8
Number of mares covered.
19. The number of pony mares covered during
the year is given below with comparative figures for
the last two years :—
1895-96... ... ...
1896-97... ... ...
1897-98... ... ...
872
753
713
There is a decrease of 40 over last year, principally in the Deccan. Sind
has remained stationary and shows a slight decrease of 9 mares.
Demand for donkey stallions.
20. At the request of the Inspector-General, Civil Veterinary Department,
the following information with reference to mule-
breeding has been incorporated in this year's report: —
Table showing the progress of Mule-breeding in the Deccan.
Year.
1881-82 ... ...
1882-83 ... ...
1883-84 ... ...
1884-85 ... ...
1885-86 ... ...
1886-87 ... ...
1887-88 ... ...
1888-89 ... ...
1889-90 ... ...
1890-91 ... ...
1891-92 ... ...
1892-93 ... ...
1893-94 ... ...
1894-95 ... ...
1895-96 ... ...
1896-97 ... ...
Stallions.
3.50
8.0
5.41
5.03
3.0
3.0
3.0
2.15
1.0
...
0.45
1.56
2.35
3.82
3.22
2.0
Mares
covered.
88
123
69
80
44
46
52
47
19
...
1
28
45
59
67
41
Produce.
15
9
10
20
18
15
12
7
2
...
1
3
16
6
10
8
Mares
covered per
stallion.
25.14
15.37
12.75
15.90
14.66
15.3
17.3
21.86
19.0
...
2.2
17.9
19.14
15.44
20.80
20.50
Produce
per
stallion.
4.28
1.12
2.29
3.99
6.0
5.0
4.0
3.25
2.0
...
2.2
1.92
6.8
1.57
3.10
4.0
Remarks.
Khándesh returns not
received.
Of the total coverings.
133 were effected at
Sirúr and 107 in the
Khándesh,
Násik
and
Ahmednagar
Districts.
Deccan and Khándesh.
21. A glance at the above table will give some idea of the extent to which
mule-breeding operations have been carried on in the
Deccan and Khándesh.
It will be seen that in the
year 1884-85, five stallions were stationed in the Deccan and only 80 mares
covered. From that date to 1889 a gradual falling off took place, and Gov-
ernment in their Resolution in the Revenue Department, No. 3819, dated 25th
May 1889, approved the action of the Superintendent in removing all donkey
stallions in the Deccan. I took over the Department in May 1892 and for the
two previous years no attempt had been made to breed mules. I made most
careful enquiries throughout the districts and realized that the ordinary ryot
was very averse, from caste prejudices, to carry on the industry, and the only
material left me to work upon consisted of a few small and half-starved mares, the
property of Mahomedans and low-caste Hindus. I also realized that if caste
prejudices were to be broken down, the only possible way was to show the ryot
that mule-breeding was an industry where comparatively large profits were to
be made at a very small outlay and only on these conditions could I see that
any headway was likely to be made. With this view I addressed Government
on the advisability of establishing a mule run in Gujarat so as to buy up the
young stock as soon as they were weaned. The plan was approved, and I spent
considerable time and labour in inspecting various tracts of land which I thought
might be suitable for the purpose, being careful to avoid tracts liable to famine,
to select some central place where fodder and water were plentiful, where the
mule produce of Sind could easily be brought, as well as animals bred in the
Deccan and Gujarát.
After some 18 months or 2 years the project was aban-
doned for want of sufficient funds. In the meantime every endeavour had been
made by myself and the subordinates of this Department to induce owners to
breed mules. Larger prizes were offered at the shows, they were told that
Government would purchase their young stock at 6 months old (a promise which