STALLION LAWS AND EEGULATIONS 431 



breeder is unable to recognize all the unsoundnesses and 

 infectious diseases, or to obtain accurate information con- 

 cerning the breeding of a stallion or jack, unless he has 

 had considerable experience in horse and mule breeding. 



The chief points of difference in these laws as enacted 

 are, first, the methods of inspecting stallions or jacks 

 before being accepted for public service ; and, second, 

 the manner in which they are disqualified from standing 

 for public service. In some states, as Wisconsin, the owner 

 must make oath before a notary public or other author- 

 ized officer that the stallion or jack is, to the best of his 

 knowledge, free from hereditary, contagious or trans- 

 missible unsoundness and disease ; while in other states, 

 as New Jersey, the stallion or jack must be examined by 

 a qualified veterinarian appointed by the stallion regis- 

 tration board in charge of the work. In some states, as 

 Wisconsin, stallions or jacks affected with certain un- 

 soundnesses and diseases are disqualified from public 

 service; while in other states, as Kansas, no stallion or 

 jack is barred from public service, but they must be ad- 

 vertised for just what they are, whether pure bred, grade 

 or cross bred, and whether sound or otherwise. In some 

 states, as Nebraska, stallions and jacks are divided into 

 three classes, pure bred, cross bred and grade; while in 

 other states, as Wisconsin, they are divided into a num- 

 ber of classes, as pure bred, cross bred, grade, non- 

 standard bred, and mongrel or scrub. 



Soundness as a qualification.- — There is a rather strong 

 feeling among stallion registration board officials that 

 stallions and jacks should not be disqualified from public 

 service because of unsoundness alone, particularly when 

 the animal in question is known to be a good sire. Per- 

 haps conformation is as important as soundness. In 

 many states any kind of a sound stallion or jack is quali- 

 fied for public service, even though of notably poor con- 

 formation and of unknown breeding. It is difficult to 

 convince the average farmer that a stallion possessed of 



