(6)
breeding to fix a type and thus produce a bread of sheep that will be more pro-
fitable in wool and mutton qualities and unaffected by the Indian climatic
conditions.
52. The best animal so far produced by the department's breeding experi-
ments is the seven-eighth Merino cross, but it lacks size and mutton qualities,
also it is not fixed in type. There are a number among them not better than
three-quarter bred strain.
53. The health of the sheep at Muttra has on the whole been good but a
fairly large percentage of lambs died at Kheri, due in most cases to internal
parasites. The Muttra farm is in every way superior to Kheri as a sheep run.
The pasture at Kheri being poor and the ground low lying is in a bad state as
regards parasites. The number of births of lambs have been satisfactory. The
grade sheep produce a greater percentage than the country and are better rearers.
54. In future the flocks will be restricted to the following proportions, and
increases over these figures will be sold off:—
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Flock country ewes ... ... ...
Half-bred Merino ewes ... ... ...
Three-quarter bred Merino ewes ... ...
Seven-eighth Merin ewes, ... ... ...
Half-bred long-woolled Leicester or Romney Marsh ...
Three-quarter bred
ditto ...
Seven-eighth
ditto ...
Total ...
200
150
100
75
150
100
75
850
Future flocks.
55. Besides these as many grade rams will be maintained for distribution
as possible. In some cases these numbers have not yet been bred up to, but
when the existent lambs are wearied, the figures will be complete, except nos. 5, 6,
and 7 flocks, which will be made up when the long-wool rams arrive.
56. A register has been compiled which shows at a glance the history,
pedigree, and improvement (if any) in class and weight of fleece of every
sheep bred or used in the experiments carried out by the department.
Thirteen rams were sold or lent to district boards, municipal boards, court
of wards, etc. The fleeces from the 1920-21 clip fetched Rs. 1,257 and weighed
1,298 lbs.
(3) POULTRY-BREEDING
57. The small demonstration poultry run at the Badshahbagh Research
Station, Lucknow, is continuing to do good work.
(4) EQUINE (UNDER LOCAL BODIES).
(i) Horse and Pony Stallions.
See table X.
58. At the commencement of the year there were 78 horse ana pony
stallions at stud belonging to this department. Six were purchased during the
year.
Three were castr ted and sold as they were considered unfit for further
stud work, one destroyed being old and unserviceable, three died, and one was
stolen, thus leaving a balance of 76 on the list at the end of the year.
See table XI.
59. Sixty-six stallions were at stud work during the year and the number
of mares covered by them amounted to 3,524, being an increase of 56 over last
year's figures which is very satisfactory.
60. Regarding the young stock, the progeny of these provincial stallions,
it is satisfactory to note that they are showing continued improvement, particu-
larly in the districts of Saharanpur, Budaun, Moradabad, and Shahjahanpur.
Some exceptionally good young stock was noticed. The Arab stallions ''Sultan,"
"Gulistan," "Paragon," "Different," ''Highflyer," all of which are very popular
with the breeders, have maintained their high standard and reputation as prime
foal-retters.
61. The functions of this department, so far as horse-breeding is
concerned, are confined to the improvement of the indigenous horse and pony
for the general utility of the people in those tracts other than the four selected
districts, viz., Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Bulandshahr, and Aligarh.
(ii) Donkey Stallions.
See table X
and XI.
62. At the beginning of the year there were 19 provincial donkey stallions
on the register and as no purchases were made and no casualties happened the