37
Number of produce
foaled, showing
averages to mares
covered and
stallions employed.
159. Table IV will give results obtained, but to facilitate reference, the
following abstract is given as usual:—
North-Western Provinces
.
North Punjab
.
.
.
South Punjab
.
.
.
Sind
.
.
.
.
.
Baluchistan .
.
.
.
No.
covered,
1897-98.
3,188
3,882
3,329
433
2,418
No.
held.
778
1,042
925
88
18
No. not
known.
323
435
497
276
89
No. that
did not
hold.
2,087
2,405
1,907
69
1,511
Average
produce
per
stallion.
11.78
13.35
13.60
6.82
20.41
Percentage
of mares
held.
37.27
34.00
27.78
20.32
33.84
160. There is a slight improvement all round, and we are closer approach-
ing the 40 per cent. of successful coverings in our best breeding districts,
which I am anxious to reach. The figures referring to Sind are not reliable
as the Zilladars had scarcely commenced their work.
161. The Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, North Punjab
remarking on these figures, states:—
"The figures are more encouraging but the average of foalings is still too small, but it is difficult to
improve them. Looking at the tables it is a striking fact that on the average of last year's coverings,
Thoroughbred Australians and Thoroughbred English produced more than double the number of any other
class of sire. The Arab the least, except one Stud-bred."
162. This officer is quite correct in his first statement. The average of
Thoroughbred English stallions employed was 22.76, of the Australians
26.25; but from his second statement one would infer that the average of the
Arabs was very bad: this, however, is not the case, as it stood at 9.94 against
Half-breds and Norfolk Trotters 10.68.
163. The Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, Baluchistan and
Sind, remarks:—
"Although the number of foals, compared with the number of coverings, shows a very good percentage,
it is nevertheless actually considerably higher for this reason. The majority of owners of mares in Baluchistan
belong to nomadic tribes and are continually on the move. Many mares are, I know, covered at two or three
stands within a few days; such a mare must of course be shown twice or three times over, although it is obvious
she can only foal once."
Verification of
Statistical Returns.
164. The system under which the verification of returns received from
the subordinate establishment of this Department has been through the
patwaris. This system was given a fair trial, but was found not to be a
success; in the first place the patwaris did not possess the qualifications
necessary for the proper compiling of the information required, and again the
work involved in the Superintendent's office by having to check returns
received from 11,630 patwaris was more than the clerical staff could possibly
cope with. At my suggestion, the Government of India decided to abolish
this system of check and to rely on a much more simple form, which has
already been tried and been found successful. It may be described as
follows:—
From the returns submitted by Zilladars and Salutris, a certain number
of entries (indiscriminately chosen) referring to coverings, foalings, sales,
deaths, transfers, castrations, etc., are selected. These entries are then sub-
mitted to the District Officers concerned, who are asked to kindly cause them
to be verified by the Tehsildars.
This, I consider, will be a much more efficient check on the working of
the subordinate establishment, and it will certainly cause a great reduction of
clerical labour.
165. Every endeavour is made to secure the submission of reliable statis-
tics, and I am of opinion that the check above mentioned will have a most
beneficial effect as no Zilladar knows what mares or young stock will be
selected for verification.
166. The Zilladars, taken as a whole, have worked well; this is mainly
due to the amount of supervision exercised by the Superintendents. I am