5
Stallions which produce
the most suitable stock for
army.
11. Table V shows that out of 61 remounts inspected, 37 were allotted to
British Cavalry, 13 to Native Cavalry and 11 were
rejected for being under height, and were sold by
public auction at an average price of Rs. 217 as three
and four-year olds. It will be seen that only two
animals were purchased as being the produce of Norfolk Trotters; bearing in
mind the number of stock got by them, this bears out what has already been
stated that their produce is not at all satisfactory, although both the animals
above mentioned were retained as fit for British Cavalry. The stock produced
by thorough-bred English, viz., 22, shows the high percentage of 68.18 as being
fit for British Cavalry, only 13.64 per cent. were rejected, the remaining 18.18
per cent. going to Native Cavalry. This will bear out what Veterinary-Major
Morgan remarked last year as to the high quality of the stock produced from
the Deccan mare by the thorough-bred English. The stock produced by Arab,
viz., 13, shows an increase of 2 over last year, and the number, viz., 7, allotted
to British Cavalry is an increase of 6 over last year. This shows a distinct im-
provement on the class as compared with last year, although the number of
rejections is increased. The average price realised for these rejections was the
high one of Rs. 239. The remaining stock inspected were the produce of
Australians and sires unknown, though from their make and shape in the
latter case appear to be got by Government stallions. The produce of Austra-
lians shows the high percentage of 80 for British Cavalry and 20 for Native
Cavalry and no rejections. Those from unknown sires show a percentage of
rejections as 20.05, Native Cavalry 31.58 and British Cavalry 47.37. These
figures, with regard to Australian sires, compare very favourably and point to
the utility of purchasing thorough-bred sires from Australia at a much lower
price than what they are purchased for in England, and which get equally good,
if not better, stock. It will be seen that out of 61 head of stock inspected, only
8 were purchased outside the Presidency Proper, i.e., 5 in Sind and 3 in the
Nizám's territory. The remainder of the stock were bred in the Presidency
Proper. These figures compare very favourably.
(2).—Remounts, Country-bred.
Number purchased.
12. The number of country-bred remounts purchased during the year
is given in Table VI, and the following table compares
the number with that for the last two years: —
For whom purchased.
Bombay Native Cavalry ... ... ...
Police, Northern Division ... ... ...
Do. Central
do. ... ... ...
Do. Southern
do. ... ... ...
Remount Rearing Depôt, Ahmednagar ... ...
Total ...
1896-97.
128
2
3
2
27
162
1897-98.
332
5
6
2
30
375
1898-99.
108
2
3
1
38
152
13. There is a decrease of 223 in the total number as compared with the
previous year. This is owing to fewer horses being purchased by Government
for Bombay Native Cavalry. The figures for Sind for the last two years are
omitted for the sake of comparison, as this year that province has been trans-
ferred to Baluchistan. The Police purchased practically the same, and the
Remount Depôt shows an increase of 8. It is, however, satisfactory to note that
68, or nearly one-half of the total number, are the known produce of Government
sires out of branded mares. The number of remounts purchased at each place
is given below:—
B 334—2