22 



THE BREEDS OF LIVE-STOCK 





ever, is of comparatively recent development. A revival 

 of the interest in it was stimulated and developed with 

 the establishment of government breeding studs in 1850. 

 The Belgium government annually sets apart about 

 $75,000 for the supervision and encouragement of draft- 

 horse breeding in that 

 country. By a system 

 of prizes, and financial 

 encouragement of indi- 

 vidual breeders, as well 

 as of the National 

 Draft Horse Society of 

 Belgium and the local 

 fairs, it has had a very 

 potent influence in the 

 advancement of this 



FIG. 3. - A Belgian stallion. breed Ry every mean ^ 



the government seeks to encourage the best efforts of in- 

 dividuals, and to discourage the exportation of desirable 

 animals. The city of Antwerp, in Belgium, is noted 

 throughout the world as possessing many of the finest 

 specimens of draft horses to be found, and these horses 

 are without exception of the Belgian breed. 



15. History in America. The history of this breed 

 in America is comparatively brief. The earliest importa- 

 tion was probably in 1886, when a few horses were im- 

 ported into Illinois by A. G. Van Hoorebeke. They 

 were at that time incorrectly termed " Boulonnais." 

 Since 1887, large numbers of Belgian draft stallions have 

 been imported into the United States and have been found 

 exceedingly valuable for crossing on native grade draft 

 mares. In 1888, E. Lefebure began importing and pro- 

 moting the interest of the breed in this country. One 



