4
Stallion.
Horse ... ... ...
Pony
... ... ...
Average (horse and pony)
Average cost of each stallion
excluding transit charges.
1897-98.
Rs.
585
515
559
1898-99.
Rs.
400
364
385
1899-1900.
Rs.
444 (a)
416
433 (b)
Average cost of each stallion
including transit charges.
1897-98.
Rs.
597
517
567
1898-99.
Rs.
408
366
391
1899-1900.
Rs.
449
417
436
Note.—The Superintendent's figures for (a) and (b), viz., Rs. 434 and Rs. 435-8-10 respectively, seem to be
incorrect.
It will be seen that the cost was greater during the year under report than
during 1898-99 owing to higher prices of fodder and gram, but below that of
1897-98, when still higher prices prevailed. The Superintendent does not ex-
plain why during the year under report the cost for Sátára was greater than
that for Poona, though the prices for gram and grass in the former district were
lower than those in the latter.
The land within the stable enclosure at Ahmednagar was sown with jowár
and guinea grass, but for failure of rain and well water the crops mostly withered
and yielded less than 1/5 the preceding year's outturn. The yield of grass from
the Padampur Kuran was also poor, being scarcely ¼ the previous year's outturn.
The total outturn has been calculated to yield a net profit of Rs. 365 against
Rs. 782 during the preceding year.
Total cost of the Department.
13. The total cost of the Department amounted to Rs. 45,403, showing a
saving of Rs. 1,858 as compared with the preceding
year.
Horse and mule breeding
under Local Boards and in
Native States.
14. The Arab stallion maintained by the Hyderabad District Local Board
covered 34 mares. Out of the 43 mares covered during
the preceding year, 22 foaled and the rest did not hold.
The total cost of feed and keep incurred on his ac-
count amounted to Rs. 409 against Rs. 310 during
the preceding year and Rs. 445 during 1897-98.
The Persian donkey stallion kept by the same Board worked for four
months and covered only 4 mares. It was afterwards sold, being considered
unfit for stud purposes. Of the 26 mares covered by this stallion during the
preceding year, 12 did not hold, and the result of the remaining coverings was
not known. The donkey stallion kept by Khán Bahádur Ghullam Rasulkhán
Jatoi covered 30 mares. Of the 43 mares covered during the preceding year,
16 did not hold, and the result of the remaining coverings was not known.
Veterinary Major Morgan has given in paragraphs 92 to 98 of his report a
detailed account of the steady and satisfactory progress made by horse and
mule-breeding in Káthiáwár. Three thorough-bred English Government stallions
have been lent, and the States are working according to the advice given by the
Superintendent. During the six years commencing with 1894, Government
have been able to purchase from Káthiáwár and Cutch 88 head of young stock
including 5 mules.
Cattle-breeding.
15. A stud-bull is maintained by the District Local Board, Hyderabad.
He was recommended to be set loose with a herd
instead of being kept stabled.
From paragraphs 48 to 56 of Veterinary Major Morgan's report it will be
seen that the recommendation made by his predecessor that stud-bulls of un-
doubted quality and breed should be purchased by Local Boards, dedicated to
some deity, and let loose among village cattle, does not find favour with most of
the Local Boards either owing to failure of similar experiments in the past or
to want of funds. Veterinary Major Morgan's views in the matter of cattle