6
Young mules reared
at Hissar Farm.
48. I have inspected the young mules at Hissar to which mention was
made in the report last year. Some few are small and it is somewhat prema-
ture to make any definite forecast as to what class the majority will eventually
develop into.
Number of mares
covered by donkey
stallions.
49. The increase in the number of pony and donkey mares covered by
donkey stallions during the year under report, is very satisfactory. Table VII
will show that 20,092 pony mares and 1,665 donkey mares were served, against
19,444 and 1,489, respectively, in 1899-1900.
Average coverings
per stallion
employed.
50. The average number covered per stallion employed is, however, slightly
less than in the previous year owing to a larger number of donkey stallions
being employed at work. The averages are as follows:—
Pony mares
.
.
.
. .
.
Donkey mares
.
.
.
57.90 against 60.64.
55.50 „ 57.26.
Demand for donkey
stallions.
51. All Superintendents, with the exception of Baluchistan, report that
there is a steady and constant demand for more donkey stallions, and that the
Zemindari system is becoming very popular.
52. The Baluchis are averse to mule-breeding, and I think that in such a
good horse-breeding country, it would be a mistake to force the mule-breeding
industry.
Produce.
53. The number of mule foals reported as having been dropped is 3,878
against 3,766 last year, whilst the number of donkey foals reported to have
been produced is 259 against 304 last year.
54. The relative average results of previous year's coverings per donkey
stallion employed is:—Mules 12.08, Donkeys 9.36, against 13.13 and 11.69,
respectively last year.
Mules purchased
for Mountain
Batteries.
55. Table VIII shows that the Army Remount Department obtained 150
Ordnance and 30 Baggage mules; of this number, 7 were Australian mules,
and 1 was purchased by the Officer Commanding, No. 8 Bengal Mountain
Battery at Bhamo. These figures compare very unfavourably with those of
last year, when 258 Ordnance and 119 Baggage mules were purchased.
56. There is, however, a very satisfactory increase in the number of mules
purchased for transport purposes, viz., 4,809 against 1,256 last year. The
largest number purchased was in the Punjab Command, where 3,896 were
secured.
III.-HORSE FAIRS AND SHOWS.
Horse Fairs and
Shows.
57. Having carefully perused the Report on each of the Horse Fairs and
Shows held during the year under notice, I failed to find any particulars of
sufficient importance to justify the Report of any one fair or show being
separately reviewed, I therefore have decided upon confining my remarks,
collectively, on the number of Fairs and Shows held in each Province, dealing
with only the salient points connected with these annual gatherings. Table
XIII may be referred to for any further details that may be required.
NORTH-WESTERN PROVINCES.
58. Six Fairs and Shows were held in these Provinces, against a correspond-
ing number during last year. The number of animals competing for prizes was
169 more than in the previous year. The total number of Remounts purchased
for the Remount Department, Native Cavalry, and Police (including ponies
for transport purposes) was 304, against 321 in the former year. The number
of mules secured by Government was 67, against 27 in 1899-1900.
PUNJAB.
59. In North and South Punjab, the number of Fairs and Shows held was
14 against 15 last year. Dera Ismail Khan Show was abandoned owing to the
prevalence of famine. The number of animals competing for prizes was
4,607 against 3,548 last year. The total number of Remounts secured for the
Remount Department, the Native Cavalry, and the Police, amounted to 543,
against 596 in the previous year. The number of mules which changed hands
is recorded to be 2,871; of which 523 are reported to have been purchased by
Government, and the remaining 2,348 "by others".