SIXTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART VII. -tb6 



alone to improve his stock. He lias forgotten that all of our improved 

 breeds of horses are the product of adequate nutrition as well as intelli- 

 gent breeding, suitable environment, sufficient shelter and kindly care. 

 The use of a sire so produced endows the progeny with the propensity to 

 develop character and qualities akin to his own and of the breed he repre- 

 sents. But these desirable qualities will not perfectly develop unless the 

 progeny is given food, care and shelter such as had their effect in the 

 production of the pure breed and its high class representative. In all 

 pure breeds the original "scrub" blood, at the foundation, is ever seeking 

 to reinstate itself. In short there is a tendency in all pure-bred animals 

 to degenerate or retrogress towards original and less perfect types and 

 nothing will more surely and speedily stimulate this tendency than lack 

 of nutritious food. In the absence of sufficient nutrition, or complete 

 nutrition, the possibilities of perfection inherited from pure-bred sires or 

 dams but partially materialize or wholly fail to assert themselves. The 

 well-born, but incompletely nourished colt fails to develop and at maturity 

 is no less a "weed" than the ordinary scrub or native animal. On the 

 other hand, if the dam is adequately nourished on complete rations dur- 

 ing pregnancy and when nursing, and the colt, from weaning time for- 

 ward, is as perfectly and fully fed, it will, in all probability, develop to 

 the high standard of size, power, quality and character made possible by 

 its breeding. 



In addition to proper feeding it is likewise necessary to protect the 

 young developing animal against every possible cause of debility, dis- 

 comfort and unhealth that would tend to retard its growth. Shelter must 

 therefore be sufficient, disease must be fought against, vermin must be 

 prevented from sapping the constitution, and fresh air, sunlight, adequate 

 exercise and kindly care must take a full part in perfecting the develop- 

 ment of the animal. 



OVER-FAT COXDITION DETBIMENTAL. 



In advocating adequate and complete nutrition we do not mean that 

 breeding animals or young growing and developing animals should be 

 over-fattened. We insist that each animal, according to its requirements 

 for work, for service, during pregnancy, while nursing, while growing or 

 in- idleness, should be fully fed upon rations which supply a sufficient 

 amount of the most suitable nutrients. 



The breeding stallion derives no possible benefit from the load of 

 fat that is too commonly put upon his frame by drugging and stuffing. 

 On the contrary, such obestiy engenders sluggishness, disease and impo- 

 tency. We should ^expect our draft stallions to transmit vim, vigor, 

 activity, power and ability for hard labor. These desirable qualities are 

 not associated with fat and flabbiness and can not, to any great degree, 

 be transmitted by a stallion in that condition. To give the best results 

 in breeding he should be in muscular condition and have perfect health 

 and vigor. The requisite condition is that which comes from ample 

 exercise, or actual labor, which bring into full play all Of the tissues 

 and organs of the body, keep down surplus fat by stimulating excretioo 



