114
have a ready sale at their own homes, will, I trust, be induced to take up mule
breeding con amore.
Jeypore.
522. Slight improvement is noticeable in the covering of the four Arab
stallions maintained by the State at Jeypore, Sambhar, Hindown and Malpura,
80 mares having been covered against 68 last year.
523. The horse-breeding area is divided into two and placed under the
two Veterinary Assistants educated at the cost of the State at the Ajmere
Veterinary School.
524. For a new departure as this is, the coverings at Jeypore and Sambhar
may be said to be good, but those at Hindown and Malpura are decidedly poor.
I intend addressing the Resident asking him whether he can suggest any-
thing that will improve matters.
Ulwar.
525. This State still takes the lead of all others in its stud arrangements.
During the year under review, 9 stallions were cast as unfit or died, leaving
still 16 on the register; these are young serviceable horses, and the number is
equal to the requirements of the State.
526. During the year, 594 mares were covered by the horse stallions; this
number corresponds exactly with that of last year.
527. Nine donkey stallions worked during the year and covered 138 pony
mares, against 63 last year; this increase augurs well for mule breeding in
the State, especially as I find that 18 jagirdari and zemindari mares are
included in this number.
528. The number of mares employed at the Stud is 126. I am glad to
say that during the year 32 were weeded out and were replaced by serviceable
and well-bred mares.
529. During the year, 78 head of young stock left the paddocks. Of
these:—
23
27
3
were transferred to Imperial Service Lancers.
„
„
„
„
to Local Cavalry.
to Imperial Service Infantry Transport.
leaving a balance of 206 head of stock on 31st March. Of these:—
79 were colts.
106
21
„
„
fillies.
mules.
530. The young stock is improving year by year, showing the advantages
of careful weeding out of useless mares. It is the intention to work up to
200 mares, and when this is done, there should be no difficulty to produce all
the remounts required by the Imperial Service Lancers.
531. I am delighted to see that mule breeding has made rapid strides
during the year under review. The number of mares covered shows an
increase of 75 more than double of the number covered last year. There is,
however, still room for improvement, and I trust to see even a greater increase
next year.
532. I visited the State last year when many important questions affect-
ing the welfare of the State were brought up for discussion at a meeting
attended by Major Jennings, the Political Agent, Major Turner, Imperial
Service Lancers, and Balmakund Dass, Member of Council.
MYSORE.
Mysore-Kunigal
Stud.
533. During the year under report, 10 stallions have been employed at
the stud. These have covered 177 mares. Fifty-four foals were dropped, the
result of 168 coverings of 1897-98, giving a percentage of 32.14 successful
coverings. This is much on a par with the results obtained by us in districts
in Northern India, and I would have expected better results in a stud under
careful management and supervision. In all, 190 colts and fillies were on the
strength at the end of the year. Forty-four remounts were transferred to the
ranks and one was transferred to the Transport Service.