| Show Livestock JA LOS JOS ANGELES GEI ES May 10 15 In 1 In analyzing a recent survey of or the horse and mule mulo situation it St is brought forcibly to mind that most of ot us arc are harboring a 11 lack of or ap appreciation ap- ap predation of or the Importance of or this branch of oC the tho livestock In In- In industry With the coming of ot mechanical appliances in various lines of or agri agricultural cultural production horses and mules have to some extent been pushed aside ulde This Is evidenced e by b the fact that between 1920 and 1927 horses on farms decreased ed cd 22 1 per cent Also the ratio of oC colts produced per horses and mues mue has decreased from 1 In ri 1920 to 73 in 1923 1925 I It Is evident that tho the horse and I mule sItuation is 13 worthy orthy of ot thought bought when it is pointed out I that hat the value of or our horses and mules on the farms at present Is nearly near one and a half billion dollars and in seven of or our states the value alue of or horses and anti mules ex exceeds ex- ex exceeds the value alue of or all other live live- livestock livestock stock combined For the tho United States Stales as IS a a. whole the he value of horses and md mules exceed that hat of oC any an other class clars of oC live- live livestock stock lock except when beef and dairy cattle attic are arc grouped The rhe same situation in better breeding and stabilizing production lon tion sto the horse and mule situation as 15 to lo other OthE r branches of or livestock With the number of or horses and mules mule constantly on the he decrease and tho the ratio of colts colls shown hown above e being being- reduced by halt In the thc course of ot five years indications Indications arc are that the number of ot work ork animals will continue to show how sharp decreases This short short- age of or course will affect the sit sit- situation situation where the work worl animals on the he farms arc are the oldest and where the tho lowest percentage of or colts oils for replacements replace are avail avail- able A recent survey points out that In n the north-eastern north and south south- southeastern southeastern eastern states a larger proper r Ion of or the Ule available animals are of or a higher average age than else else- where The western states stales are the only states stales now producing p n Il num nurn- number ber of ot colts COlt sufficient for replace replace- replacement replacement ment purposes and It would v seem I that hat an opportunity Is represented rn l h the building up of ot breeds In Inthe Inthe I the he West Vest representing types which 1 are In the greatest demand In the eastern castern and anti southern states There probably pro Is no section of the country where a 0 greater variety of or horse type is b found than In the West est and this Is particularly true of or California which has been ice ice- for tor many man years ears as the producer of the tte widest range of types a as well weil as of or a quality which has been unsurpassed d throughout the t from rom the Palomino horses hones of oC the early carl Spanish settlers down dean to the splendid types of draft and light light- lighter er animals of or our present day da Many have thought that the horse hai 1103 been on trial the past few years ears as to whether he lie should replaced completely by mech mech- mechanical mechanical anical appliances Experiments have e proven pro fully that thit the horse and mulo 1 has Its s place e on the 11 farm 1 as well e as In many n a activities t of oC city cily life liCe and ond from reports throughout the country of ot cons cons- constantly constantly Increasing Inquiry for horses and mules it Is not difficult dif hf- hf to visualize an Impending acute shortage In these lines a. a a due duo to lo the uncertainty uncertaIn of or the future many man breeders have cur- cur curot of ot this is being felt 1 this It would seem that In line with the progress which is b being made In the West rest toward profitable and well balanced di diversification dl- dl versification that the horse and mule should take Its place side sideby sIdeby by side wIth Uh the other classes c of livestock II |
