47
a system is, however, very questionable, and it has frequently been debated
before. But I have invited the Superintendent to make suggestions on the sub-
ject. One difficulty, which is certain to be encountered, may be mentioned here.
It is hard to trace much of the produce of Government sires as it is. The
maintenance of a lien on it, whereby the owner would get a smaller price than
he now obtains in the open market, would make the ascertainment harder still.
My personal view is that, if Government wishes to get more of the produce, they
will have to buy it younger. The risks of satisfactory choice and ill-success in
rearing are greater. But I venture to believe that the results with thoroughly
expert selecting agency would be more satisfactory than they are at present.
Castration.
13. The number of animals castrated during the year was 148 against 151
during the previous year and 171 during 1894-95. Of
these 41 were castrated by Veterinary Assistants
against 32 during the preceding year. The work done by these Assistants
is still small, and the attention of the Collectors should be again drawn to the
subject. On this point the following explanatory remarks recently received from
the Superintendent are of interest:—
"When inspecting veterinary dispensaries the question of castration is always carefully
gone into by me and I have been disappointed at the results, as I had hoped that considerable
progress would have been made under this particular head when veterinary dispensaries were
established and in working order. The Graduate invariably gives the same answer: viz., (1)
that the people are averse to the operation and that he is unable to persuade them to get their
colts castrated; (2) that they refuse to bring them to the dispensary, stating that they have not
the time to stay and assist at the after-treatment which is necessary. To obviate this I have
ordered all Veterinary Graduates that they can proceed to villages and operate there, providing
that they can afford to give the necessary time to the after-treatment, but on no account to run
the risk of a fatal termination; as one fatal case in a neighbourhood would have a very preju-
dicial effect. I have found that the majority of horses castrated by Veterinary Graduates are
those which have become so vicious or unmanageable that their owners are only too glad
to get anything done to them with a view of making them useful. They are usually the
property of men who live in towns and are not likely to influence the breeding interests of the
country. This, from my point of view, is not the main object of the scheme and hardly the
class of animal that Government is anxious to get castrated."
Donkey stallions and their
works.
14. There were 26 donkey stallions on the register at the beginning and
28 at the end of the year. Of these 17 were Italian,
6 Persian, 2 Arab, 1 Khorasan and 2 Cyprus. The
actual working strength of the stallions during the
year was 25.40 against 23.03 during the previous year. They covered 753 mares,
i.e. 29.64 mares per stallion against 39.03 during the previous year. The
Superintendent states that neither he nor the district officers are able to explain
this difference. It would appear to be primâ facie due to the stoppage of the
Superintendent's tour in Sind and unpopularity of the Persian Jacks. According
to the returns, of the 899 * mares covered during the year 1895-96, 16 per cent.
foaled, 56 per cent. did not hold, and the result of 28 per cent. was not known.
These statistics are quite valueless. The only places for which they are at all
correct are Gujarát and Khairpur. In the former division the foalings were no
less than 57, and in the latter no less than 51.8 per cent.; and there can be little
doubt that Captain Morgan is right in believing that the results are not much
inferior elsewhere. I venture here to observe that comments based on these
statistics, such as those in paragraph 168 of the Inspector-General's report for
1895-96, to the disparagement, as it happens, of Bombay operations, are com-
pletely misleading. Whether improvement be inferred or the reverse, the real
variation occurs merely in the accuracy of the returns, not in the working
powers of the stallions. There is no doubt that Sind is a promising country for
mule breeding and that progress is sure to be made there. Next year's results,
when the Superintendent will be able to make a proper tour, will certainly show
a considerable forward movement, though time is no doubt required before the
high numbers attained in the Punjáb and the North-Western Provinces can
be reached. If only for the reason that the mares for mule breeding in those
provinces are not branded, it is well worth considering whether branding for
* Note.—The number reported as being covered in the report of 1895-96 was only 872. The
27 additional mares were covered by the Jack posted in Khairpur, the returns for which were not
furnished in time for publication with the report of 1895-96.