Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 103, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 April 1913 — DRAFT STALLIONS SHOULD BE WORKED DAILY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

DRAFT STALLIONS SHOULD BE WORKED DAILY

By D. O. THOMPSON,

Animal Husbandry Department, Purdue-University-Experiment Station.

Purdue University Agricultural Extension.

Fig. I—This1 —This pure-bred draft stallion is fourteen years old. He works about 250 days in a year. He settle® 75 to 85 per cent, of the mares bred to [ him. Has sired a great many valuable foals. His owner says he te the | best work horse on the farm. TV as never worked until he was seven years told. _

It is a lamentable fact that many of the best draft stallions stood for service in Indiana may justly be accused of being but fairly sure foal getters. A stallion that settles 60 per cent, of his mares is considered pretty sure; one that settles 60 per-cent, is sure; and one that settles 75 per cent, is remarkable. The adverse conditions surrounding the breeding of mares, whereby they must be brought for a good number of miles, and wherein the farming operations often will not permit of their being returned regularly, has an influence on this percentage of mares settled. Nevertheless, it is a known fact that many draft stallions do not settle as many mares as they Bhould even under present circumstances.

A considerable part of the blame for this may be laid at the doors of their owners. Too many of the draft stallions of the state are treated too much as though they were elephants belonging to a zdo; put into dismal stalls or yards; allowed little freedom, air and sunshine; no exercise from one end of the year to the other; in fact, are kept under wholly unnatural conditions. Part of the year they are neglected; the other part they are pampered beyond all necessity. Small wonder that the lose their potency. Stallions Should Be Worked.

The draft stallion is too valuable a source of farm power to be allowed to

stand idle. He, of all animals, is most able to pull the heavy loads and the heavy machinery that present-day farming operations demand. He la much more content when at work in the fleldß than he is when cooped up in a dark box stall in the far corner of the barn, away from all the other horses. After becoming used to working with a mare, he goes along without creating any undue disturbance, and; generally works better at the side of! a mare than when hitched with a gelding. By daily work throughout the year his general health and potency are maintained far better than when! he is allowed to stand idle.

, If conditions are such that it is entirely impractical to work the draftl stallion, a large, blue-grass paddockl should be provided adjacent to the breeding yard. Too often the only exercise allowed is within the fouy high-board walls of the breeding yard. An acre or two inclosed with a strong, close-mesh, eight-foot, heavy woven wire, or by a strongly built rail fence, something that he can see through that does not make too much of ai prison, contributes to his health, strength, vigor, happiness and potency. Draft stallions are not criminals, thati they should be put into prison. True, they must be handled with discretion, and caution, with which should be mixed some wisdom and common horse sense.

Fig. 2—A strongly fenced blue-grass paddock should be provided adjacent to the breeding yard. Exercise and freedom contribute to the vigor and ‘ contentment of stallionß. Two draft stallions kept on this farm have a remarkable reputation as valuable sires and sure breeders.