22 



Live Stock in Belgium. 



[APRIL, 



are elected by the permanent deputation of the provincial 

 council, the fifth is selected by the Minister of Agriculture. 



Since 1902 the Minister has also appointed, in accordance 

 with the provincial regulations and the recommendation of the 

 Belgian Jockey Club, a committee of examination, composed 

 of three members and a veterinary surgeon, who are charged 

 with the examination of animals intended for public breeding 

 purposes. In the month of February this committee visits 

 the residences of owners of thoroughbred stallions. 



A committee, elected by the Minister of Agriculture, on the 

 recommendation of the Societe Royale Hippique de Belgique acts 

 under the same conditions for the examination of half-bred stal- 

 lions and of thoroughbred stallions which habitually serve half- 

 bred mares. This is the scheme adopted for the examination 

 of stallions of all breeds. The examination is valid for one 

 year. 



Neither the Government nor the provinces grant financial 

 assistance for the breeding of the thoroughbred horses. The 

 Societe Royale Hippique de Belgique receives from the State 

 an annual subsidy of 10,000 francs (£400) for the purpose of 

 encouraging the breeding of half-breeds. The Belgian Jockey 

 Club and the Societe Royale Hippique publish stud-books of the 

 breeds which they desire to encourage. 



The encouragement afforded by the provincial regulations 

 relative to the improvement of horses affects exclusively the 

 breeding of the native horse (Belgian draught horse). The 

 cost of the execution of these regulations, money bounties and 

 committee expenses, are borne to the amount of 40 per cent, by 

 the provinces and of 60 per cent, by the State. The total annual 

 expenses amount to about ,£14,000. These expenses serve to 

 meet the cost of the shows of foals, fillies, mares, and brood- 

 mares which are fixed by the provincial regulations. In the 

 forty-four places of meeting, all the examinations of stallions are 

 immediately followed by a show of stallions three years old, and 

 a show of stallions four years old and over. 



In each of these shows, there may be awarded to the owners : 

 (a) for the two best stallions a first prize of 400 francs C£i6) 

 and a second of 300 francs (^12) ; and (b) for the two best 

 stallions four years old and over, a first prize of 550 francs (£22) 



