FOURTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART VI. 



431 



HORSES AND MULES. 



All horses may be placed in four groups, in a general way, viz: (1) 

 light, (2) coach or carriage, (3) draft, and (4) pony. 



The following is a typical Chicago daily classification, with grades 

 and prices quoted, as given in the Drovers' Journal. 



Clashes and grades of horses on Chicago Market, with prices quoted. 



Class. 



Poor to Fair. Good to Best. 



Drafters . . 



Loggers and feeders 



ChnnUs 



Expressers — 



Farm m£jres and 8mall chunks. 



Light drivers 



Actors and coachers 



Carriage pairs 



Western (branded) 



Plugs and scrubs 



Mules 



$180 to $250 

 1-JO 195 



100 



160 



70 



150 



2U0 



375 



40 



25 



165 



140 



185 



no 



200 



450 



700 



55 



'2i6 



In the above classifications, drafters, loggers and feeders, chunks, 

 small chunks, and expressers, represent animals of a wide range in size, 

 from heavy draft down to small chunks, hut in each instance a blocky, 

 drafty form is desired. Farm mares represent a light type of draft, 

 such as farmers often designate "general purpose" horses. Drivers in- 

 clude various light horses, such as trotters, pacer, etc. The thorough- 

 bred and saddle horse come in the light-horse class, but are not strictly 

 drivers. Actors, carriage and coach horses belong to the one general 

 group. T.here are other classes introduced, and the terms light, medium 

 or heavy may be used in reference to each' different class of horses and 

 mules. The latter, in fact, are usually graded on size and quality, the 

 larger, taller mules bringing the higher prices. There are consignments 

 of horses of inferior value, classed as southern, western, etc., which con- 

 stantly find their way into the large markets; but they lack, quality, 

 size and training, and those from the range are usually branded. Plugs 

 and scrubs constitute the lowest class on the market. 



The relative value of the animals of the different classes are clearly 

 brought out in the prices quoted. 



After an extended study of market cattle in the Chicago yards. 

 Prof. H. W. Mumford, of the Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station, 

 published a classification of cattle, concerning which he gave detailed 

 descriptive notes. The following are the general classes as given by 

 him, each of which he subdivides into grades., The brief descriptions 

 of these classes have been condensed from Professor Mumford's notes. 



General Classes. 



(1) Beef cattle. This class includes all grades of fat steers and 

 heifers; also everything from common to prime and from light to heavy. 

 It is finished condition that brings animals into this class. 



