THe JOURNAL 



^lie department of Mgnculfure 



07 



VICTORIA. 



Vol. XVII. Part 5. 



lOth May, 1919. 



GOVERNMENT CERTIFICATION OF STALLIONS. . 



TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT (SEASON 1918-1919). 



By W. A. N. Robertson, B.V.Sc, Chief Veterinary Officer. 



When reference was made in my last annual report to the slump in 

 the price of horses and to the future prospects, it was not thought that 

 values would depreciate to the extent to which they did during the past 

 season, when horses were sold at a price which certainly did not pay for 

 the rearing, nor was it anticipated that the pendulum would commence 

 to swing back so rapidly. The primary cause of the depression having 

 ceased to operate, the outlook for those engaged in the horse-breeding 

 industry has become much more promising. 



Gratitude at the termination of the war now fills the hearts of all, 

 and, with the vista of normal times ahead, more attention will be devoted 

 to pre-war occupations. Not the least of these will be horse breeding. 

 The low prices for horses ruling during the past twelve months and over 

 was certainly disheartening, but during the latter months a decided 

 improvement was evidenced. There is no reason to anticipate that this 

 improvement will not be permanent, rather is it to be expected that it 

 will steadily continue. During the past four years breeding operations^ 

 have been considerably curtailed, and it must be remembered that the 

 young horses sold last season were the result of matings before the curtail- 

 ment. Consequently, for some years to come, the young horses available 

 for distribution will be below normal requirements. 



If carefully considered, the' low market values will be seen to be the 

 natural corollary, accentuated by the uncertain conditions due to war, 

 of the high prices of 1908-9, when breeding was commenced in au indis- 

 criminate manner, in the hope of sharing in the high values then ruling. 



As the visible supply of young horses for the next few years is below 

 requirements, a steady hardening of prices is bound to occur, and 

 breeders will once more turn their attention to this avenue of production. 

 They will, however, be well advised to reflect that the result of the coming 

 season's matings will not be marketable for four years, so that if a 



5110. 



