8 June, 1907.] Inspection of Stallions. 347 



INSPECTION AND EXAMINATION OF STALLIONS. 



Government Certificate of Soundness. 

 I'he following circular letter relative to^ the inspection and examination 

 of stallions has been forwarded to the various Agricultural Societies 

 throughout the Stale. 



Department of Agriculture, 



i^Ielbourne, 24th May, 1907. 



SlR; 



In accordance with one of the recommendations of the Horse Improve- 

 ment Committee and in pursuance of the policy of assisting the small 

 breeder towards a more valuable result in horsebreeding operations, the 

 Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. George Swinburne) has decided to issue, 

 free of cost, a " Government Certificate of Soundness and Approval " to all 

 stallions standing for public stud service which, on inspection and examina- 

 tion by one of the Government Veterinary Officers, are found free from 

 hereditary unsoundness and defective conformation. The certificates will 

 be given for all breeds — draught horses, light horses and ponies, and it is 

 especially provided that blemishes or unsoundnesses, or defects of con- 

 formation the result of accident, external injury or overstrain and over- 

 work, will not disqualify. 



The main advantage that is expected to accrue from the carrying out 

 of this scheme is that the Government certificate will become the "hall- 

 mark" of soundness in stallions; and owners of mares will be aided in the 

 choice of a sound sire and so be guaranteed that the progeny will not be 

 depreciated in value by the inheritance of unsoundness. Conversely a 

 means will be afforded of avoiding constitutionally unsound and trashy 

 sires. 



The proposal is to have the inspection conducted at Parades held at 

 some convenient centre in the different district areas usually travelled by 

 stallions, on some suitable date (whether Show day or otherwise) prior to 

 the commencement of the forthcoming season — preferably in July or 

 August. 



The Minister will be glad if your Society could undertake the arrange- 

 ments for holding such a Parade either alone or in conjunction with other 

 Agricultural Societies in the travelling stud areas of your district. A very 

 sensible arrangement, and one which it is suggested might be adopted with 

 advantage bv closely neighbouring societies, has been come to already by 

 three societies in one prominent horsebreeding district. They have agreed 

 to hold the stallion parade in July at their different centres in turn, so that 

 each centre will have the parade triennial ly. 



F^xcept to the extent of announcement and advertisement, the Parade 

 and Examination will be carried out without expense to your Society and 

 no conditions other than those indicated above will be imposed. 



I am directed to ask that the matter be laid before your Committee 

 at an early date so that if the Parade is decided on, it may be held before 

 the commencement of the stud season and that clashing of dates may be 

 provided against. 



I will be glad to receive your reply in due course. 

 I have the honour to* be, 



Yours obediently, 



E. G. DUFFUS, 

 Secretarv for Agriculture. 



