Report of the United States Philippine Commission to the Secretary of War Volume 2 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1908 Excerpt: ...The bureau of agriculture has continued to furnish American stallions, jacks, bulls, and boars for breeding purposes in the provinces. In many cases the number of services rendered by these animals has not been as large as could reasonably be expected. This fact has been due to several different causes, among which are the following: There is a notable lack of appreciation of the value of better blood. In some cases horses stationed in the best horse-breeding districts have had practically no service, while hundreds of mares in easy reach were running at large with a herd of horses containing numerous native stallions of all ages and qualities. In many cases the native owner of mares does not even take the pains to breed them to the best native ponies. During the year 11 stallions and 2 jacks have rendered 228 services. Of these, 1 Arabian stallion in a remote mountain district has served (52 mares, 2 in charge of the bureau have served 75, and the remaining 10 have served only 91, or an average of only a little over 9 each. The groundless fear that native mares would not foal colts sired by larger horses has also continued to exert a bad influence. In other cases horses have been loaned to private parties, whose interest in their use did not extend beyond the breeding of their own animals, and under such circumstances no effort has been made to secure outside mares to be bred. There have also been circulated various rumors, such as the charging of extortionate stud fees, or the taking of part of the colts by the man having the horse in charge, all of which no doubt have had their influence in deterring those'Vho might otherwise have patronized the horses. A number of excellent colts have been reported during the past few months. No systematic inspection of...