29
REVIEW BY THE SURVEY COMMISSIONER AND DIRECTOR, LAND
RECORDS AND AGRICULTURE, BOMBAY.
No. A/2651 OF 1893.
Poona, 25th August 1893.
Submitted.
2. Veterinary Captain Morgan was in charge of the Department from
the 20th of May 1892. Veterinary Captain Grainger delivered over charge on
the 16th of April to Captain Williamson, Superintendent, Ahmadnagar Remount
Rearing Depôt, who officiated as Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department,
till Veterinary Captain Morgan's arrival.
Poona.
Ahmadnagar.
Sholápur.
Shikárpur.
3. As proposed in this office report to Government, No. 3513, dated 10th
December 1892, the Superintendent has given his
tour in a tabular form (Appendix XVIII). He toured
in the districts noted in the margin. He attended
the horse and cattle shows held at Quetta, Ahmadnagar, Jacobabad, Chinchli,
Sibi, Naushahro and Ahmedabad, and inspected the veterinary dispensaries at
Nadiád, Ahmedabad and Karáchi. He visited besides Deesa, Pálanpur, Bháv-
nagar, Bombay, Saháranpur, Bábugarh and Karnál. The visits to the three
places last named were sanctioned in Government Resolution No. 9584, dated 7th
December 1892. His tours and visits appear to have been well-planned and his
movements active.
4. At the close of the year, the number of stallions stationed in the Presi-
dency was 74 as against 76 at the end of the previous year. A Turkoman
stallion has been purchased for the Hyderabad Local Board. This is believed
to be the first instance in this Presidency of a stallion being owned by a Local
Board. The existing number of stallions is considered inadequate and the Super-
intendent intends purchasing 3 English and 12 Arabs shortly.
5. The effective number of stallions has risen slightly from 88.67 to 89.8,
even though the total number (94) was less than that of the previous year (99).
This is satisfactory. Casualties have decreased from 7.89 to 5.4 per cent.
Stallions are now regularly exercised. By arrangement with the Inspector-
General, stallions for this Presidency will be selected by the Superintendent, and
the necessity of costly transfers will in future be avoided. Veterinary Assistants
in charge grant-in-aid dispensaries have systematically supervised the feeding of
stallions located at their stations.
6. Though the total number of mares covered by horse and pony stallions
(including the Beluchistan stud) has slightly risen, the number being 3,109 as
against 3,087 in the previous year, there is a considerable fall in the number of
mares covered in Gujarát and in Sind and Cutch, which is not explained in the
report. The average number of covered mares per horse has also fallen from
34.81 to 34.62, which is somewhat remarkable when the increase in effective
strength of stallions is considered. The Deccan, with 26.57 mares per stallion,
has the lowest average, the averages in Gujarát, Sind and Cutch and Beluchi-
stan being respectively 33, 32.08 and 55.64, this last figure reaching the ordinary
maximum permitted.
7. The number of mares branded rose from 809 to 929; but it is still
below the figure (1,046) of 1890-91. The increase was general except in Gujarát,
where last year there was a fall. The necessity of the recently proposed
register of branded mares is well shown by the remarks in Veterinary Captain
Morgan's paragraph 18.
8. 3,087 mares were covered during the year 1891-92, with a result reported
"unknown" in 30 per cent. of cases. Above half the number of mares are in
Beluchistan, where there are no Inspectors. Results in 50 per cent. of the re-
mainder were classed as "did not hold." These figures are not satisfactory—
the first indicating room for improvement in produce registration and the second
reflecting on the powers of the stallions as foal-getters. Steps to improve pro-
duce-returns in the direction of registration are being taken by the proposed in-
stitution of a village return and now that the stallions are duly exercised, they
may show a higher percentage of successful coverings. The total reported
B 360—8