75^ Journal of Agriculture. [9 Dec, 1907. 



In one case twelve male (entire) descendants of one sire have been 

 examined, and all but one of them found to have sidebones. 



In the second case ten direct descendants have been examined (nine 

 males (entire) and one female) and of these, eight (seven males and one 

 female) have been found to have sidebones. 



These facts may be more clearly represented thus: — 



Rejected for 

 Examined. Sidebones. 



( 5 Sons ... ... ... 5 



Sire A. . 4 Grandsons ... ... ... 4 



[ 3 G. Grandsons ... ... ... -2 



Total 12 II 



j 5 Sons ... ... ... 4 



Sire B. - 4 Grandsons ... ... •••3 



I I Granddaughter... ... ... i 



Total 10 8 



Two of the animals in Family B. were under 3 years at time of 

 examination. 



Of the 19 animals rejected as unsound in the two families seven 

 v.-ere examined and rejected by myself, four by Mr. Colebatch, five by 

 Mr. Robertson, and three by Mr. MacDonald ; and it was not till their 

 pedigrees were traced for the purpose of this report that their relationship 

 was revealed. 



If any further evidence was required to demonstrate the hereditary 

 character of sidebone perhaps the most convincing would be the fact that 

 families have been come across in which all the animals examined have 

 been found sound. In one case, a sire and three sons haA'e been examined 

 and all found sound. In another case three sons of the same sire have 

 been found sound, and in a third case only twa out of nhie descendants 

 examined have had sidebones. 



Examinations at Shows. 



Closely associated with the scheme for the Government certification 

 of stallions have been the efforts of the Department to introduce veterinary 

 examination at Agricultural Shows so that all breeding stock awarded 

 prizes may be relied on as being sound. 



Veterinary examination of stallions at Shows was made one of the 

 four conditions, three of which had to be accepted, entitling Agricultural 

 Societies to participate in the Government subsidy. This condition has- 

 teen accepted by about one-third of the Societies, and in the majority of 

 cases the Government Veterinary Officers have been requisitioned to carry 

 out the examination. 



As was inevitable, a certain amount of misconception has existed con- 

 cerning the innovation, and fears of friction have been entertained, which 

 have militated against the cordial adoption of the condition. But so far 

 no serious hitch has occurred in connexion with the Shows attended 

 by the Departmental veterinary surgeons. 



To obviate misconception and to prevent friction next season, and at 

 the same time to consolidate the work of veterinary staff, I am inclined 

 to favour the suggestion that the condition as to soundness of horses 

 at Shows should be so altered as to make the awarding of prizes in stallion 



