2
1896-97 was 59.52 against 56.37 in the previous year, the remainder having been
kept at Ahmednagar for acclimatisation or treatment. Five hundred and ninety-
seven foals were reported to have been produced from coverings by Government
horses in 1895-96 against 615 in 1894-95, the number of mares covered being
1,894 and 1,669 respectively. The average known produce per stallion also fell
from 11.03 in the previous year to 10.59 in the year under review. The decrease
in the average number of mares covered per stallion from 33.59 in 1895-96 to
32.24 in 1896-97 is attributed by Veterinary Captain Morgan to the scarcity of
forage, but as observed by Mr. Muir-Mackenzie it appears to be mainly due
to the backwardness of the people of Lower Sind in utilizing the services of the
stallions. The system is new to this part of the Province and it is hoped that
it will gradually become popular, especially since arrangements have been made
by the Superintendent to station stallions at the houses of the most influential
zamindárs. The statistics of produce are again reported to be untrustworthy,
notably in Sind, where the proportion of 'results unknown' is very high. The
proposals called for in paragraph 5 of Government Resolution No. 4343, dated
17th May 1894, for the improvement of the system of registration of mares and
their produce have not yet been received, and the Survey Commissioner and
Director should be requested to submit them as early as possible.
3. The number of donkey stallions borne on the register at the commence-
ment of the year under report was 26. In 1896-97 one of the stallions died and
one was destroyed, while four were imported. The average number of stallions
employed on stud work rose from 23.03 in 1895-96 to 25.40 in 1896-97. The
number of pony mares covered by donkey stallions fell from 872 in 1895-96 to
753 in 1896 97 and there was also a decrease in the average number of mares
covered per stallion from 37.86 to 29.64. The number of mules foaled however
rose from 101 in the previous year to 127 in the year under report. As the
result of 786 coverings in Sind and Cutch in 1895-96, only 106 foals were
reported, the number of cases 'not held' being as many as 451 and those 'not
known' 229. These results are stated to be due to inaccuracy of registration,
which would thus seem to be growing greater. In places where the statistics
are considered to be correct, the results are not unsatisfactory. Before passing
final orders on the question whether mule-breeding in the Deccan and Gujarát
should not be given up, Government will await the separate report on the
subject called for in paragraph 3 of Government Resolution No. 5780, dated 2nd
August 1897.
4. The number of mares branded for horse, pony and mule-breeding
borne on the register at the commencement of the year were 5278, 5,689
and 1,871 respectively. The decline in the number (525) of mares branded by
the Superintendent in 1896-97 as compared with 1,465 in 1895-96 is reported
to be due to the scarcity of fodder, which prevented owners from bringing their
mares to the Superintendent's camp, and to quarantine at Karáchi, which inter-
fered with his tour in Sind. Of the 525 mares branded 486 were for horse and
pony-breeding and only 39 for mule-breeding. Forty-four mares on the register
died during the year, 27 went out of the limits of the Presidency and as many
as 2,782 were struck off the rolls as being too old for breeding. The total
number of mares on the register at the close of the year under report, viz.,
10,510 (of which 8,851 were for horse and pony-breeding and 1,659 for mule-
breeding) was therefore less than the number at its commencement by 2,328.
Government concur with the Survey Commissioner and Director in considering
that the removal from the registers of mares over 20 years of age is a sound
measure and trust that the adoption of this method combined with a five-yearly
census will result in a more accurate record of the brood mares in the Presidency.
5. The system under which selected Government officers were authorised
to certify mares as fit for service by Government stallions has been in force for
16 months, but only one officer (Mr. Bagnell) exercised the powers conferred.
The system can therefore hardly be said to have had a trial. The attention of
the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, should be drawn to the sugges-
tions made by Mr. Muir-Mackenzie in paragraph 7 of his review and he should
be requested to submit definite proposals on the subject.