121
557. The average covered per stallion employed was as follows :—
North-Western Provinces . . . . . .
North Punjab . . . . . . .
South Punjab . . . . . . .
1897-98.
42.00
64.33
55.55
1898-99.
47.89
68.48
56.13
These percentages go to prove the popularity of the District Board stallions,
but I fear that of North Punjab is too high to ensure success.
Cost of feed and
keep and how
defrayed.
558. The average cost of feed and keep during the year is shown in Table
E. The following will enable a comparison to be drawn between the years
1897-98 and 1898-99:-
North-Western Provinces
North Punjab . .
South Punjab . .
1897-98.
Horses.
R
280
291
326
a.
7
15
10
p.
5
7
4
Ponies.
R
248
306
287
a.
10
10
13
p.
1
11
2
1898-99.
Horses.
R
219
238
263
a.
10
0
15
p.
0
7
7
Ponies.
R
190
227
246
a.
10
1
12
p.
1
3
2
The decrease in cost is most satisfactory. The cost in the North-Western
Provinces is met from Provincial and that in the Punjab from District Board
funds.
Produce.
559. Table D will show the number of foals dropped. I shall omit all
Provinces in which the operations are on a small scale, and shall confine
myself to the three large producing centres:—
North-Western Provinces . .
North Punjab . . . .
South Punjab . . . .
Foals dropped.
1897-98.
842
657
705
2,204
1898-99.
981
684
720
2,385
Percentage of
successful
coverings.
33.37
29.53
24.00
The increase in the number of foals known to have been dropped, amount-
ing as it does to 181, must be considered satisfactory.
Colts castrated.
560. The number of colts castrated by Veterinary Assistants paid by
District or Local funds (Table L) has already been alluded to in paragraph
171 of this Report.
Discontinuance of
Table F.
561. It will be noticed that Table F, which up to date has held a place in
the Administration Report of this Department, has been discontinued. It
purported to be a return of mares considered suitable for horse, pony, mule and
donkey breeding. It was, however, found to be most incomplete and unreli-
able, and was therefore misleading. I therefore referred the matter to all
Local Governments with a view of ascertaining—
(a) the possibility of making such arrangements as would ensure
accurate information being furnished in future; or
(b) the advisability of its being expunged.
The consensus of opinions expressed may best be described in the words of
the Director of Land Records and Agriculture, North-Western Provinces and
Oudh, who stated that without a local enquiry in every village in the Province
it would be impossible to decide how many animals were fit for record in Table
F, and that for such an enquiry his Department had no competent agency.
Under the circumstances, the Government of India agreed with me in thinking
that its omission in future was advisable.
Pony and Mule
breeding in Burma.
562. Only one stallion was employed for pony breeding during the year;
he covered 29 mares. The Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department,
Burma, states:—
"Two Sumatran (Deli) pony stallions were purchased at the close of the year. They require to be kept for
a little time before being sent out to work. Both are nice looking ponies, though a trifle small. I think they
might be employed in districts like Tharrawaddy, Henzada, etc., to improve the class of small ponies very pre-
valent in those districts."
No mule breeding is now attempted in Burma.
563. Veterinary Captain Evans, having been deputed to visit the Straits
Settlements with a view of obtaining ponies likely to mate with the Burman
Q