10
(4).—Castration.
34. It will be seen from Table XIII that only 29 colts were castrated
during the year. Out of this number only 2 colts were castrated by the
Ahmednagar Salutri and the remainder by the several Veterinary Graduates.
The great fall is to be attributed to the fact that the services of three of the
salutris in this department were reduced under Government Resolution in the
Revenue Department, No. 6968, dated 21st September 1897. The majority of
cases were castrated in previous years by these salutris. There was only one
case which proved fatal. It was operated upon by the Veterinary Graduate,
Surat, who reports that the operation progressed very satisfactorily and the
wound was nearly healed up. The animal was quite active until 21st day after
the operation, when suddenly it showed signs of tetanus and died the next day.
II.—MULE-BREEDING.
35. As mule-breeding has been abandoned in this Presidency as noted
above (paragraph 15), there were no donkey stallions during the year except one
in Gujarát and one in the Deccan for a few months. The average cost of their
feed and keep amounted to Rs. 314 each, as will be seen from Table XIV. These
donkeys served during the year under report 18 mares, viz., 11 in the Deccan
and 7 in Gujarát. The results of 29 coverings effected in the previous year are
given in Table IX.
III.—HORSE FAIRS AND SHOWS.
36. Table XV shows that there were two horse shows held during the
year. A short review on each is given below: —
Deccan.
37. Held at Ahmednagar and commenced on the 31st October 1898. The
total number of exhibits amounted to 488. The show
was on the point of being abandoned owing to the
fears of plague, and the news of abandonment, although not officially advertised,
did run through the district and kept off nearly 20 per cent, of the exhibits. A
much higher standard of selection for admission to the show was adopted. The
show, taken throughout, was most successful and well maintained its quality of
excellence over last year, though a fair comparison cannot be made with the
former shows for reasons given above. One of the most remarkable features of
the show was the very large number of symmetrical sturdy pony mares, most of
them being the get of Government sires. The stock (12) purchased for the
nursery was considered by the Remount Agent to be the best ever obtained.
The Collector of Ahmednagar remarks that the suggestion of the Honorary
Secretaries as to the revival of cattle-breeding need not require any considera-
tion. With this I do not agree. Cattle-breeding is an important branch of
agriculture and to the agriculturists themselves a great deal more important
than horse-breeding for the reason that the whole of their transport and field
work is carried on by cattle. This kind of work is performed very much better
by animals which are well bred and approach as nearly as possible to the origi-
nal types. The deterioration and mixing of breeds has reached such a state that
it requires a certain amount of stimulus to endeavour to prevent indiscriminate
breeding and to raise the standard of the cattle population generally. This has
come to the notice of Government and they wish that such stimulus should be
applied (vide Government Resolution, Revenue Department, No. 75, dated 6th
January 1899, paragraph 8). The proposal is that stud bulls of undoubted
quality and breed should be purchased by Local Boards and freely distributed in
the district, and prizes for the young stock should be offered at the show. The
suggestion to start a breeding depôt is at present hardly practicable.
Káthiáwár.
38. Held at Rájkot on the 29th November 1898. The total number of
exhibits amounted to 449 against 255 last year held
at Junágad. A good number of brood mares and
promising fillies was exhibited. It is satisfactory to note that a certain number
of mules were exhibited. Mule-breeding has been recently introduced in
Káthiáwár, and the States of Junágad and Manwadar have each purchased a
donkey stallion from this Department, and the industry, it is hoped, will shortly be
established. Too much encouragement cannot be given to this industry, as the