Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 273, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 November 1920 — Army Promotes Horse Breeding [ARTICLE]

Army Promotes Horse Breeding

Farmer^‘and Stockmen* of the Country Are Encouraged to Raise Better Stock.

PUN PROVES BID SUCCESS Government** Breeding Service for - 1921 to Be Tripled—Congress Appropriated $250,000 for the WorkProminent Breeders Volunteer Service*. ■ ’■ ■ • 1 J*" t Washington.—Such great, progress has been made in the United States army’s new project for encouraging breeding of horses among the. farmers and stockmen of the country that plans are now under way to triple the government’s breeding service for 1921. Congress has appropriated $250,000 for the worteAccording to an announcement made by Maj. Gen. P. C. Harris, the adjutant general of the army, there have been bred this season about one thousand mares belonging to civilians and to the government in different sections of the United States. These mares may generally be divided into two classes: First, a well-bred type of riding animal ranging from 1,000 to 1,150 pounds ip weight. Second, a rather drafty type of active mare showing a lot of quality with good neck and shoulders, weighing from 1,150 to 1,“ 300 pounds.' The mares at Front Royal, Va., come generally under the first class, many of them being halfbred or standard-bred mares. At the other three army depots the active draft type of mare predominates. The breeding committee of the Amer-’ lean Remount association, made up of some of the most prominent horsemen and breeders in the country, has entered enthusiastically into the army’s ambitious program for the improvement of American horseflesh, and all have volunteered their services to help and advise in any manner possible. Sucsess Assured.

The army remount service now has on hand 45 thoroughbred stallions Snd two Arab stallions, all donated by or through the influence of the (American Remount association. These have assured the success of the proposed breeding plan. The secretary of war has been authorized by congress to accept such donations of animals in order to encourage the breeding of riding horses suitable for army use. The quartermaster general has been designated to represent the secretary of war in taking over these stallions and in accept-, ing. money to be used as prizes or awards at state and county fairs, agricultural exhibitions and horse shows. For the 1921 season there are already many applications for stallions to be bred under the army’s new scheme, received from a number of very reliable persons. From 100 to 150 stallions can be placed to great advantage for next year. For this the army .is very anxious to gain the cooperation of farmers and stockmen generally, and to this end will establish governmental breeding centers in such localities as conditions warrant. The army requirements are threefold: First—These breeding centers must be located in places where there are a sufficient number of suitable mares for raising riding horses which may be used as a source of cavalry and artillery mounts. These mares must be active and well built, and shouH range between 1,000 and 1,250 pounds <in weight. Second—Farmers, horse owners and cause the lntended to Berre heavy draft mares, throughout” the community, not only era generally. । mt on Locdi •■ * • vat, _/

state and county fairs where possible, and will be shown In the future. The' army officer in charge of each of the five remount purchasing headquarters has been authorized to hire one civilian assistant in each breeding center in his territory, to be kndwn as the “local agent” As a rule, these latter are good horsemen who are popular_and well-known and who take active interest in breeding.' Every agent is paid a fee for each mare that is properly bred In a season, To receive this fee, he must have taken steps to determine whether each mare is in foal at the first service, and to glye second and. third service, if such Is necessary. This local agent iq expected to care for the War department’s stallion, conduct and surpervise the breeding in his center, and generally comply with such Instructions as may be issued to him by the army officer in charge of breeding in hi* lone. Y * 4 , F '

These remount purchasing zones are five in number. They are: Atlantic states, including all New England, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South . Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia and Ohio. Headquarters, Loulsville, Ky. North central states—lndiana, Illinois, lowa, Missouri, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and Colorado. Headquarters, Kansas City, Mo. " South central states—Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico. Headquarters, Oklahoma City, Okla. , “ Pacific states—California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona. Sacramento, Cal. s'-'-' Northwestern states — ; Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon. Headquarters, Boise, Idaho. The stallions sent .out to breeding

centers will'be only those proved suitable in the stud. They are always carefiflly inspected by the officer in charge of the district and by the veterinarian before being sent out for breeding by the local agent. Stud fees will be charged for all

stallions, and this fee, by order, is to be .the same as the local fee usually charged for privately-owned stallions. But the army’s finest types of sires will be at the service of Ideal breeders at what is practically a nominal fee, when it is considered that owners of some of the best blue ribbon horseflesh in the country charge from SIOO to SI,OOO without a guarantee. The local agent will assist in selecting the mares to be bred. These animals should be of such type and conformation that good results shall be secured, and they should be of good disposition, and sound. If after inspection the mare is -considered suit able, the owner will receive a certificate of suitability. - The offspring is the property of the owner of the mare, and can be disposed of in any manner and at any time that the owner sees fit. The government has no lien on the get. In order, however, to encourage breeders pnd establish a horse market in every breeding center, the whenever horses are required to be purchased for the army, will Inspect and buy such offspring in each center as army need requires, provided that the animals are up to military specifications. - Suitable, clean, well-ventilated stables for the stallions are necessary in every breeding center. Forage will b« furnished .by the government, either by shipment or by local purchase. Agent in Charge. After all arrangements have been made, the stallions assigned to the local breeding center will be sent out and turned oyer to’ the agent. He i» responsible for the animals, and for their actual breeding to approved mares. He is also charged with bring-

-ing in the mares for breeding, or sending out the stallions on the road. At the beginning of the season stallions are to be sent to breeding centers in such numbers as to care for all the mares in the locality that are suitable. Stable facilities will be provided by the government for all stallions wheja. not on the road. As a result of this new plan the army expects to breed several fine types of horses .which should have good markets. These are: Hunters for civilian use; polo ponies; park riding mounts; army horses; officers’ chargers. and-fine farm horses. The army remount officers will give advice to all farmers and stockmen where they request it. Prizes will be offered at state and county fairs for the best colts sired by government stallions. Some of these latter an-

imals are very valuable. For example, the government owns and offers for the use of farmers and stockmen the celebrated stallion Danger Rock, by the famous Rock Sand out of Delusion; and Swing Loose by Bro«nstlck put of Courage. The get of some of the government stallions are being held at very high prices. For instance,. Down East by Yankee, and Silver Crest by Black Du could not be bought for SIO,OOO each. Many youngsters bred from government stock have been sold from SI,OOO to $5,000 each. Vocational Schools. With so much breeding activity in the army, it has been necessary to establish vocational schools for soldiers who are fond of animals, and who wish to learn how to handle and care for them. Every opportunity is otfered to recruits who enlist for occupational training to select the various courses in army schools which pertain to breeding and animal husbandry. There are special courses at Camp Lee, Va., Camp Gordon, Ga., Camp Travis, Tex., Camp Funston, Kan., Camp Pike, 81., Camp Grant, 111., Fort Keogh, Mont., Fort Reno, Okla., Fort Robinson, Neb., and Front Royal, Va. es. mules and other farm animals. When the soldier is honorably discharged he has a first-class training in shoeing and general, smithy work. The War department wishes to interest a.great number of men who raise I imnrial D CL—