5
Supply of donkey
Stallions.
46. In the indent for donkey stallions for the year under review, the
number asked for, was: —
By importation—For mule-breeding
.
.
.
.
.
.
„
For donkey-breeding by Lumberdar Agency .
By purchase in
India—
For mule-breeding
.
.
.
.
.
.
TOTAL
20
25
20
65
The number due for donkey-breeding by Lumberdar Agency was, however,
35 (vide paragraphs 45 and 47 of last Annual Administration Report) and not
25; so that the total requirements amounted to 75 and not 65. Of these 56
have been received by importation, some of which are immature and cannot be
issued for the next 12 or 18 months. No mature donkeys were purchased in
India as none suitable were available. Early arrangements will now be made
to re-allot the donkey stallions and as many as can be spared from mule-breeding
work, will be relegated to donkey-breeding and handed over to Lumberdars to
complete the strength of 50.
Number of mares
covered by donkey
stallions.
47. A very satisfactory increase under this head is shown in Table VII.
It will be observed that 24,097 pony mares and 1,793 donkey mares were
served during the year under review, against 20,092 and 1,665 respectively in
the previous year.
Average coverings
per stallion
employed.
48. Although there were 34 more donkey stallions actually employed
during the year under review than in the previous year, the average number
of mares covered per stallion is in excess of last year's figures, as shown
below:—
Pony mares
.
.
.
.
.
.
Donkey mares
.
.
.
.
.
.
63.58 against 57.90
56.03 against 55.50
Produce.
49. The number of produce reported as dropped is also greater than that
of last Report, viz., mule foals 4,132 against 3,878 and donkey foals 285
against 259 in the previous year. The average results of previous year's
coverings per donkey stallion employed is:—Mules 11.91, and donkeys 9.50,
against 12.08 and 9.36 respectively in the previous year.
Mules purchased
for Mountain
Batteries.
50. Table VIII shows that the Army Remount Department bought
172 Ordnance and 38 Baggage mules : of these, 12 were from Australia and
1 from Bhamo in Burma. These figures show an increase of 22 Ordnance
and 8 Baggage mules over last year's figures, but there is a decided falling off
in the number of Transport mules: the total number bought being 1,211
against 4,809 in the previous year. The main reason for the decrease in the
number of transport mules purchased is ascribed to the Supply and Transport
Corps having bought largely in China, and not to the dearth of suitable mules
in the market.
III.-HORSE FAIRS AND SHOWS.
UNITED PROVINCES OP AGRA AND OUDH.
Horse Pairs and
Shows.
51. Five Fairs and Shows were held in these Provinces against six
in the previous year. The number of animals competing was 1,509 against
1,607. The total number of remounts bought by Army Remount Department,
Native Cavalry and Police, amounted to 266 against 304, and only one mule
was secured by Government.
PUNJAB.
52. In North and South Punjab, there were 11 Shows held against 14 last
year. The prevalence of plague will account for some of the Shows having
been abandoned. The number of animals competing for prizes was 2,719
against 3,224 The number of remounts purchased was 517 against 543;
and the total number of mules that changed hands amounted to 2,445 against
2,871 in the previous year.
c