6
districts of Meerut, Bulandshahr, Aligarh and Muzaffarnagar, not a single
Hackney should be employed.
28. The wishes of the breeders have also to be considered, and when the
coverings of the Thoroughbreds are compared with those of the Hackneys, it
will be readily seen that the latter are neglected in favor of the former.
Experts such as Army Remount Agents, Native Cavalry Officers, District
Officers and Breeders, all agree that the continuance of the Hackney strain in
this country would be a mistake.
Transit of horses
from England and
of donkeys from
the Continent.
29. During the year under review, we have been particularly fortunate
in not having a single casualty amongst the 13 Thoroughbred English horses
imported from England, or the 62 donkeys imported from Cyprus and Genoa.
30. Owing to representations made by Veterinary Major Brodie-Mills,
who receives the horses on landing at Bombay, an extra supply of carrots was
ordered to be put on boardship; this will allow of their getting 5 lbs. per
diem for the whole voyage. The grain ration will be reduced, and I feel con-
vinced that the cases of laminitis will be less frequent than they have hitherto
been.
31. Certain alterations in the fittings of the stalls in the Government
Transports were recommended, and on this point Veterinary-Major Brodie-
Mills states:—
"Matters have improved in regard to the fittings of the stalls on board the hired transports, and the
grooms in charge were satisfied with the alterations made for the comfort of the stallions. Well padded bars
have been fixed in rear of the boxes, and the head bars have been raised and thoroughly padded. Personally
I am satisfied with the alterations made in the stalls."
The proposal to endeavour to send horses out in Transports on which Officers
of the Army Veterinary Department were proceeding to India on relief was
not approved by the Secretary of State for India.
32. During the year, all imported animals arriving at Bombay have been
received on landing by Veterinary-Major Brodie-Mills, the Principal of the
Bombay Veterinary College, and my thanks are due to him for the careful
manner in which he has performed this duty. Not only are the animals most
carefully landed, but they receive the greatest attention whilst they are at the
College, pending their transfer to Babugarh. This Officer has done his utmost
to reduce expenditure. The average cost of landing and keep at Bombay has
been R12-5-10 against R20-5-3 last year. Even allowing for the improvement
in the grain market, this is a great reduction, as the lowest average for
the past four years during which the horses and donkeys have been taken
charge of on arrival at Bombay by the Veterinary College has been R18-13-6.
33. As an experiment, donkeys were sent up in trucks instead of loose
boxes; they travelled well, and thus a great saving in cost was effected.
Removal of the
Punjab Stallion
Depôt to Abbotta-
bad.
34. The scheme which I submitted for the consideration of the Govern-
ment of India has been finally approved, and I trust to see the matter carried
through within the next two years. Provision has been made during the
current year for the purchase of the land, and I trust that it may be found
possible to commence the buildings. Not only will it be a great advantage to
horses undergoing acclimatization, but it will undoubtedly materially assist in
the development of horse-breeding in the provinces.
Transfer of horse
and mule breeding
in Sind from Pro-
vincial to Imperial
control.
35. The transfer of horse and mule-breeding in Sind from Local to
Imperial control took place on the 1st April 1898, and was attached to
Baluchistan under Veterinary-Captain Maxwell, to whom I would tender my
best thanks for the energy he has shown in making himself acquainted with this
Province, and for the great tact he has shown in dealing with many
matters which required most delicate handling.
36. In order to show how matters stood when he assumed charge, this
officer deals carefully with all matters which have come under his notice. It
was not to be expected that any marked improvement would take place during
the first year: in fact, with the exception of the Upper Sind Frontier, we may
be said to have broken virgin soil, for there was absolutely no organization of
any kind, and even in the Upper Sind Frontier District there was a total
absence of any subordinate establishment. Four Zilladars are now appointed and
sanction is daily expected for the appointment of four Veterinary Assistants