36
handed over to this Department. On the other hand, mares that were too old,
beyond the age laid down in G. O. C. C., were sent from Campbellpore and
Rawalpindi; these were destroyed in accordance with the provision made in
the order that any mare not approved of by the Superintendent, Civil
Veterinary Department, would, under his orders, be destroyed. I took the
opportunity, being at Rawalpindi at the time, to draw the attention of the
General Officer Commanding to the fact that the limit of age had been
exceeded in these cases.
154. From the fact that no mares were received from the 4th or 5th
Dragoon Guards, 11th Hussars, or 16th Lancers, it will be seen that full effect
was not given to the scheme this year; this was scarcely to be expected as
the order was only issued on 23rd January 1899. I, however, trust better
results will be obtained during 1899-1900.
155. On this subject, the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department,
South Punjab, states:—
"One cast mare was handed over to me by the Officer Commanding, Royal Artillary, Multan, at the
Multan Horse Fair on the 6th March 1899, to be given to a Zemindar for breeding purposes. As I considered
this mare suitable for breeding, after consulting with the Deputy Commissioner, she was given to Mahr Alayar
Khan of Chowki Mouan, Tahsil Kabirwala.
"Many applications have already been received from Zemindars asking that cast mares may be given to
them, thus showing that the system will be popular and should act as an incentive to further interest being
taken in horse breeding."
156. The Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, North Punjab,
states that the concession of giving cast mares to breeders, provided that
they are not over 12 years of age, will be very popular, and that breeders
will be only too glad to accept the mares on the terms laid down.
Number of mares
covered by
Government
horse stallions.
157. The following will show the number of mares covered by Govern
ment stallions during the past three years:—
North-Western Provinces.
North Punjab . . .
South Punjab . . .
Rajputana . . . .
Baluchistan . . . .
Sind
. . . . .
Central India . . .
Deccan . . . .
Guzerat . . . .
1896-97.
2,907
4,065
3,451
62
2,571
493
81
1,161
265
15,146
1897-98.
3,188
3,822
3,329
44
2,418
460
41
815
290
14,467
1898-99.
3,290
4,211
3,616
47
2,673
431
...
1,115
311
15,694
The increase, amounting as it does to 1,227, is most satisfactory. The year
1896-97 was one of the most successful years that this Department has known,
and yet, compared with this one, we find, when comparing the number of
mares covered in our four large breeding centres, viz., North-Western Provinces,
North Punjab, South Punjab and Baluchistan, that 796 more mares have been
covered during the year under review.
158. The Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, North Punjab,
brings to notice the fact that more mares would have been covered had not so
many Hackneys and Norfolk Trotters been on his strength. In this circle 36
were at stud work against 22 Thoroughbred English and Australians. Many
breeders at stands where only a Hackney is to be found refuse to have their
mares served by him. The following averages go to prove the correctness of this
statement:—
NORTH PUNJAB.
Class of stallion.
Thoroughbred English . .
„
Australians . .
Half-bred and Norfolk Trotters .
Hackneys . . . . .
No.
employed.
16
6
23
13
No. of
mares
covered.
1,293
447
1,118
548
Average
per stallion
employed.
80.81
74.50
48.60
42.15