4
General Statement
of the cost of the
Department.
25. Table XVIII shows that the cost of the Department during the year
under report, amounted to Rs. 6,87,191-14-11 against Rs. 6,56,620-11-8,
giving an increase of Rs. 30,571-3-3. The principal increases appear
under the heads of "Prizes", "Contingencies", and "Purchase of stallions".
The cause of increase under "Prizes" is due to a greater number of Fairs being
held than in the previous year, and also to the award of prizes for the en-
couragement of cattle-breeding. The increase under "Contingencies" is
chiefly due to the purchase of chemicals and expensive apparatus for the Muk¬
tesar Bacteriological Laboratory. The rise under the head of "Purchase of
stallions" is accounted for by the fact that higher prices had to be paid for
the Arabs purchased in Bombay to secure the stamp of horse required.
26. The prices paid for imported horse and donkey stallions during the
year under report, were as shown below:—
Price of 10 Thoroughbred English stallions imported from
England, £3,115 at 1s. 4d. per rupee . . .
Price of 1 Italian donkey, £18 at 1s. 4d. per rupee . .
Price of 12 American donkeys
.
.
.
.
.
.
Price of 22 Cyprian donkeys, £609-14-10 at 1s. 4d. per
rupee . . . . . . . . .
Price of 1 Chinese donkey
.
.
.
.
.
.
TOTAL .
Rs.
46,725
270
12,700
9,146
60
68,901
A.
0
0
0
2
0
2
P.
0
0
0
0
0
0
against Rs. 77,748-12-0 in the previous year, showing a decrease of Rs.
8,847-10-0, due to a smaller number of stallions having been imported than in
the year 1901-02.
Maps.
27. The Maps showing the breeding districts, the stands where stallions are
located, and the number of stallions at each stand, are attached to this Report.
II—MULE-BREEDING.
Number of donkey
stallions on the Re¬
gister.
28. At the beginning of the year under report, there were 478 donkey
stallions on the Register (vide Table I), 39 were added, by importation and pur-
chase, and 25 were removed from the strength; leaving a balance, on the last
day of the year, of 492. Of this latter number, 285 were up to 10 years of age,
160 over 10 and up to 15 years, and the remaining 47 were over 15 years old
(vide Table II).
Number of donkey
stallions at stud.
29. Table VII will show that the number of donkey stallions actually em-
ployed during the year, at stud, was 423 against 411 in 1901-02; of these, 36
and 32 respectively, were used solely for donkey-breeding purposes.
Cost of feed and
keep.
30. There is a slight decrease in the cost of feed and keep of donkey stal-
lions as compared with last year's figures. Table XII shows the average cost
as Rs. 161-9-3 per annum, against Rs. 163-15-11 in the previous year.
Short note on each
class of donkey
stallion.
31. During the year under report, 1 Italian and 22 Cyprian donkey stal-
lions were sent to India by Lord Arthur Cecil. 12 American donkeys were
purchased for this Department by Major C. Gough of the Army Remount De-
partment. One Chinese donkey was received; and 3 mature Punjabi donkey
stallions were purchased by me in India.
32. These donkey stallions were carefully inspected by me, and my remarks
on each consignment are as follows :—
Italian and Cyprian.—As a batch, distinctly good; very level and straight
legged. They are inclined to be small, but otherwise suitable for the work.