48
"Young Chieftain" have been placed, as sanctioned by Government, at the dis-
posal of the Vánkáner State, though he is still borne on the register. It has
now been decided in consultation with the Inspector General that no English
stallions less than 4 years old are in future to be imported for Bombay. The
Superintendent notices with satisfaction the great improvement effected in the
Arab market, the higher price now offered by Government acting as an
incentive.
Stallions actually at stud
work.
6. The effective strength of stallions actually at stud work rose from 83.2
per cent. of the total number in the previous year to
84.1 per cent. in the present year, the rest being in
the Ahmadnagar Depot for acclimatization or treat-
ment. This shows some improvement though the percentage is still much
below that in 1892-93, when it was 95.5. Now that the Presidency is more or
less provided with young stallions, it is hoped that considerable improvement
will be shown next year. Of the 56.37 stallions actually at stud work, 35 were
working in the Deccan, 8.38 in Gujarát and 12.99 in Sind and Cutch. The
great difference in Sind between the number actually at stud work and that on
the register is mainly due to the fact that the new stallions, which were to
replace the old and worn-out ones, removed long ago, were sent to that province
almost at the close of the year. The Superintendent branded mares for the
first time and has located stallions in Lower Sind, which, he considers, promises
to be capable of further extension.
Stallions producing the
most suitable stock for the
Army.
It is satisfactory to find that the Norfolk Trotter has regained the first
place it had lost last year as the producer of the most
suitable stock for the Army; the Arab comes second,
and the T. B. E. stands last. The Superintendent
attributes the unfavourable result in the case of the
last to old age of most of the T. B. E. stallions. Out of 44 remounts inspected,
6 were rejected, but for want of class details they have not been charged against
the class to which they belong
Mares covered.
7. The number of mares covered by horse and pony stallions rose from
1,869 to 1,894, showing a slight increase of 25 mares.
Of these 1,143 belonged to Deccan, 236 to Gujarat,
and 515 to Sind and Cutch, against 1,081, 256 and 532 respectively in the pre-
vious year. Thus in point of numbers Deccan alone shows some increase. The
average coverings per stallion, however, show improvement in Sind and Cutch
alone, being 39.64 against 34.83 during last year. In the Deccan the work per
head comes to 32.65 and in Gujarát to 28.16 against 33.25 and 32.12, respective-
ly of the previous year. The decrease in Gujarát is due to short work done by
two Arab ponies who covered only 54 mares against 106 in the previous year.
The horse stallions, on the other hand, did there more work than last year.
And the Superintendent's general remark regarding demand for stallions that
a large trade in milk and milk products has recently sprung up to the detriment
of horse-breeding industry, which is true of Kaira District, does not hold for all
Gujarát.
The Hyderabad Local Board stallion covered 12 mares against
32 in the previous year; but he worked only for six months, having died in
October last. He has been replaced by another in March last.
It seems doubtful whether the statistics given above include the number
covered under the certification system sanctioned by Government in November
last. The Superintendent informs the undersigned that the first report on that
system is only due in December next. He is apparently under some misappre-
hension in supposing that no report is due till then. The report due in Decem-
ber is on the working of the system as a whole with a view to decide its conti-
nuance or otherwise. Government had, in their Resolution No. 3316, dated
23rd April last, called upon the Superintendent to notice the result of the system
in his annual reports, and the Superintendent ought to have given the number
of coverings effected during the four months of its working. The Government
of India have, in commenting upon the Inspector-General's report for the past
year, remarked that some redistribution of stallions in the Bombay Presidency
is desirable as they appear to be doing short work, especially those in the Deccan
and Gujarát. This point has not been noticed by the Superintendent, but the