52
227. The total number of mules purchased by Government rose from 178
to 885, and 2,123 were purchased by others against 1,167 last year. This gives
a total of 3,008 mules purchased at horse fairs and shows against 1,348 last
year; this increase is most satisfactory. Of 885 purchased by Government and
of 2,123 purchased by others, 658 and 1,683 respectively were obtained in the
Punjab.
For some years to come the Punjab will be the largest and best field from
which mules will be obtainable, still it is satisfactory to note that 471 were
bought in the North-Western Provinces, whilst none were obtainable last year.
Sindh, when properly developed, should also prove a good mule breeding
tract. Twenty-five were purchased this year at the Jacobabad show, whilst
only four were obtained last year at Shikarpur.
Horse Shows
in Madras Pre-
sidency.
228 As various changes have been made during the year under review,
it is hoped that they will lead to a gradual improvement in the shows held in
the Madras Presidency.
The first and most important change is that the attendance of the Super-
intendent, Civil Veterinary Department, will only be required three times
annually for a month on each occasion, for the purpose of lecturing at the
Saidapet Agricultural College, and when there, will also be required to visit and
inspect the Veterinary Hospital three times a week, instead of having to extend
his lectures over a period of about nine months as was formerly the case. This
will leave him much more time to attend to this important subject.
229. Again, the pony breeding in the Madras Presidency has been brought
under the direct supervision of the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Depart-
ment, and it is confidently expected that this important change will be
followed by good results. He will, by being well acquainted with the mares
of the Coimbatore and Salem districts, be in a position to select suitable stal-
lions, and failing this, the Inspector-General, Civil Veterinary Department, has
informed the Board of Revenue that he will gladly assist them to purchase the
stallions required when he is buying in the Bombay market; but before doing
this he will endeavour to arrange with the Government of Madras to collect a
certain number of mares at suitable centres in each district, in order that he
may be in a better position to judge of the class of stallion likely to suit the
mares available for breeding.
230. During the year under review, 8 stallions would appear to have
been employed in Coimbatore district; these 8 ponies covered 281 mares. In
Salem, 4 stallions covered 174 mares.
231. Of 206 mares covered in 1893-94 in Coimbatore, results were ascer-
tained in 158 cases and only 27 per cent. were successful. Of 209 covered
in Salem, results were traced in 151 cases and only 16 per cent. were suc-
cessful.
232. I do not agree with the Superintendent, who attributes this want
of success to the fact that too many mares are covered by each stallion, neither
can I believe that District Officers bring mares to the stallions out of season,
as is stated by him in his report, in order to bring up the total number of
coverings.
233. The non-submission of the Statistical Forms adopted by other Pro-
vinces is to be regretted, as it renders the report submitted by the Superin-
tendent, Civil Veterinary Department, very difficult to follow.
Stallions
whose produce
won prizes.
234. The abstract of Table XVI (page lvi) shows the number of prizes
awarded to stock, the produce of different classes of sires, by which it will be
seen that the Thoroughbred English very closely approximate in number of
prizes taken to those taken by the half-breds, Norfolk Trotters, and Hackneys.
The percentages being, respectively, 5.08 and 5.90. This shows the English
Thoroughbred to be a successful foal-getter, as only 72 stallions of this class
were employed against 156 Hackneys.
Horse Runs,
235. The sum of Rs. 350 was alloted, as usual, for horse runs. Of this
amount, Rs. 250 was given in prizes in the Rawalpindi district, and Rs. 50 in
Multan. No progress has been made in this direction, and I fear that as culti-
vation increases, horse runs will diminish in size and number.