46
and Native Cavalry, still the question is one which is deserving of most serious
consideration, affecting as it does the interests of the breeders to whom we
must look for the supply of remounts. The principles that must guide us in
future are—
1st.—To recognize the dealer as little as possible in the shows; and with
this view I propose recommending for the decision of Government
that prizes for remounts be restricted to such as are purchased
from breeders.
2nd.—And most important is that of bringing the breeder and purchaser
in touch with one another; for, by so doing the former will
gradually find that he obtains better prices by selling to Govern-
ment or Native Cavalry than he does when he sells to the dealer.
With this view the various Superintendents, Civil Veterinary De-
partment, will be directed to give every assistance to both breeder
and purchaser to become better acquainted with each other.
325. The recommendation made by the Deputy Commissioner, Dera
Ghazi Khan, to the following effect is one worthy of consideration. He says:—
Another matter I would like to draw attention to is the suggestion made by Colonel
Clifford, President of the Judging Committee, in his note on last year's fair, and supported
by me, viz., that officers be deputed at certain times of the year to horse-breeding centres in
the district to purchase stock on behalf of Government (see paragraph 13 (iii) of my Report
on last year's fair). Large numbers of young stock are annually purchased at low prices
and carried off for sale in Bengal by Bhojpuri dealers, and are, as Colonel Clifford remarks,
undoubtedly lost to Government. During the current year no less than 464 stock of all
kinds were thus bought up and taken out of the district. This was the number registered
on the ferry and bridge at Dera Ghazi Khan, but a large number were probably taken
over by other crossings.
This no doubt accounts for the small number of remounts purchased in comparison
with the large number of: horses in the fair. The dealers had already taken the pick of the
horses available for sale in the district.
326. With a little management this could be effected: it only requires
the co-operation of the District and Native Cavalry officers to render it success-
ful, and I feel that the scarcity of remounts now complained of by the Native
Cavalry would soon vanish. The views of both District officers and Com-
manding officers of Native Cavalry will be taken on this subject, in order that
correct opinions may be formed and thus enable a workable scheme to be put
forward.
327. The question of removal of barren mares from the register has been
brought forward with a view of enabling them to be sold to Remount officers.
Orders will be issued to all Superintendents, Civil Veterinary Department, to
exercise great care in order to prevent any mare which is found to be barren
from being kept on the register; and I shall propose for the decision of Gov-
ernment that the rule, as it at present stands, viz., that "mares are proved
barren when they have not held for three years" should be altered to "mares
that have been covered for two consecutive years and that have not held."
Further than this I am not prepared to go at present, as the proportion of
mares to horses and geldings now bought by Remount officers is already
very great.
328. Complaints have again been made this year that purchasing officers
remove the remounts bought before the day appointed for the judging of this
class. This is greatly to be deprecated, as it deprives the sellers of the prizes
to which they would otherwise be entitled. As before stated, it is proposed to
reserve these prizes for breeders only, and it is to be hoped that in future
Remount officers will give them every opportunity of exhibiting their stock
in this class.
Stallions
whose produce
won prizes.
329. The abstract of Table XVI, page xliv, showing the number of prizes
awarded to stock, the produce of different classes of sires, goes far to prove
that each class is required; and I need scarcely point out that it will only be
by the careful allotment of stallions that the number of suitable remounts
will be increased.
330. The half-bred English and Norfolk Trotter, head the list with an
average of 5.66. The thoroughbred English come next with 4.33, whilst the