36
Number of
produce foaled,
showing
averages to
mares covered
and stallions
employed.
193. Table IV (page vii) will give results obtained, but, to facilitate
reference, I give the following abstract:—
North-Western Provinces
North Punjab
South Punjab . . . .
Baluchistan .
.
.
.
Decean
.
.
.
.
Guzerat
.
.
.
.
Sind and Cutch
.
.
.
No.
covered,
1895-96
3,034
3,862
3,705
2,253
640
182
457
No. held.
786
1,084
1,010
613
241
76
76
No. not
known.
348
385
579
488
100
1
144
No. that
did not
hold.
1,900
2,393
2,116
1,152
299
105
237
Average
per
stallion.
11.73
13.55
14.85
15.11
12.69
11.91
6.92
Percentage
of mares
held.
22.22
28.66
29.96
27.2
37.65
41.75
16.63
194. The above, if considered carefully, will prove that the working of the
Department, as far as the correct statistical portion is concerned, is not reliable,
and this, I have attempted to show in a subsequent paragraph. What strikes
one so forcibly on looking at the above figures is the enormous number that are
said not to have held. This may, in a measure, be accounted for by the
poverty of the mares, but surely it cannot account for so many going empty.
I shall look upon it as a blot on the working of the Department, until we can
raise the produce to 40 per cent. of the mares covered. This, I believe, we
have reached, although we are unable to show it, for if we add the same
percentage, that are known to have held, of those returned as "Not known," we
get 32 per cent. in North Punjab.
195. It may be thought that 40 per cent. is a very low percentage with
which to be contented, but I fear we shall not exceed it, at least at
present: this is mainly owing to the ignorance on the part of the Zemin-
dars. I trust, however, that the simple instructions which will now be issued
at the back of each Covering Certificate, will, in time, eradicate the mistakes
which they now make.
196. On reference to last year's returns, I find that the average is main-
tained, except in Baluchistan, which, as I have already shown, must be entirely
due to the bad working of the Zilladars.
197. Veterinary Lieutenant Turnbull, Superintendent, Civil Veterinary
Department, North Punjab, puts the various circumstances leading to these
apparently bad results, so very clearly, that I feel I cannot do better than to
give the following extract from his report. He states:—
"The average of foals dropped per 100 mares covered, is 28.06 against 30.03 last year."
"This shows a very bad average of foals dropped, to account for which there are several reasons apparent.
In the first place, many mares were probably in foal amongst those sent away from their districts in search of
food, and nothing will be known of these till next season, when their owners will come with some excuse or
other stating that they never had a Produce Certificate. Again, a great number of results are probably put down
as "not held" instead of 'not known,' for it is much simpler for a Zilladar to put the result under the former
head, and does not expose him to the chance of being called upon to account for his not ascertaining the result;
as it is, 385 only are classed 'not known' while there are 2,393 results classed as 'not held or slunk.' Another
reason for the small percentage of produce is that owners bringing mares from a long distance find their mares
g one off season, yet, unable to bring them again, they have them covered on chance and the covering is useless.
This must happen occasionally in all but the best looked after stables and cannot be guarded against, while
the officials in charge are frequently men who most likely have no knowledge of horses at all. If owners, to
whom Veterinary Captain Pease's Manual has been distributed, only take the trouble to read it, and go by the
instructions contained in it, I hope we may look forward to a better average, and fewer non-effective coverings."
Reliability of
statistics.
198. Every endeavour has been made during the year to ensure more
reliable statistics than have hitherto been received. The Covering Returns
are always fairly reliable, as these can be checked from the Registers kept by
Tehsildars and Darindahs. Those kept by the former are reliable, but in the
case of an untrustworthy Darindah, he is liable to report more mares covered
than have actually been, in order to prove good working of the stand. To
guard against this, the Zilladars are held responsible that these Returns are
verified, still this is not considered sufficient, as frequently a Zilladar will stand
in with the Darindah, in order to save himself trouble. In order to further
check these officials, a certain number of Covering Returns are sent annually