like working bullocks than well-moulded need to answer the query. The stock brood mares The question is: What qualities and charactristics constitute a good mare for stud purposes ? T0 those of our readers who have made the subject a life's study there is no need to answer the query. The stock bred by these men prove that they know from experience what they are about. In selecting a brood mare naturity is indispensable, since it is rutile to expect the more perfect develipments front an animal undeveloped leiself. To get the highest standard >f excellence and quality in the offspring it must of course be necessary to have the highest developments n the progenitors. It co'-is no more to laise a good horse than an inferior me, and it is far better to pay a heavy iirice for a good animal than breed an ■nferior one that will, after beinj> f-d ind looked after, be a disappointment. Seeing that by a law of nature like oege « like, a sound, vigorous mare should be chosen for the stud. Care should be taken that she comes from a parentage without hereditary dis'a: A custom which is largely in vogue i". to mate small mares to big boned sires in the hope that tlie foal will inherit the marc's good qualities and yet be heavier boned and stronger. Unless great care is exercised in ,electing the -sire for such mares the progeny will be ungainly in shape and turn out disappointing. Authorities agree that where more size and bone are required in the progeny, the size"should be on the maternal -side and not on the sire's. In other words : Far better results will be achieved bymating a hackney or thoroughbred sire, than by mating a small finelybred mare io a draught entire. Where stamina, strength, and good temperament is desired it is essential that both the sire and the dam should have all good qualities and characteristics. Fhe ideal brood mare, whatever her jsiz® or style, should not be course at £ny point. Her symmetry of course should be distinctly feminine, just as that of the stallion should be clearly masculine. Her head sh'ouid show intelligence and character in every feature. She ~houM carry more muscle and f.esli than the male, be more rounded in outline, but finer in the head, neck and limbs and thinner in the mane and tail. Her courage •hould lie in ambition to perform her work. The barrel or body of the ideal brood mare should be rather rounder and more roomy than that of the stallion. Her chest Bhould be well and fully developed, and the nos rils denote plenty of breathing ability. H'-r milking qualities should, of course, be good, as upon them depends the full nourishment of the foal.

It often happens that many a good foal is ruined through the mare being worked too soon after the foal is born. If the mare i-> heated through hard toil when the foal is still young the youngstersgetslittleor no nourishment from the mother's milk. No mare with a valuable foal should be put to work until the foal is at least six weeks' old. By this time the latter should have a good start ih'life, and, pdoviding the mare is not worked too hard, no harm will thereafter Jesuit.