53
239. The exodus of young stock in this district still continues to be great.
There is evidence to prove that between 300 and 400 are yearly purchased by
Bhojpuri dealers. This is to be regretted, but I can suggest no remedy; time
alone will prove to breeders the suicidal policy it is to sell their stock at such
an early age.
240. Although the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, had
toured in the district, still 70 mares were branded at this Show, showing the
interest taken in horse-breeding by the Zemindars.
Dera Ismail Khan
Horse Show.
241. This Show was held on 14th and 15th March 1899 and was in every
way disappointing. Turning from a district where horse-breeding is in such a
flourishing condition, it is disheartening to find such a poor show as was that
held at Dera Ismail Khan.
242. I was unfortunately prevented from attending, as this Show clashed
with that held at Muzaffarnagar, and I felt it my duty, as adviser to the Sup-
reme as well as to the various Local Governments, to make myself acquainted
as far as possible with what is being done in the various Provinces.
243. The reports received from the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Depart-
ment, and the Special Judging Committee coincide, but are at variance with
that received from the Deputy Commissioner, who, I fear, takes an optimistic
view of the matter; for, in the concluding paragraph of his report, he says that
there is sufficient evidence to show that the district possesses undeveloped
capabilities, and that by steady work and liberal encouragement he hopes to suc-
ceed in extending the usefulness of the Show both to Government and the
people. This is exactly the opinion I formed of the district when Superintend-
ent, Horse Breeding Operations, Punjab, now 18 years ago; but, although
Government stallions appear to have stood in the district since then, its resour-
ces still remain undeveloped. I feel that I must be guided by our professional
adviser rather than follow the opinion expressed by the Deputy Commissioner
who is new to the district. Mr. Grant has taken a keen interest in the matter,
and I have no doubt that if he remained in Dera Ismail Khan for some years
much progress would be made, but I fear, with the constant change of District
Officers, this cannot be expected.
244. The reports show that 755 attended against 1,038; this is satisfac-
torily accounted for by the scarcity of fodder in the district; 584 are shown
as having competed for prizes against 415 last year, but the majority must
have been unbranded mares and their progeny by country-bred sires, for, on
the Imperial side, we find only the following:—
Branded mares
.
.
.
.
.
.
Branded fillies
.
.
.
.
.
.
Young stock
.
.
.
.
.
.
Geldings
.
.
.
.
.
.
Mules
.
.
.
.
.
.
Mares for mule-breeding
.
.
.
.
.
.
Donkeys
.
.
.
.
.
.
TOTAL
.
90
4
21
7
18
14
14
168
245. The number of young stock is quite out of proportion to the number
of mares covered. The majority of the mares and young stock are described
as being as bad as they could possibly be both in quality and size, and a very
great number looked absolutely ill-cared for and starved,—the latter remark
referring especially to the young stock.
246. The Deputy Commissioner brings forcibly to notice that, notwith-
standing the fact that although a large number of local and Powindah
mares was presented for branding, only 19 were accepted. He regrets the
fact, and states that it is absurd to keep a number of stallions in a district unless
you allow a good number of mares to be covered by them. With this latter
statement I agree, but we must first consider whether the mares are fit to be
covered by Imperial stallions, and, knowing Veterinary-Lieutenant Trydell well,
I feel convinced that he rejected no mares for branding except for unsoundness
or some other good cause.