126
752. The question of the advisability of introducing the system of branding
has again been discussed in the North-Western Provinces. On this subject the
Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, states :—
Mares are not branded for covering by Provincial stallions and I am of opinion that with the present limited
European Staff it is absolutely out of the question to attempt it. This can easily be understood when it is considered
that in addition to the actual act. of branding, that the mares would have to be examined for hereditary diseases, age,
and height, all of them registered with the descriptive marks, age, height, names of owners, tehsils, &c. Certificates of
covering and produce would have to be issued for each, entries also made of all coverings and descriptions of produce.
753. I fully agree with the above remarks. I consider that these stallions
should be looked upon as improvers of the horse stock of this country and the less
number of restrictions that are imposed, the more likely will we be, to gain this
end. There is, however, one point with which I in a measure differ, and that is on
the question of the issue of Covering and Produce Certificates; this, in my opinion,
should be done in these Provinces as is done in the Punjab, and I purpose
addressing the Director of Land Records and Agriculture on this subject.
754. The class of mares covered by the Provincial stallions and the young
stock are alluded to as follows by the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary
Department, North-Western Provinces and Oudh:—
Two hundred and fifty marcs and one hundred and seventy young stock were collected for my inspection at
the different stands I visited during my tour, and several hundred mares and young stock were seen by me at the
various Fairs and Shows held during the year in these Provinces.
755. The Superintendent, concludes his remarks, as follows:—
From the foregoing report it will be seen that the Provincial stallions this year have done excellent work.
They have covered 49 mares each and 358 more mares than last year.
The work for stallions is much beyond their powers to perform and if the stallion power were nearly
doubled it could be utilized; the number of applications uncomplied with will show this, as some of the applicants
have sufficient work for two stallions at one stand.
It is acknowledged by all who have seen the Provincial young stock that the produce of the stallions improves
yearly, and compared with the progeny of the Country-bred that, is superior in all points, and if only sufficient money
is given to meet the requirements in keeping up and increasing the stallion power, I have no doubt in my mind that
in course of time the equine stock of these Provinces will be vastly improved, but to starve the Department by cut-
ting down all allotments must necessarily prove fatal to progress.
Mule-breeding is steadily progressing, and to encourage this we should purchase some good Jacks, especially
those possessing plenty of bone and likely to produce stock capable of making good serviceable mules for Ordnance or
Transport, purposes.
756. On this subject the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department,
North Punjab, states :—
The above statistics, viz: that notwithstanding the famine which prevailed, 3 more ponies were employed
last year, distinetly shows the popularity of the District Board stallions and that they are in greater demand than
ever, and it is pleasing to see the endeavours the District, Boards are making to add to the number, which are covering
well. As Mr. Turnbull remarked last year, broken down racing and polo ponies of good caste are frequently to be
purchased for a small amount; as an example of the class which can be picked up at times. 'Ahmed' is a most
excellently shaped well bred Arab, that is bound to produce something good. Hazara and Bannu are still I am sorry
to see without any. I have alluded to the usefulness of these ponies in my Annual Imperial Report, that if pony
stock is to be kept up and improved, it is essential to have as many as possible of these small stallions as there are
plenty suitable mares for them, and that they often get a filly which is eventually fit to brand. Horses and ponies
covered 2,137 mares against, 1.899 last year.
757. The Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, South Punjab,
states : —
Pony stallions are in great demand generally. More are required in the Delhi, Hoshiarpur, Jullunder, Multan,
Muzaffargarh and Ferozepore distriets.
758. It is to be regretted that the districts of Hazara and Bannu in North
Punjab are still without a single District Board pony, and that the abovenamed
districts in South Punjab are still in want of more of these useful sires, but it must
be remembered that the funds of District Boards have been heavily taxed this year,
and it is pleasing to find that in South Punjab 6 new ponies were purchased. I,
however, hope that as the funds of these Local Bodies improve, attention will be
paid to this, and I would specially name the district of Hazara as being in sore
need of such help; there is in this district a very large number of small mares
eminently suited to this class of sire.
759. In Baluchistan, no Local Bodies are in a position to provide District
Board ponies. I, however, allot a certain number of small Arab sires to this
Agency to cover mares that are too small to be covered by the Imperial stallions.
Number of
stallions at stud
work, and num-
ber of mares
covered.
760. Table D. will show that 163 stallions were at stud work of the 172 on
the registers; this result is most satisfactory.
761. I feared that the number of mares covered by these stallions would
have fallen off greatly during the year under report, as in 1895-96, which was
a good year, the increase amounted to 2,745; last year, this increase was just main-
tained; it is therefore most satisfactory to note that there was actually a small
increase this year, the total number of mares covered being 8,420 against 8,139 or
281 more than in 1896-97,