120
731. The following had been drafted out during the year :—
To Imperial Service
Lancers....
Infantry Transport......
Rissalas...
...
...
Mares to Stud
...
...
...
Stables
&c....
...
...
Sold
...
...
...
Died
...
...
...
...
Ponies
Mules
...
...
...
...
...
Total
15
13
4=17
44
4
9
2
2
93
The above list of transfers to Imperial Service Lancers Infantry
Transport and Rissalas, all go to prove the practical utility of this stud.
732. Mule-breeding should now greatly extend as each Rissala is now
provided with a donkey.
MYSORE.
733. The report on the Government Stud Farm, Horse-Breeding
Operations, Kunigal, goes to show that 10 stallions are maintained, 3 being
English, 3 Australians and 4 Arabs.
734. These 10 stallions covered 168 mares the property of the State,
besides 13 private mares, giving an average of about 18 covered by each
stallion.
735. Seventy-two (72) foals were dropped during the year, these being
the result of 204 coverings of the previous year. This gives a percentage of
births to coverings of 32.32 against 36.02 of the previous year.
736. The total number of young stock at the end of the year was 200.
Sixteen casualties occurred amongst the young stock.
Twenty were transferred to the ranks and 4 to the Transport
Establishment.
737. Mule-breeding has commenced and I am informed that 11 mares
have been covered during the year.
KASHMIR.
738. The system inaugurated by Major-General A. D. Anderson has
not resulted in the success which he anticipated, and I am only awaiting his
return from England to consult him as to the best means to secure further
development of mule-breeding in this State, for with the great call on us for
donkey stallions, we cannot afford to leave them idle; still, time will not be
wasted if even a few mule foals are dropped, as it will pave the way for an
introduction of this industry should a Veterinary Officer be appointed to this
State, which I trust will be the case.
Only 33 mares were covered by the two donkey stallions during
the year.
KATHIAWAR STATES.
739. The Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, Bombay, makes the
following remarks with reference to horse and mule breeding in the Kathiawar
States :—
Bhavnagar Gondal, Vankaner
Morvi, Palitana, Junagad,
Dhrangadhra and Rajkot.
The marginally noted studs were visited during the year and 10 head of young stock purchased.
Owing to the keen interest in horse-breeding displayed by Colonel Hunter, Political
Agent, and the constant help I have received from him, I am pleased to be able to
J report that considerable progress has been made in Kathiawar during the past 2
or 3 years. New studs have been established and considerable sums of money have been spent in constructing
new paddocks and buildings and purchasing brood mares. The Chiefs are anxious that the industry should be
carried out on sound lines and are willing to introduce improvements so as to ensure their studs being a
success. The marcs in the various paddocks have, during the past year, been carefully examined by me and
only the best retained, the remainder, being drafted or put aside for mule-breeding. It is pro-
posed that a similar drafting take place annually and all vacancies filled up with the best home bred fillies.
This policy systematically carried out for the next five or six years, will result in the Kathiawar studs
owning some of the very best brood stock in India. I need hardly point out that this step, unheard of in Kathiawar
before, of doing away with old barren and unsound mares, will at once show what vast strides have been made,
and further prove that the Chiefs are now willing to accept advice and adopt recommendations for the well being