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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA.
ANNUAL ADMINISTRATION REPORT
OF THE
CIVIL VETERINARY DEPARTMENT IN INDIA
FOR THE OFFICIAL YEAR
1899-1900.
PART II.—PROVINCIAL REPORT.
I.—HORSE-BREEDING.
Number of stallions
on the register.
411. Table A will show that the year opened with a total of 182 horse
and pony stallions, that 25 were added, that 12 casualties occurred, the balance
at the close of the year was therefore 195, viz., 81 horse and 114 pony stallions.
Number of stallions
at work.
412. Of the 195 stallions on the register, 179 were actually employed at
stud work.
Cost of feed and
keep
413. The cost of feed and keep was as follows :—
Horses R254 against R242 last year.
Ponies R292 against R239 last year.
The excessive cost of maintenance of ponies when compared to horses is
due to the fact that in Madras where no horses are kept, the cost of feed and
keep amounted to R435.
Number of stallions
bought and their
classes.
414. During the year under report I purchased 11 Arab stallions for
District Boards at an average of R498 in Bombay. The Superintendent, Civil
Veterinary Department, North-Western Provinces and Oudh, also bought a
few for that Government, but no particulars are given as to cost.
Casualties.
415. Only 6 stallions died and 4 were destroyed during the year, which
must be considered satisfactory.
Sales.
416. Only 2 District Board ponies were sold during the year; the average
price realised was R30.
Number of mares
covered by District
Board stallions.
417. Table D will show that 9,627 mares were served against 9,359 last
year, giving an average of 53.78 mares covered per stallion employed. This
must be considered most satisfactory and proves that this class of stallion is
becoming more and more popular.
Demand for District
Board stallions.
418. On this point, the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department,
North-Western Provinces and Oudh, states :—
"On the 31st March 1899, thirty-four applications remained uncomplied with. Seventeen applications were
received during the year, eight vacancies occurred either on account of casualties or transfers. Thus there were
59 applicants' names on the register, of these 21 were complied with and 28 applications withdrawn, leaving
10 uncomplied with at the end of the year.
"The popularity of the Provincial stallions increases year by year, and they are much sought after and
appreciated by the zemindars and owners of mares. The Provincial stallions are ready coverers, sure foal-
getters and most certainly 'mark their stock.' The improve nent that they are making in the equine stock of
these Provinces is now becoming apparent and insome districts is most marked."
419. The Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, North Punjab,
tates:—
"Baunu is the only district without a District Board stallion. I addressed the Deputy Commissioner,
asking him if he could not manage to purchase one out of the prize money saved this year through the abandon-
ment of the show, to which he replied, it was not so much the actual cost of the purchase of a pony which is
the difficulty, but that the District Board would not be able to maintain one. I hope when things are better to
address the Deputy Commissioner, Kohat, and ask him to try and place one at the new stand opened at Kark
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