55
the place it should occupy in the system of horse-breeding. In paragraph
28 of his Administration Report for 1896-97, he writes :—
" I feel that any new districts, that may be developed, will require the services of
Hackneys. My idea of development in this country is as follows :—Take the pure indige-
nous mare ; she should first be crossed with Arab sires to counteract many of the faults in
conformation which she possesses. Having accomplished this we can then have one or two
strains of Hackney blood to give the mare size of barrel, so essential to the carrying of a foal.
Having succeeded in this, we have our brood mare, and then Arab or Thorough-bred blood
should be continued with, in order to get horses suitable for Army purposes."
It is satisfactory to note that out of the 47 horses examined, only two had
to be rejected on account of being undersized ; but even they, when sold, realised
the fair price of Rs. 385 each.
Veterinary Major Morgan's remarks regarding the superiority of horses
bred in the Deccan as compared with those bred elsewhere go to a certain extent
to meet the allegation that the Deccan, as a horse-breeding tract, has no future.
Remounts purchased.
11. The number of remounts purchased during the year was 465 against
304 during the preceding year. Of these, only 94 or
20 per cent. were the known produce of Government
sires. This small percentage has been ascribed by the Superintendent to the
fact that officers, other than those of the Remount Department, do not generally
care to find out the pedigree of a horse. It is satisfactory to note that breeders
in the immediate neighbourhood of Ahmadnagar have lately taken to bring in
their stock for sale direct to the Department. The Superintendent's proposal,
noticed last year, to introduce a system, by which a lien on the produce of Gov-
vernment stallions will be maintained, is under consideration and will form the
subject of a separate reference.
Castration.
12 The number of colts castrated was 87 against 148 during the preceding
year and 151 during 1895-96. Out of these, 64 were
castrated by Salutris and 23 by Veterinary Assistants.
The falling off is attributed to the effects of famine and plague.
Mule-breeding.
13. The number of donkey stallions at the commencement of the year was
28. Of these 4 were destroyed. No stallions were
added. The number standing at the close of the year
was thus 24. The actual working strength of the stallions was 25.34 against
25.40 during the preceding year. 713 mares were covered against 753, the
decrease being noticeable chiefly in the Deccan. The number of mares covered
per stallion thus fell from 29.64 to 28.13. Of the 753 mares covered during the
preceding year, 24 per cent. foaled, 51 per cent. did not hold, and the result of 25
per cent. was not known. The corresponding figures for the previous year were
16 per cent., 56 per cent. and 28 per cent., which shows that the results attained
during the year under report are more encouraging.
In view of the constant sickness and mortality among Bombay Municipal
cattle, the Municipal Commissioner has, at the suggestion of Veterinary Major
Morgan, purchased 3 pairs of stout mules, and it is proposed to give the experi-
ment a thorough trial. The result will be watched with interest.
The strong religious prejudices of people to allow their mares to be covered
by donkey stallions and the paucity of donkey mares of suitable size to carry
out the alternative proposal, made by the late Lieutenant-Colonel Humfrey, to
cover donkey mares with select Pegu stallions, have led to the discontinuance of
mule-breeding operations in the Deccan and Gujarát (vide Government Resolu-
tion No. 4356, dated 4th July 1893, Revenue Department).
14. The Superintendent branded 1,544 mares during the year under re-
port against 525 during the preceding year and 1,465 during 1895-96, which is
satisfactory. Of these, 543 were for horse-breeding, 213 for pony-breeding, and
788 for mule-breeding. The Superintendent made detailed tours in Upper and
Lower Sind and in the Deccan. He branded 1,265 mares for horse, pony and
mule-breeding in Sind, out of which 468 were branded in Lower Sind alone,
where the brand has become popular, and he believes that the majority of the