128 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



of the measures that have been employed In other states and In other countries 

 with the purpose of encouraging horse breeders and improving horse breeding 

 conditions. 



It means a great deal to the State that the horses shall be of good quality, 

 and the hor.ses on the larms and in the cities and towns are an important asset 

 to the Commonwealth; if they are increased in efficiency and value but ten 

 per cent, as ought to be possible under the influence of appropriate leadership 

 and direction, this v.ould mean at present prices, an increase of more than 

 $8,000,000, in the value of the horse property of the State. One of the chief in- 

 fluences tending to keep down the horse breeding in Pennsylvania is the use of 

 the inferior sires of mixed ancestry. Such horses are sometimes patronized 

 through ignorance and sometimes because they are misrepresented by their 

 owners. Under this law, the misrepresentation of the breeding of a horse is pre- 

 vented. It may be said it is a measure against the "false labeling" of stallions. 

 In addition, every effort is being used to encourage the owners of mares to 

 improve the quality of their stock and to practice judicious and up-lifting ma- 

 ting. What lollo\\s is Professor Gay's statement as to the intent of the horse 

 breeding law and his own suggestions in connection with its enforcement: 



"The report of the United States Department of Agriculture for the year 1905 

 shows the total number of horses on the farms of Pennsylvania to be 656,106, 

 having an average valuation of $102.57 or a total of $67,296,787. In the number 

 of horses on farms, Pennsylvania stands twelfth among the other states of the 

 Union, while a census of the horses in the cities of the State gives their num- 

 ber as which is greater than a similar census given for any other 

 state. In a general way, the number of horses in the cities is an indication of 

 the the number consumed, while those on the farms are representative of the 

 source of supply. These figures, however, do not give even an approximate 

 idea of the balance between production and consumption in Pennsylvania, 

 since there is an active demand among the farmers themselves for market 

 horses. This State does not, therefore, stand even twelfth in horse production, 

 while it consumes as many, if not more horses than any other state. This fact 

 alone is strongly suggestive of much greater possibilities for horse breeding as 

 an industry than are realized at the present time. This has become a matter 

 of comment at the great western markets, the strength of which is largely 

 maintained by eastern buyers. In a recent issue of a leading livestock journal 

 of the country, an editorial was devoted to this topic, the substance of which 

 was that in view of the medium price of land and cost of grain in the East com- 

 pared to the margin allowed by the buyer of horses purcliased in the West to be 

 sold in the East, horse breeding would appear "to be one of the most profitable 

 lines of livestock husbandry which might be followed" by Pennsylvania farm- 

 ers. The advantage of more economic production possessed by the western 

 breed^i- is to a large extent offset by the low price for which he must sell to 

 the shipper of the cost of marketing which must be deducted from his profits 

 in case he sells direct to the consumer. The eastern farmer, on the other hand, 

 has not the means of finishing his horses for market at so low a cost but his 

 markets are more accessible and but a small allowance is necessary as the cost 

 of placing them there. 



"A review of the market reports from the great horse centers for the past few 

 years, show the prices of chcdce horses of definite type to have been remarkably 

 firm, the demand usually in excess of the supply, while, as a rule, the common 

 unclassified stuff has sold at what would be a loss to the producer. The call 

 continues to be for more but better horses and this demand has been met by a 

 more systematic effort at improvement than heretofore marked the horse breed- 

 ing industry in this country. The official part of the movement may be said 

 to liave been inaugurated by the United States Department of Agriculture, when 

 in 1904 they secured special appropriations to be devoted to experimental work 

 along this line. Subsequently the matter has been taken up by some of the 

 states whose first step has been the most logical means of affecting improve- 

 ment, namely the regulation of the stallion services which are offered to the 

 breeding public. Laws are now in force in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Utah and 

 Pennsylvania as -well as in some of the Canadian provinces which have as their 

 object the protection of the breeders from misrepresented, common bred, un- 

 sound sires whrse influence would be a detriment to the stock of the country 

 and a loss to the breeders. The law enacted by the last Pennsylvania Legis- 

 lature is similar in its essential features to those of the states already referred 

 to and is really an adaptation of the system that prevailed in France, with 

 obviously good results, for over a century. It was proposed by some of tlie most 

 prominent breeders of the Commonwealth, who recognized the need of some 

 such measure, and its final enactment was the result of the united efforts of 

 the breeders of the State through their organization, the Pennsylvania Live- 

 stock Breeders' Association. The president, Hon. W. C. Norton, of Waymart, 

 was one of the most energetic advocates of the proposed bill. These breeders 

 were controlled wholly by public spirited motives, seeking only to encourage 

 and promote the horse breeding industry of the State. 



"There seems to be no question that the intent of the law is commendable, al- 

 though some criticisms are made of the means by which the end is attained. 

 It should be borne in mind, however, that the first thing necessary was to draft 



