4
increase of 337 cases. He found that most of the mares fit for branding in the
Presidency proper had been already branded. The number of branded mares
standing on the register at the close of the year was 6,002.
The certification system.
12. The system of allowing unbranded mares to be covered by Govern-
ment stallions on certificates granted by select district
officers was continued during the year under report.
Six officers out of the 35 empowered exercised their powers and issued 90 certi-
ficates. As the number of branded mares in every breeding district has reached,
and in some cases exceeded, the limit fixed under the rules of an average of 50
mares per stallion, the system has been discontinued under Government Reso-
lution No. 4071, dated 13th June 1899, Revenue Department. Owing to the
removal of Sind from his charge, the Superintendent is now in a position to
devote more attention to the subject.
Feeding and other charges.
13. The following table compares the average cost per horse and pony
stallion incurred during the year with that of the
preceding year exclusive of Sind:—
Stallion.
Horse ... ... ...
Pony ... ... ...
Average (horse and pony) ...
Average cost of feed,
keep, &c., of each
stallion, excluding
transit charges.
1897-98.
Rs.
585
515
559
1898-99.
Rs.
400
364
385
Difference.
Rs.
—185
—151
—174
Total cost of each
stallion, including
transit charges.
1897-98.
Rs.
597
517
567
1898-99.
Rs.
408
366
391
Difference.
Rs.
—189
—151
—176
Note:—Figures for 1897-98 exclusive of Sátárá.
There is a satisfactory decrease due to the high prices prevailing during the
preceding year having declined to the normal standard during the year under
report. Explanation seems needed as to why the cost of maintaining a pony in
the Sholápur and Sátára districts was greater than that of maintaining a horse.
The land within the stable enclosure at Ahmednagar was sown with jowári,
guinea-grass and lucerne, of which the last utterly failed owing to blight. The
outturn of jowári was treble the previous year's and that of guinea-grass nearly
nine times, and they together yielded a net profit of Rs. 41. The yield of hay
in the Padampur kuran was likewise treble the previous year's and the profit is
estimated at Rs. 741. These results are highly satisfactory looking to the low
contract rates at which the calculations have been made.
Total cost of the Department.
14. The total cost of the Department, exclusive
of Sind, was Rs. 47,261 against Rs. 51,419, showing a
saving of Rs. 4,158.
Horse and mule breeding
under Local Boards and in
Native States.
15. The Arab stallion Maxim, maintained by the Hyderabad District
Local Board, covered 42 mares. Of the 63 mares
covered during the preceding year, 24 foaled, 36 did
not hold, and the result of the remaining coverings
was not known. The cost incurred on his account
was Rs. 310 against Rs. 445 during the preceding year.
A donkey stallion named Jubilee was kept by the same Board, but being
small and an indifferent coverer has been recommended by the Superintendent,
Civil Veterinary Department, Beluchistán and Sind, to be used for covering
donkey mares only. The Superintendent states that information as to cover-
ing, &c., by this stallion and by the stud bull kept by the Board (vide paragraph
16 below) has not been received by him. The Board should be requested to
furnish the Superintendent with such information as he requires regarding the
stallions maintained by them.