35
147. I think the time has now arrived when the system might well be
abolished.
Elimination of
old and useless
mares from the
Registers.
148. I have been led to remark on this subject owing to a note made by
the Remount Agent on his roll of purchases at Bulandshahr. This question
had previously been referred to me by the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary
Department, South Punjab, who recommended:—
(a) That all branded mares, over 16 years of age, should be removed
from the register.
(b) That a branded mare not covered for three consecutive years, should
also be removed.
These recommendations could not be given effect to as they are against
the orders of the Government of India, which are to the effect that this can
only be done with the sanction of the owner.
149. I would be glad to be in a position to carry out these suggestions as
they would enable this Department to show better working than it can do at
present, but the work which would be entailed would be more than the limited
staff of this Department could possibly cope with. Were it possible to keep a
register of branded mares at each stand, it might be done, but, as frequently
horses are standing at small centres where no very responsible person is in
charge, it would simply lead to bribery on the part of the syces.
150. The brand is now the guarantee for the mare to be served, and it
might be urged that it would be possible to cancel it by affixing a cross over
it as is done in the case of barren mares sold to regiments, but the amount of
office work that this would entail would be far beyond the establishment
sanctioned. It would mean that the owner of every mare over 16 years of
age, or that had not been served for three years, would have to be communicated
with annually and warned to attend a certain inspection. The majority would
not attend, and although their names might be posted at the various stands as
being ineligible for the service of their mares by Government stallions, still
with only native agency to deal with, I feel that any such order would be
evaded. We would then have mares that were not on our registers covered by
Government stallions and confusion would arise.
151. Again, I am not in favour of making restrictions too severe; the
native breeder has a great dislike to be hampered by rules and regulations, and
any further restrictions would tend to make horse breeding less popular than it
is at present, so that even at the cost of having a few useless mares served by
our stallions, I would prefer to let matters stand as they are at present. As it
is, the Superintendents do cancel the brand when they see an unsound or other-
wise useless mare; these animals are then relegated to mule breeding.
Mares cast from
Mounted Corps to
be utilised for horse
breeding.
152. It having been represented to the Government of India that fre-
quently mares that would be useful for horse breeding were cast from
Mounted Corps, the question was referred to me and I accepted the proposal,
stipulating, however, that no mare over 12 years of age should be handed over
to this Department. This provision having been accepted, it was ordered that
mares cast at the following stations:—Rawalpindi, Sialkot, Meean Meer,
Ferozepore, Multan, Umballa, Meerut, Muttra, and Bareilly, should be sent
to the closest Fairs; that they should be handed over to the Superintendents,
Civil Veterinary Department, who would make arrangements to make them
over to bond fide breeders under the conditions that they were not to be sold.
In accordance with the G. O. C. C., all General Officers were made acquainted
with the dates on which these mares should arrive at the various Fairs, but I
regret to say that the arrangements were not perfect, and that therefore this
year cannot be looked upon as a fair test of what may be expected. The
following only were received:—
North-Western Provinces—from 9th Lancers, Muttra . .
South Punjab—from R.7 Ammunition Column, Multan . .
North Punjab—from Royal Horse Artillery, Rawalpindi .
5 mares.
1 mare.
3 mares.
153. Intimation was received from General Officers commanding that other
mares would be available, but they were not cast in time to allow of their being
F 2