HORSES AND MULES 



343 



and the height 13 to 14 hands. The bone 

 is large, but the Italian jack is too 

 small for producing mules. They seem 

 to be related to the Maltese. Occasion- 

 ally they are quite vicious. 



The Poitou was the latest breed of 

 jacks to be imported into this country. 

 The Poitou jack has been greatly im- 

 proved by systematic breeding, with the 

 result that Prance leads Europe in qual- 

 ity and number of jacks and also iof 

 mules. According to Ayrault, the noted 

 French authority on the subject, the 

 head of this jack is large, the mouth 

 small, and the ears long with long, curly 

 hair. The tail is short, with long hair 

 only at the tip. The chest is broad and 

 all the joints large. The mane is long 

 and the hair generally fine and silky. 

 The color is black or dark brown, rarely 

 gray. The price is high, ranging from 

 $1000 to $3200. They are in such great 

 demand in France, Spain and elsewhere 

 that the trade can scarcely be supplied. 

 The requirements for entry into the 

 Poitou stud book are very strict. Mules 

 from this jack, according to Allen, are 

 unequaled, and sell for more than those 

 from any other breed. Draft mares bred 

 to this jack in the United States pro- 

 duce excellent mules. 



The native jack—Notwithstanding 

 the excellence of many imported jacks, 

 especially the Poitou and Catalonian, 

 it is the opinion of experienced breeders 

 like J. L. Jones, that "our native jacks 

 with good imported crosses behind them, 

 will sire the mules best suited to the 

 wants of those who use them in this 

 country, and will supply the market 

 with what is wanted by the dealers." 

 The native jack is of greater weight 

 and larger bone than imported jacks, 

 showing in this regard the effect of 

 limestone soil and blue grass. He is a 

 mixture of all breeds of imported jacks 

 and, therefore, shows all colors. Re- 

 cently, however, breeders have selected 

 them for black color with white points. 

 Colts from native jacks are stronger, 

 with better body and more length than 

 those of imported jacks. In Jamaica, 

 the Maltese jack is preferred for mule 

 breeding. At present there are about 

 1400 registered jacks in the United 

 States. 



Best time for breeding — In breeding 

 jacks to jennets, the spring is the best 

 season. Jack colts are weaned at six 

 months of age. They are fed on oats, 

 bran, hay and plenty of green forage or 



pasture. Both jennet and mule jacks 

 may begin service at two years of age. 

 The jack gets only about 50 per cent 

 of mule colts from his service, but the 

 percentage of colts from stallions 

 is usually no higher. About *40 mule 

 colts per season is good work for a jack. 

 Most consider it best that mule jacks 

 should not be allowed to associate with 

 their own species, but only with the 

 horse. During the season of service 

 they should be fed a nitrogenous ration 

 and should have the freedom of a good 

 pasture. 



Fig. 229 NEW USE FOR THE DONKEY 



The burro—From the Rocky moun- 

 tains to the Pacific coast a diminutive 

 jack, known as the burro, is in common 

 use. The burro is the descendant of 

 jacks brought by the Spanish settlers 

 of that region, but it is not certain to 

 what breed of jack it is most closely 

 related. Its color varies from white to 

 almost black, mouse color being very 

 common. The size is about that of the 

 Shetland pony. A peculiar feature fre- 

 quently seen in the burro is its enor- 

 mously thick neck. It is a slow, strong, 

 patient and sure-footed animal, and is 

 capable of carrying loads up to 250 

 pounds. It is, therefore, an excellent 

 pack animal for mountain work. Burro 

 mares crossed with the thoroughbred 

 stallion produce tunnies of considerable 



