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293. The Government of India, after carefully considering the matter,
sanctioned a modified relaxation of the rules referring to branding, and restrict-
ed such relaxation to the Presidency only. Such relaxation is, however, only
to be in force as a tentative measure, pending the submission of a report by
the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, on the working of the
scheme.
It was further stated that the Government of India prefer to make no
distinction in the services of certain stallions : this, of course, refers to that
part of the Resolution of the Bombay Government in which it was laid down
that the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, should be empowered
to reserve certain popular stallions like " Tam O'Shanter " for mares specially
selected by him. The Resolution adding, " this reservation would be some
safeguard against sires capable of getting racing stock being put to anything
unworthy of them." The object of all horse breeding in India should, in my
opinion, be to obtain suitable remounts for British and Native Cavalry, and
racing stock should not in any way be considered.
The relaxation sanctioned by the Government of India was to the effect
that Assistant Collectors, District Superintendents of Police, and Assistant
District Superintendents of Police, who were specially selected, should have
the power to grant covering certificates ; that these certificates should qualify
for service, once only, by the stallion named ; that a list of certificates granted
should be sent to the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, through
the Collector of the District; that the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary
Department, should inspect certificated mares each year, branding such as are
found suitable.
294. The report on the working of the system will be awaited with interest,
as in 1892-93 similar relaxation of the branding system was sanctioned by the
Government of India in North-Western Provinces and Oudh, Punjab,
Rajputana, Central India, and Beluchistan ; and the year under review is the
first occasion in which the working of the system has been reported on, and
it will be observed that, as far as at present advised, it is not one, the extension
of which can in any way be advocated.
It will be noticed that in only two districts of the Punjab has the power
to grant covering certificates been exercised by District Officers, viz., Rohtak
and Dera Ghazi Khan.
Remarking on the system, the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Depart-
ment, North-Western Provinces and Oudh, states :—
" Only 5 certificates were granted by District Officers, viz., one in Aligarh, one in Saharun-
pore, one in Budaon, and two in Bareilly district.
" Of the five, I branded three, none of them particularly good, rejected one for spavin and
one did not come for inspection."
I scarcely think it necessary that District Officers should grant certificates,
as I visited all stands in the districts and attended all the principal fairs and
shows. Zemindars and others washing to have their mares branded had every
opportunity of bringing them for my inspection.
The Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, South Punjab, to whose
opinion I attach great weight, reports as follows :—
" Since this system was started, 180 certificates have been granted by the District Officers in
South Punjab, almost all of them have been issued within the last year, and principally by one
officer in the Rohtak district. In this district 153 certificates have been granted, whilst only 27
have been granted in all the other districts.
" Of the 180 mares to which certificates were granted, 56 were branded, 30 were covered by
Government stallions, one died, and one was sold.
" In last year's report this subject was accidentally omitted. These certificates were intro-
duced under authority of the Government of India dated 5th October 1892, I take it that the
object of their issue was to allow the owner of a mare, who had been unavoidably absent from the
periodical inspections, held at certain places, in a district by the Veterinary Officer, to have his
mare covered should she come in season before the next annual inspection and in this way save
himself loss of time.
" On the other hand, it was laid down that well-shaped and superior mares were to be the object
of selection. I am strongly opposed to the granting of these certificates for the following reasons :—
" (a) That it leads to the covering of inferior mis-shapen mares by Imperial Government
stallions.
" (b) I am disposed to look upon it as a means of evading the brand which I consider very
undesirable.
" (c) I believe it tends to lower the standard and the value of the brand and renders it less
popular.