Show horses and mules in better demand much practical information for breeders bleeders Bre eders of light and work stock prepared by the united states Depart department meal 0 agriculture an increased demand and good prices for well bred horses and mules especially during the next few years anre by J 0 williams aud and S it II pei elman horse specialists stAi of the bureau bureal ot of animal industry united states department of agriculture A i report rt on the horse breeding situation j just list ma made de liti public blid by these gove government aument specialists gives the basis for th their air opinions H ild contains much practical cal information tion for breeders bleeders bre eders of light horses and work stock proportion of pure pura bleds according to information received from 24 states having enrollment laws for stallions jacks or both app approximately boxt 82 per cent of lill all stal stallions ito licensed in 1028 1928 were pure bred while ga 5 per r cent of the jacks enrolled were in ili the same class these agu figures res show a gain over former years and are arc an encouraging feature of the report there tins lias been however a continued annual decrease in the total number of stallions and jacks licensed for public service in the 24 states A reduction in the equine population of the country has also occurred during I 1 the calendar year the decline declan am amounted bunted to about half a million horses and mules the authors of tile the report estimate that colt pro Is now only halt as great lis as Is needed to maintain our horse population at its present level among other salient comments on the situation are the following prices of horses have risen during tile the last two years the rise being most pronounced in the corn licit belt and in states east cast of the mississippi river draft horses with size and quality are in strong demand at good prices and the demand for saddle horses Is nationwide nation wide saddle horses and polo mounts are probably bringing higher prices now than at any time in history producers producer s of work stock doubtful of a recurrence in the demand for horses and mules have been hesitant in resuming breeding operations this has resulted in a pre present sent shortage of good worl work animals and the scarcity probably will be more acute within the next few years stallions and jacks needed high class stallions and jacks are not only schree scarce but are also of high average age and will soon need to be replaced by younger animals I 1 prices of suitable replacement stock probably will be higher in the near future than at present mares blares as well as stallions and jacks should be selected with great care so 0 as to assure offspring that will develop into sound animals of the desired type the foregoing appraisal of tho the situation Is supported by comments from state closely in touch with horse and mule breeding in the principal producing areas the report contains a summary of stallion and jack enrollments by breeds for the calendar years 1020 1926 1027 1927 and 1028 1928 data on horse importations and a list of state and national stallion registration board officials the full report Is available as a 12 page mimeographed Primp pamphlet lilet which may be obtained by addressing the bureau of animal industry united states department of agriculture washington D C |