12
89. It was found necessary to destroy 16 Government horse and donkey
stallions found to be suffering from the disease, and the necessary measures for
its suppression have been adopted.
Cleansing of horse-
boxes and cattle-
trucks.
90. A slight increase is noticeable in the number of horse boxes and cattle-
trucks inspected, viz., 588 against 454 last year. These inspections have
been productive of much good, as they have caused the Railway Authorities
to adopt systematic measures for the cleansing and disinfecting of all vehicles
which carry animals.
PART II.-PROVINCIAL REPORT.
I—HORSE-BREEDING.
Number of stallions
on the Register.
91. A reference to Table I (Provincial) will show that there were 199 stal-
lions at the beginning of the year; 28 were added to the Registers and 18
removed, leaving a closing balance of 209.
Number of stallions
at work.
92. Table V (Provincial) shows that of 209 stallions on the Register, 198
were actually employed at stud work, against 196 in the previous year.
Casualties.
93. An abstract of casualties is given in Table III (Provincial) showing
that 3 horses and ponies died and 8 were destroyed. The general percentage
being 8.62 for horses and 4.25 for ponies.
Sales.
94. Table IV (Provincial) records 4 horses and 1 pony stallion as sold
during the year, being unfit for further stud work. The average price realized
was Rs. 165 for horses and Rs. 65 for the pony.
Cost of feed and
keep.
95. A satisfactory decrease in the cost of feed and keep will be observed
in Table IX (Provincial). The figures being —
Horses
Pouies
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Rs. 230
„ 243
against
against
Rs. 231.
„ 255.
The highest average was in Burma and Central Provinces. In the latter,
the average cost of feed and keep of ponies is shown to be about Rs. 46 higher
than that of horses. This is explained by the fact of prices for food stuffs
being higher in places where the pony stallions were located.
Number of mares
covered by District
Board stallions.
96. It is satisfactory to record a steady improvement under this head.
Table V (Provincial) shows that 11,141 mares were covered against 10,768 in
the previous year. The average of mares served per stallion employed is also
better, viz., 56.25 against 54.9 ; and this with 2 more stallions at work than
in the preceding year. The number of produce is shown as 2,831 against
2,663 in 1901-02.
Provincial cost of
the Department.
97. Table XVIII (Provincial) gives the total Provincial cost of the Depart-
ment during the year. This Table has been compiled from figures furnished
by the Accountants-General of the various Provinces, and amounts to Rs.
4,56,269-0-10 against Rs. 3,33,691-8-10 in the preceding year, showing an
increase of Rs. 1,22,577-8-0. The principal increases appear in the United
Provinces, Punjab Provincial Circle, Bengal, Central Provinces and Bombay,
under the heads of Prizes, Subordinate Establishment, Purchase of Stallions
and Contingencies; and also to the inclusion of Local Fund charges in Bombay,
which, in the previous year, was omitted to be furnished.
II.-MULE-BREEDING.
Donkey stallions
belonging to Dis-
trict Boards.
98. Table VII (Provincial) shows that of 35 donkey stallions on the
Registers, 26 were actually employed at stud against 19 in the previous year.