84
Here we have every facility of breeding and rearing young stock, which
would in time be able to furnish all remounts required by the State, but to do
this, good stallions will have to be obtained, and these I trust to see employed
shortly.
Kerowlee.
288. This State cannot be looked upon as a horse-breeding centre ; still, the
jagirdars are anxious to carry on the industry, as many of the mares inspected
were in foal to the stallions kept by the Ulwar and Jeypore States. More is done
in the way of rearing young stock, much of which is taken to the Fair annu-
ally held at Batesar.
There can be no doubt, from the nature of the country, that mule breeding
would answer well in this State, but I fear native prejudice is very strong against
it. The State of Ulwar is, however, setting a good example in this direction,
and I feel that it only requires that a few mules should be sold at remunerative
prices, to ensure the rapid spread of the industry.
General Re-
marks-
289. Having now reviewed horses breeding, as it exists at present, in the
Native States which have been visited during the year, it must, I think, be grant-
ed that they possess the means of making their Imperial Service Troops self-
supporting in the way of remounts, without having to purchase in our fairs to
the detriment of the Native Cavalry.
The home studs cannot, with the exception of that of Ulwar, be considered
as likely to provide many remounts.
The direction which the States should therefore take should be that of
placing good stallions in their districts for the use of zemindari mares, the
purchase of the young stock, and its rearing in runs set apart for this pur-
pose.
Naturally time will be required to effect this, but provided some progress
is made annually, the object in view, viz., that of obtaining a sufficient number
of remounts in each State to replace casualties in Imperial Service Cavalry, will
gradually be arrived at.
Popularity of
the Brand.
290. It is occasionally stated that if the system of branding were abolished
or if the existing orders, preventing Cavalry Officers from purchasing branded
mares, were relaxed, horse breeding would develop to a much greater extent than
it does at present. In other words, it is occasionally urged that the system of
branding is unpopular. During the year under review, I have attended 18
horse shows and fairs in Bombay, Sindh, Baluchistan, North-Western Provinces,
and North and South Punjab, and have carefully watched the various
Superintendents when engaged in branding. I can therefore speak with some
authority on the subject and can safely assert that the system is most popular
with the zemindars; their anxiety to obtain the brand is most marked and
when it is refused, owing either to bad conformation or unsoundness, they are
greatly disappointed. The fact, which has already been alluded to, viz., that
certificates of barrenness can now be obtained with greater facility than was
hitherto the case, removes one of the hardships complained of.
291. The Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, North-Western
Provinces and Oudh, states with reference to the popularity of the brand :—
" The zemindars of these provinces, as a rule, have no objection to the V. I. brand being
applied to their mares, on the contrary, it is very popular. A great number of foals and yearling
fillies were brought to me for branding during my tour, but unless they were the produce of
Government sires or gave signs of exceptional promise, I refused to brand them. Branded mares
when sold amongst the zemindars, fetch much higher prices than unbranded ones, they consider it
a certificate of soundness, and it shows that they have been approved of by this Department.
" The Bhajpuria dealers, I understand, pick up a number of branded mares at long prices
at the fairs and shows in the districts, and have a ready sale for them amongst the Planters
down country ; the brand being looked on as a good recommendation.
" Mares purchased at fairs for Native States have been brought to me for branding, al-
though there were no Government sires in the State ; on making enquiries why they wanted
them branded, I was informed that it shewed their masters that these mares were fit for the purpose
for which they were purchased. Only in one district has there been any exception to the rule. At
Hardoi in Oudh, a stand has been recently opened, and the Deputy Commissioner advised me not
to brand the mares for a season, as the zemindars did not as yet understand its meaning
and were afraid the mares or foals would be claimed by Government."