Contribution of Ukrainian agricultural societies at the end of the XIX century – beginning of the XX century to the development of horse breeding

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to analyze the activities of Ukrainian societies of the late 19th – early 20th centuries in the direction of the development of horse breeding. The methodological basis was formed by the basic methods of historical and scientific research: historical and chronological, analytical, comparative, classification and systematization, etc. Main results: the practical activities of branch agricultural societies (in particular, Kharkiv, Poltava, Podolsk, Yelysavetgrad and other agricultural societies) and the scientific approaches of scientists and amateur horse breeders (O. Brauner, V. Kudashev, S. Urusov) to the management and improvement of horse breeding in Ukraine of the mentioned period were analyzed. The object of the study was also the societies of horse races, trotting and racing, which influenced the development of equestrian sports and horse testing. Conclusions. It has been established that horse breeding in Ukraine at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries urgently needed the development of a joint comprehensive program for the improvement of the industry by the government, the regions and local public associations. The role of agricultural societies, in the structure of which livestock departments began to be actively established since the beginning of the 20th century, was to carry out several popularization, scientific and practical measures to stimulate the development of horse breeding. Thus, animal scientists through a network of societies developed and announced their scientific inventions and hypotheses, in particular, concerning the issues of horse breeding, the compilation of scientifically sound rations, the study of the order of the horse population of the province. The societies contributed to the unification of private farms that conducted agricultural-type breeding, the introduction of stud books, the organization of horse exhibitions, the opening of horse breeding stations, etc. To ensure the equine population with reliable breeding material, the members of the society promoted the expediency of the so-called “Institute of approved breeding stock for public use”. Several experiments on horse breeding were conducted in the experimental fields of individual societies. On their initiative, All-Russian and provincial congresses of horse breeders were convened, at which plans for improving animal husbandry in the provinces were approved. A few trotting and horse racing societies, which began to be created in the Ukrainian provinces from the middle of the 19th century, without having a significant impact on selection work, developed a significant role in the cultural horse breeding and stud farming, as well as equestrian sports.