7
Both Superintendents consider that the Norfolk Trotter and Hackney strains have now been carried too far,
especially in the central and southern districts, and that the feeling against them is growing stronger among breeders,
in the great horse-breeding districts of Rawalpindi, Shahpur, and Dera Ghazi Khan, owing to their slowness,
softness, and want of quality.
Veterinary-Captain Joslen's remark that one strain of the Norfolk Trotter, if the produce is out of a mare
wanting in substance, is beneficial, but in case where there have been two or more strains of this class of stallion,
the produce has been short and thick in the neck, straight in the shoulder, heavy topped, and tied in under the
knee, appears to me to aptly express the most approved expert opinion at the present day on this long standing
controversy. When we find, as is undoubtedly the case, the opinion of the largest and most enlightened breeders
coincide with that of Veterinary experts and Remount Officers, in advocating the substitution of Thoroughbred
English and Australian sires for Norfolk Trotters and Hackneys, I think the case in favour of the larger employment
of the former class, may be considered to have been fully proved. At present 50 out of the 96 stallions in the North
Punjab, and 33 out of the 98 in the South Punjab, or over two-fifths of the total number are of the Norfolk Trotter or
Hackney breed, and by gradually replacing these by a good class of Arab, Thoroughbred English or Australian sires,
the popularity of horse-breeding will undoubtedly be increased
Transit of
horses from
England and of
donkeys from
the Continent.
39. During the year we were unfortunate in losing a Thoroughbred English
stallion "Father Thames" and two other horses of the same batch were landed
suffering from 'Laminitis.' Veterinary-Major Mills, who receives the English
horses on arrival at Bombay, stated in his letter reporting the occurrence, that he
attributed these casualties in a great measure to over stimulating food given on the
voyage, and to the fact that a supply of carrots, only sufficient to last 9 days, was
put on board.
40. I have made this suggestion to the Government of India as also one to
the effect that Officers of the Army Veterinary Department, when proceeding to
India, should be put in charge of these horses. I feel that this would be most
advisable, as it would tend to lessen the losses now sustained.
41. I fear there cannot be any doubt that these valuable horses have not the
same accommodation on board the hired Transports as they had on board the
Troopship. Veterinary-Major Mills brings the matter to notice in the following
words:—
I inspected the stalls in which the horse stood in the 'Dunera' and 'Dilwara' and found that the cross beam
behind the horses had no padding. This padding is necessary on the under side of this cross bar. The want of it
was noticed by the fact that several had more or less severe capped hocks. The roofs of the stalls were also a foot
too low at the head. The 'Dilwara' has a shoot on the port side for the deposit of refuse from the decks. This
shoot is immediately forward of the horses and causes considerable annoyance to them by the blowing of the dust of
dry refuse and the splashing of liquid refuse into their stall; the noise made by this deposition of rubbish is also
inclined to frighten nervous horses.
42. I have also brought this matter to the notice of the Government of
India, and trust that remedies will be found for the points complained of by
Veterinary- Major Mills.
43. No casualties occurred amongst the donkeys which arrived from either
Italy or Cyprus.
44. During the year under review, the horses and donkeys have been taken
charge of when landing at Bombay by the College Authorities. Veterinary-Major
Mills, as a rule, superintends their disembarkation. This is the third consecutive
year during which this arrangement has been in force and it has worked most
satisfactorily. Not a single casualty has occurred, and although the average of
cost of landing and keep at Bombay has exceeded the average of last year by
Rs. 1-7-9 on each animal, still, this was only to be expected owing to the increased
price of grain and fodder. If, however, we compare the average cost of last year,
which was an exceptionally dear one, with the last during which the horses were
taken charge of by a private firm, and which was not an expensive year, we find a
saving of Rs. 16-10-2 on each animal landed. This shows that as much economy
has been exercised as was possible.
Proposed removal
of the Punjab
Stallion Depot
from Babugarh.
45. The case, as it stood at the end of last year, was that owing to the
opposition of the Military Authorities of the Rawalpindi district to the location of
the proposed new Depôt on the site which had been chosen close to the Park, a
further scheme for taking up land adjoining the old stables which are situated
near the Rawalpindi city and for enlarging them, was submitted for the considera-
tion of the Government of India. On the plans being sent to the Punjab Govern-
ment for favor of their opinion, His Honor the Lieutenant-Governor objected on
the ground that:—
(a).
The land being situated in proximity to the city was very expensive.
(b). That the stables were likely to be built round whereby they might
become unhealthy.
(c). That should it, at any time, be found necessary to enlarge the stable,
no land adjoining could be
obtained.