VETERINARY EXAMINATION OF STALLIONS. 



Report on the Veterinary Examination of Stallions for the 

 Government Certificate of Soundness and Approval.* 



5. S. Cameron, M.R.C.Y.S., Chief Veterinary Officer. 



Initiation of Scheme. 

 The system was inaugurated to meet in some degree the general demand 

 throughout the State that some measure of control should be exercised 

 over the horsebreeding industry with a view of arresting the generally 

 recognised deterioration that is taking place amongst most classes of 

 Australian horses. A resolution passed by the Chamber of Agriculture 

 at the Sale Convention and conveyed to the Minister on 16th August, 

 1906, crystallized this general demand into a specific request " to the 

 Minister of Agriculture to arrange on the voluntary request of any 

 Agricultural Society or Parade Council for the free examination for 

 soundness of stallions standing for public service by approved veterinary- 

 experts and for the granting of Government Certificates of Soundness." 

 After full consideration of the desirability and practicability of carrying 

 out the suggestion, the Minister decided to adopt it. Accordingly on 

 24th May, 1907, the following circular was sent to all the Agricultural 

 Societies in the State suggesting the holding of Stallion Parades at 

 which the veterinary examination could be made: — 



Department of Agriculture, 



Melbourne, 24th May, 11JO7 

 Sir, 



In accordance with one of the recommendations of the Chamber of Agriculture, 

 and in pursuance of the policy of assisting the small breeder towards a more 

 valuable result in horsebreeding operations, the Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. 

 George Swinburne) has decided to issue, free of cost, a " Government Certificate of 

 Soundness and Approval" to all stallions standing for public stud service which, on 

 inspection and examination by one of the Government Veterinary Officers, are found 

 free from hereditary unsoundness and defective conformation. The certificates will 

 be given for all breeds — draught horses, light horses and ponies, and it is especially 

 provided that blemishes or unsoundness, or defects of conformation, the result of 

 accident, external injury or overstrain and overwork, will not disqualify. 



The main advantage that is expected to accrue from the carrying out of this 

 scheme is that the Government certificate will become the "hall-mark" of soundness 

 in stallions ; and owners of mares will be aided in the choice of a sound sire and 

 so be guaranteed that the progeny will not be depreciated in value bv the inheritance 

 of unsoundness. Conversely, a means will be afforded of avoiding constitutionally 

 unsound and trashy sires. 



The proposal is to have the inspection conducted at parades held at some con- 

 venient centre in the different district areas usually travelled by stallions, on some 

 suitable date (whether Show Day or otherwise) prior to the commencement of the 

 forthcoming season — preferably in July or August. 



The Minister will be glad if your Society could undertake the arrangements for 

 holding such a parade either alone or in conjunction with other Agricultural 

 Societies in the travelling stud areas of your district. A very sensible arrangement, 

 and one which it is suggested might be adopted with advantage by closely neighbouring 



* With the exception of the figures, which have been brought up to date, this 

 report is a copy of a report to the Hon. the Minister of Agriculture, written on 

 21st October, 1907, as a result of a request in Parliament " for results of the 

 initial examination of stallions to date, together with any evidence that had been 

 forthcoming during the examinations bearing on the question of proof of the 

 hereditary transmissibility of the unsoundnesses held to warrant refusal of the Govern- 

 ment certificate." On 21st October, 10,07, the report was laid on the table of the 

 House of Legislative Assembly and by vote of Parliament was ordered to be 

 printed. — S.S.C., 30th November, 1907. 



