122
" Jhelum.—This excellent district is far behind its neighbours in the possession of District Board ponies;
only one being so far located in it. Two more such ponies would do much good and would be able to cover a
full complement of small mares.
" Hazara.—Two ponies might be advantageously placed in this mountainous district where the mares, with
the exception of the Haripur tehsil, run small. I have represented the matter to the Deputy Commissioner,
whose reply is that there are no funds available."
The Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, North-Western Provin-
ces and Oudh, states that there were 41 applicants on the register, of which 7
were complied with, leaving 34 applications uncomplied with; in time, I hope
all these will be met but it cannot be expected that much progress will be
made in this direction during the coming year, as the finances of these Provin-
ces will be severely taxed owing to the scarcity which exists in many parts.
Number of stal-
lions at stud
work, and num-
ber of mares
covered.
509. Table D. (page lxxxii) will show that 140 horse and pony stallions were
employed at stud work. The number of mares covered shows an enormous
increase on the year 1894-95. Taking the 3 large circles in which District
Board stallions are mainly employed, we find that the following numbers were
covered:—
North-Western Provinces
...
South Punjab... ...
North Punjab
...
...
...
...
...
1895-96.
... 2,465
... 3,470
... 1,676
7,611
1894-95.
1,957
2,039
870
4,866
giving an increase of 2,745 over last year.
The average covered per stallion employed, was :—
North Western Provinces ...
South Punjab
...
North Punjab ...
...
...
...
...
...
...
1895-96.
51.35
59.82
57.79
1894-95.
51.5
39.96
45.78
By the above it will be seen that the popularity of these District Board
stallions is increasing rapidly in the Punjab, and I cannot comment too strongly
on the advantages which will be derived from this most excellent system. Not
only will a certain percentage of mares, the produce of these, be fit to be mated
with the Imperial stallions, but the stock of ponies in the country, which it was
feared would become obliterated by the popularity of mule-breeding, will be
maintained, and further, a better class of pony mare and one more likely to
produce Ordnance mules, will be available for the latter industry.
In addition to the above stallions, one Arab has been purchased by the
Central Provinces Government and is posted to Saugor. One also has been
purchased by the District Board of Champaran in Bengal. On the other hand,
2 pony stallions employed in Berar were sold, as horse-breeding operations
were found to be a failure.
Three stallions were also employed in Burma, but these did not do much,
only 71 mares having been covered by them.
Cost of feed and
keep and how
defrayed.
510. The average cost of feed and keep of district horse and pony stallions
during 1895-96, was as follows, (vide Table E., page lxxxvii):—
North-Western Provines and Oudh...
North Punjab ...
...
...
South Punjab ...
...
...
Burma
...
...
...
Horse.
Rs.
233
243
A.
...
3
12
...
P.
Pony.
Rs.
220-12-8
2
0
232
228
179
A.
3
2
7
P.
10
1
6
The cost is very nearly the same in the North-Western Provinces, but
shows a remarkable increase in the Punjab; although unavoidable owing to the
price of grain, this is to be regretted as it throws an extra strain on the funds
of the District Boards.
In the North Western Provinces and Burma, the cost of maintenance is
met from Provincial funds; in the Punjab from District Board funds.