276 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 May, 1918. 



GOVERNMENT CERTIFICATION OF STALLIONS. 



ELEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT (SEASON 1917-1918). 



'By W. A. N. Robertson, BA\ 8c., Chief Veterinary Officer. 



The number of stallions exainined during the past year was lower 

 than for any previous period, being only 237. 



The main cause of this will probably be found in the slump in the 

 price of horses ; this has induced many to give up, or, at any rate, curtail 

 the breeding of horses. A further reason for their decision has been 

 the difficulty in obtaining reliable stud grooms, as so many have enlisted. 

 The slump, however, is not likely to last — indeed, the prospect for the 

 future is bright. The world-wide demand for foodstuffs that is bound to 

 occur when the present upheaveal subsides and the peace of the world is 

 once more established, will give a great impetus to settlement, and the 

 demand for draught horses will cause the pendulum to swing back. 

 Those who are prepared to supply the demand will reap a handsome 

 reward for their labour, especially if breeding be carried on along sound 

 lines. It is to be earnestly hoped that the reaction will not produce* the 

 same results as the boom of 1907 and 1908, and offer an indiicemcnt to 

 keep as stallions animals of no breeding or type. 



Although only 237 horses were examined during the season, the pro- 

 gramme for the veterinary officers had to be mapped out so as to allow 

 attendance at 80 parades. Only two veterinary officers being available, 

 the time-table was arranged as in the previous year, providing for one 

 officer to be in reserve all the time, and so available to keep appointments 

 if there should be any alteration of train service or any unforeseen 

 curtailment in arrangements. Owing to Mr. R. ^NT. Johnstone's dis- 

 charge from the Military Forces, there will be three officers available 

 during the coming season, thus providing for two sets of parades a week ; 

 this will allow them all to be completed before the Royal Show. 



As indicated in my last report, the examination of mares was intro- 

 duced during the season under review. This step was taken in response 

 to the request of breeders through the Royal Agricultural Society, this 

 body having determined that only sound mares should be allowed to 

 compete at their show. As many breeders were put to considerable 

 expense and inconvenience in bringing animals to Melbourne to have 

 them rejected by the Society's veterinary surgeon on the Show Grounds, 

 they asked that Government officers, when examining stallions, should 

 also examine mares which it was intended to enter in the Royal Show. 

 Thus the examination of mares was confined to those entered in a stud 

 book. 



