123
the State. The results up to 31st March 1897 are encouraging, as already 16
mares had been covered.
675. The report on the Stud Farm Horse Breeding Operations, Kunegal,
for the year, shows that 10 stallions were employed. Of these, 4 were English,
4 Arabs, and 2 Australians. These stallions covered 204 mares belonging to
the Stud in addition to 19 belonging to private gentlemen; this gives an
average of 22 mares covered by each stallion during the year, which must be
considered low.
676. The births registered during the year were:—
Colts
Fillies
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
29
20
49
The above were the result of 136 mares covered during the previous year;
this gives a percentage of births to mares covered of 36.02, and although this
shows much improvement over 1894-95, when the percentage was only 25.15,
it cannot be considered high for a private stud where every care can be taken
to ensure success at the time of covering.
677. At the end of the year there were 149 head of stock on the Farm;
to these should be added the 49 births abovementioned, and 20 foals trans-
ferred from other establishments, making a total of 218. Five were transferred
to the Transport Pony establishment, 28 to the ranks of the Regiment.
KASHMIR.
Kashmir.
678. In last year's report I stated that a commencement in mule breeding
had been made by Colonel A. D. Anderson, late Royal Artillery, and I am
pleased to hear that a certain measure of success has already been met with. It
cannot be expected that a new industry can prove a success all at once, and in
this case disappointment was met with in Poonch, where prospects at first looked
bright. Two stallions, a pony and a donkey were sent there, but their visit
was for some reason a failure; no coverings resulted therefrom.
The Stud at present consists of :—
2 donkey stallions, lent by Government.
2 pony stallions.
17 mares.
Private
property
679. The system adopted is that the stallions serve the Home Stud mares,
and their services are given free to Kashmiris for their mares (whose height
averages 12.2) under agreement that the produce is bought when weaned, say
about 6 months of age.
Work was commenced in March 1896, which was a little late, as Kash-
miris do not rise readily to innovations.
680. Two other stallions, a pony and donkey stood at Srinagar; at first,
mares were brought with hesitation, but towards the end of the covering season,
the stallions could scarcely cover fast enough. In all, 60 mares were covered,
including 15 of the Home Stud.
For the year 1897, all four stallions will be kept at Srinagar, and there
appears no reason to fear that their lists will not be filled.
681. Another scheme is also under consideration; it is that a large pony
owner, who offers to place his mares at the disposal of the Stud on a system of
a cash payment at time of covering, a second payment at time of foaling, and
a final payment at 3 years old, the mare-owner to run the young stock up to
that age. If satisfactory arrangements can be made to effect this, there will
be a large scope for the extension of mule-breeding.
Young stock.—Already the Home Stud has about 15 head of young stock
(mules), which are stated to be likely to be fit for ordnance purposes. It is
also proposed to purchase about 30, from Kashmiri mares, which should turn
into Transport mules.
Thus, it will be seen that three places are under experiment;—
(1) Breeding from Home Farm mares.