NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
44
307. Mules.—With reference to this class, the Superintendent, Civil
Veterinary Department, reports as follows:—
A fair class; a few very good. A few Punjabi dealers were present buying young mules
with a view of selling to Buniahs, who, I am told, often give as much as Rs. 180 to 200 for a
mule 18 months old.
Cutch, Horse
Show.
308. This show commenced on 6th February 1894: total number exhibited
was 186 or 33 more than at the show held in 1891.
309. The Superintendent, Remount Rearing Depôt, attended the show
and bought three head of young stock by Government sires. He hopes to
obtain 15 to 20 next year.
Ahmedabad
Horse Show.
310. This show had to be abandoned this year owing to an outbreak of
anthrax in the district, which, I regret to say, resulted in the loss of some of
the best brood-mares.
Bhavnagar
Horse Show.
311. This show commenced on 20th March 1894. The total number ex-
hibited was 419 against 290 in 1891, the date of last show held.
312. The mares are reported light in bone, the young stock poor, except
some of the fillies exhibited by the Darbar.
313. Mule-breeding has been started in this State.
314. With reference to the stallions employed in this State, the Superin-
tendent, Civil Veterinary Department, reports as follows:—
Several country-bred stallions were exhibited, which in the opinion of the judges were
unsuitable. The Darbar stallions on the contrary were very good.
315. At this show the Remount Agent was able to purchase a few head of
young stock. This is, I believe, the first occasion on which the Kathiawar
Chiefs have been known to sell their young stock, and I sincerely trust that the
system will extend.
SUMMARY.
316. The total number of animals present at the various horse fairs and
shows, during the year under review was as follows (vide Table XV, page
xl):-
North-Western Provinces
and Oudh ...
Punjab
...
... ... ...
Rajputana
...
.. ... ...
Tirhoot
...
... ... ...
Baluchistan
... ... ...
Bombay
... ... ... ...
1893-94.
27,636
26,260
1,152
6,625
2,054
3,544
1892-93.
21,129
20,959
672
12,113
1,958
3,350
giving a total of 67,271 against 60,426 last year. The increase is satisfactory.
317. The number competing for prizes shows even a more satisfactory
increase, the number being as follows:—
North-Western Provinces and Oudh
...
Punjab
... ... ... ...
Rajputana
...
... ...
Tirhoot
...
...
... ...
Baluchistan
...
... ...
Bombay
...
...
...
...
Total
...
1893.
1,246
3,506
...
245
1,542
3,350
9,889
1894.
1,734
4,941
12
247
1,546
3,544
12,024
45
318. The great increase of over 1,400 in the Punjab is a noticeable feature,
showing the interest taken in the shows. If we further consider the number
of stock, the property of breeders, we find the following were present:—
North-Western Provinces and
Oudh
... ...
Punjab
...
...
...
... ...
Tirhoot
...
...
...... ...
Baluchistan
...
......
...
Bombay
...
...
...... ...
Total
3,024
12,343
200
594
2,101
18,262
out of which total it will be seen that the number present in the Punjab
was 12,343. In fact, if we carefully consider the above statistics, they go far
to prove that the Punjab may be looked upon as the main centre of
horse-breeding in India.
319. The majority of the fairs have shown an improvement on those held
last year; the weather and the time of the year at which some were held
interfered with their success; and, with reference to the latter cause, I pro-
pose endeavouring next year, by placing myself in communication with the
provincial authorities, to obviate the complaints which were made during the
past year. Still I feel it will be a matter of difficulty to arrange all the shows
so as to suit the various districts without interfering with the purchasing
officers.
320. The number of remounts purchased was as follows:—
Army Remount Department
...
... ...
Native Cavalry
...
... ...
Police
...
... ...
Total ...
1893.
215
711
211
1,167
1894.
402
805
120
1,327
321. The number of remounts purchased during 1893-94 exceeding, as
it did, the number obtained last year by 160 must be looked upon as most
satisfactory.
322. The following abstract will show the Provinces from which the
remounts were obtained:—
North-Western Provinces and Oudh ... ... ...
Punjab
...
...
... ... ...
Rajputana
...
...
... ... ...
Tirhoot
...
...
... ... ...
Baluchistan
...
...
... ... ...
Bombay
...
...
...
...
...
329
417
7
68
303
203
323. The total number of mules purchased by Government fell from 195
to 178; but in addition to this number, 1,167 were purchased by others, and
it is only feasible to suppose that many of these ultimately found their way
into Government Transport. The whole of the mules sold, being a total of
1,345, were, with two exceptions, the produce of the Punjab.
324. The Remount Agent and purchasing officers generally expressed
their satisfaction with the class of remounts obtainable. In one or two in-
stances the officers buying for Native Cavalry state that they found suitable
horses scarce; and the Deputy Commissioners in the districts complain sadly
of the number of young stock taken out of their districts by dealers. Although
a large number of these ultimately find their way into the ranks of the British
47
Arabs average 3.12 per sire. Considering that only 63 thoroughbred English
stallions were employed against 144 half-bred English, I consider their
average most satisfactory.
331. The sum of Rs. 300 was allotted and distributed to owners of runs. Of
this amount, Rs. 250 were awarded to nine zemindars in the Rawalpindi Dis-
trict, the average of the runs varying from 5 to 80 acres. In Multan only
two runs exist. I regret to find that this system, which is the only one which
will ensure the liberty of young stock, has not been extended in other
districts.
332. The following summary will show at a glance any improvement or
otherwise that has taken place in the shows during the year under review,
and to this has been added the prospects of the various districts from a horse-
breeding point of view. Such districts as are marked "doubtful" will require
careful fostering and the help of the District Officers will be solicited in the
matter; for without the latter, horse or mule-breeding is always a matter of
difficulty.
Show.
Aligarh ... ...
Batesar
...
...
Bulandshahr ... ...
Etawah ... ...
Hardwar ... ...
Meerut ... ...
Muzafarnagar ... ...
Amritsar
... ...
Bannu... ... ...
Delhi ...
Dera Ghazi Khan ...
Dera Ismail Khan ...
Gujrat ... ...
Hansi ... ...
Jellalabad ... ...
Jhang ... ...
Karnal
... ...
Lahore ... ...
Multan ... ...
Rawalpindi ... ...
Shahpur
... ...
Sialkot ... ...
Umballa
...
...
Show of 1803 compared with previous
shows.
NORTH-WESTERN PROVINCE.
Equal
... ...
Poor ... ...
Improving ... ...
Slight improvement ... ...
Poor ... ...
Improving ... ...
Improving ... ...
PUNJAB.
Improving ... ...
Improving
...
...
No improvement
Improving
...
...
Great improvement ...
Equal ... ...
Improving... ... ...
Great improvement
...
No improvement...
Improving ... ...
Equal ... ...
Improving
... ...
Equal
... ...
Improving
...
Equal
...
...
Falling off ... ...
Horse-breeding prospects of
district.
Good.
Not a breeding centre.
Excellent.
Hopeful on a small scale.
Poor.
Very good.
Satisfactory.
Good.
Excellent.
Doubtful.
Very good.
Encouraging.
Good.
Very fair.
Excellent.
Doubtful.
Good.
Encouraging.
Doubtful.
Fair.
Very good.
Doubtful.
Doubtful.
48
Show.
Pokhur
... ...
Sonepore
... ...
Quetta
... ...
Sibi ...... ...
Show of 1893, compared with previous
shows.
RAJPUNA.
Slight improvement ...
BENGAL.
Equal ... ...
BALUCHISTAN.
Improving ... ...
Improving ... ...
Horse-breeding prospects of
districts.
Prospects at present nil.
Nil.
Excellent.
Good.
333. During 1892-93 the Civil Veterinary Department owe their thanks
to many District Officers for the warm interest they have taken in the matter
and for their hearty co-operation with its officers.
Summary of Horse Fairs and shows held in the Bombay Presidency.
334. Most satisfactory progress has been made in nearly every show held
in Bombay and Sind.
335. The main points to be noticed in the review of the shows held in
this presidency are—
Absence of purchasers of mules at Shikarpur, where only 4 were bought
for Government at an average of Rs. 145 each.—This taken in conjunction
with the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department's report on the Now-
shehro show, in which he states that Punjabi dealers bought for sale to Buniahs
at Rs. 180 to Rs. 200, proves that many more mules might be obtained if proper
arrangements were made for their purchase.
336. I would draw special attention to the remarks contained in his report
on the stallions of the Bhavnagar State, showing how necessary it is that
Native Chiefs should gradually be induced to avail themselves of the services
of officers of this Department. This question will be alluded to again when
making general remarks on the Imperial Section of this report.
PART I—IMPERIAL REPORT.
B.—REVENUE SECTION.
IV.—INSTRUCTION FARM.
62
promote the dissication of the corn and the consequent destruction of the
organism or spores should be adopted. This would perhaps seem the most
rational preventive measure, as the prolonged drought during the hot season
appears to produce the same effect.
The following table bears out the above remarks and was drawn up from particulars
obtained from the Bombay Tramway Company:—
TABLE III.
Showing the monthly rainfall in Bombay for the years 1888-—93, with the dates * of
surra outbreak and number of horses attacked in each year at the Bombay Tram-
way Company's stables.
Months.
January ... ...
February ... ...
March
...
...
April ... ...
May ...
...
...
June ... .... ...
July ... ... ...
August ... ...
September ... ...
October ... ...
November ... ...
December ... ...
Total rainfall for year ...
Total rainfall from 1st May
to date of outbreak of
surra.
Number of horses attacked in
each year.
1888.
Inches.
1.85
0.02
010
0.00
0.00
15.76
22.47
11.43
4.92
*18th Octr.
0.11
1.16
000
57.82
54.69
14
1889.
Inches.
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.67
19.89
30.45
10.32
*14th Septr-
2.71
3.80
0.00
0.00
67.84
61.97
47
1890.
Inches.
0.00
0.00
0.00
001
0.06
24.55
21.34
10.61
6.45
*6th Octr.
0.58
1.25
0.13
64.98
63.56
2
1891.
Inches.
0.00
0.00
0.20
000
0.00
13.99
32.48
6.94
*13thSeptr.
22.53
1.04
0.00
0.00
77.18
66.50
1
1892.
Inches.
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.11
13.30
23.86
36.56
*12thSeptr
18.73
1.89
0.67
0.00
95.12
84.87
15
1893.
Inches.
0.00
0.14
0.00
0.02
6.30
21.47
*20th July.
16.14
13.57
7.52
0.45
1.63
0.22
67.46
39.41
11
REMARKS.
Three horse*
attacked
20th
July
1893:1
Aust-
ralian, 1
Arab, 1
Persian.
N.B.—The stables are supplied with water from the municipal reservoirs of Vehar and Tansa, and the hay
is grown in Guzerat on black soil.
It will be observed that in 1893 the rainfall of May was unusually high in this respect
entirely differing from the five preceding years; the disease also broke out nearly two
months earlier than usual. This may be accounted for, according to our theory, by the
hæmatozoon or its resting form not only escaping the usual dry heat of May, and thereby loss
of vitality, or even destruction; but its power of reproducing the disease would be increased
by the early rainfall and the outbreak of surra thus occur sooner.
PART I.—IMPERIAL REPORT.
B.—REVENUE SECTION.
VI.—GENERAL.
Cost of the
Department.
352. The cost of the Civil Veterinary Department debited to India Esti-
mates during 1893-94, as shown by the Comptroller of India Treasuries (vide
Table XXI, page lix), is Rs. 3,25,769-10-1. The budget grant for the year
under review was Rs. 3,34,440; thus it will be seen that there was a saving of
Rs. 8,670-5-11.
353. The cost for the year 1892-93 was Rs. 2,66,852-10-7, by which it will
be seen that the excess for the year under review has been Rs. 58,916-15-6;
this is mainly accounted for by the appointment of Superintendents of the De-
partment in Baluchistan and Rajputana.
354. The prices paid for horse and donkey stallions received from England
during the year under review are as shown below:—
Price of 43 horse stallions imported from England, £11,058-10-0
at 1s. 2¾d. per rupee ... ... ... ...
Price of 14 donkey stallions imported from Europe £ 1,160
at ls. 2¾d. per rupee ... ... ... ...
TOTAL ... ...
Rs.
1,79,934
18,874
1,98,809
a.
14
9
7
p.
7
2
9
Tours of offi-
cers of the Civil
Veterinary De-
partment.
355. My predecessor (Veterinary Lieutenant-Colonel J. H. B. Hallen, C.I.E.)
in April attended the cattle fair held at Dinanagar, was present at the horse
fairs of Rawalpindi and Amritsar, and the Umballa Horse Show. He inspect-
ed the stables, Imperial stallions and Instruction Farm at Babugarh, and was
on the Board of Examination of the Lahore Veterinary School.
356. In May he inspected the Babugarh, Saharanpur and Karnal Remount
Depôts, and proceeded to Kotgarh, viâ Theog, for the purpose of selecting site
for a Bacteriological Laboratory.
357. June and July were spent in Simla on duty with the Government
of India.
358. In August he proceeded to Babugarh to attend the midsummer
Instructional Farm Class and to inspect the stallions and stables of the De-
partment, returning to Simla on the 17th, where he remained on duty with the
Government of India until the 19th of October; then travelled by daily marches
to Babugarh, arriving on the 25th. He remained at the depôt until the end
of the month.
359. In November he interviewed the Commissioner and Superintendent,
Delhi Division, with the view of promoting horse and mule-breeding in that
district, and proceeded to Baroda and Bombay, to purchase horse and donkey
stallions for the Imperial Government.
360. During December the Bacteriological Laboratory at Poona, Remount
Depôt at Ahmednagar, and Ajmere Veterinary School buildings were inspected,
and Bombay visited with a view of purchasing stallions. My predecessor also
inspected the Babugarh Depôt and attended the technical class of instruction
held from 25th to 31st.
361. Half of January was spent in Calcutta on duty with the Government
of India, and then a voyage to Burma was made to interview the Chief Commis-
sioner and Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, on matters con-
cerning the Department generally and with regard to the Burma Cattle-disease
Bill.
362. From 7th to 20th February he remained on duty in Calcutta with the
Government of India; then proceeded to Babugarh to inspect stallions, stables,
and Instructional Farm.
68
At Rawalpindi the Judging Committee recommends sires other than Norfolk
Trotters, and the purchasing officer, 3rd Punjab Cavalry, reports on remounts
purchased at that fair as follows:—
Not a good batch. Heavy bodies and light bone below the knee. Norfolk Trotter blood
does not seem to produce such good remounts as thoroughbred English and Arabs.
393. Again, the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, reporting on
mares in the Shahpur District, says they are big-boned, roomy mares, which
certainly now should be put to thoroughbred English and Arabs. The demand
therefore for thoroughbred horses will, for the next few years, be greater than
it has hitherto been; and if only a good class of horses is obtainable, I feel con-
vinced that with the blood we now have in the country, most excellent remounts,
both for British as well as Native Cavalry, will be obtainable. The improve-
ment will consist in better bone, not perhaps in size, but certainly in density.
The great defect of many of the remounts now supplied to British Cavalry is
that although apparently of good measurement below the knee, still the size is
mainly due to bone of soft structure; the result being that when asked to carry
heavy weights on a long field day, many break down and are very subject to
diseases of the bone. I give this opinion after having carefully watched the
country-bred remounts of the 18th Hussars at work during the past two years.
Formation of
Special Judging
Committees at
horse fairs and
shows.
394. The formation of the Judging Committees—one for the North-Western
Provinces, the other for the Punjab—has frequently been advocated. Such com-
mittees, composed of well-selected officers, would undoubtedly give us unbias-
ed opinions and lead to much useful information, but for financial reasons
I have not deemed it advisable to advocate their formation during the current
year; but I trust that the time is not far distant when I shall be in a position
to recommend that this important measure should be put into force.
In the mean time strong representative committees could be formed at
little cost from different military centres as follows:—
Aligarh ... ... ... ...
Bulandshahr ... ... ... ...
Muzaffarnagar
...
...
...
...
Delhi ... ... ... ...
Meerut ... ... ... ...
Hurdwar ... ... ... ...
Jelallabad
...
...
...
...
Hansi ... ... ... ...
Umballa
...
...
...
...
Kurnal ... ... ... ... ...
Jhelum
... ... ... ... ...
Gujrat
...
...
...
...
...
Shahpur ... ... ... ... ...
Sailkot
...
...
...
...
Jhang ... ... ... ... ...
Dera Ghazi Khan ... ... ... ...
Multan ... ... ... ...
Dera Ismail Khan ... ... ... ...
Rawalpindi ... ... ... ...
Quetta
...
...
...
...
Sibi ... ... ... ... ...
Amritsar
...
...
...
...
Lahore ... ... ... ...
From Meerut.
From Ferozepore.
From Umballa.
From Sialkot.
From Multan.
From Rawalpindi.
From Quetta.
From Mian Mir.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA.
ANNUAL ADMINISTRATION REPORT
OF THE
CIVIL VETERINARY DEPARTMENT IN INDIA
FOR THE OFFICIAL YEAR
1893-94.
PART II.—PROVINCIAL REPORT.
I.—HOUSE BREEDING.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA.
ANNUAL ADMINISTRATION REPORT
OF THE
CIVIL VETERINARY DEPARTMENT IN INDIA
FOR THE OFFICIAL YEAR
1893-94.
PART II.—PROVINCIAL REPORT.
II.—HORSE-BREEDING.
Horse and
pony stallions
belonging
to
District Boards,
etc.
411. Table A, page lxiii, will show the number of district horse and pony
stallions at the commencement of the year, the increase and decrease during the
year, and the balance remaining on 31st March 1894.
412. The increase is as follows: 16 horses and 21 ponies; the decrease being
3 horses and one pony. Of the balance remaining of 100 horses and ponies, 70
are employed in the Punjab and Derajat. The increase is most satisfactory
and I hope still to add to the number employed during the current year.
Casualties.
413. The death-rate has been but small. Table B, page lxiv, will show
that one horse was destroyed, whilst only one pony died.
Sales.
414. From Table C, page lxv, it will be observed that two horses were
sold as being unfit for stud work.
Number of
stallions at stud
work and num-
ber of mares
covered.
415. Table D, page lxvi, will show that 58½ horses and 29 ponies were
employed at stud work during the year. These covered 3,052 mares as against
1,071 served last year, giving an average of 34.88 per stallion employed. The
average result of previous year's coverings per stallion employed is 1917,
which is more satisfactory than the average said to be obtained by Imperial
stallions.
Demand for
stallions.
416. In South Punjab the demand is not at present great. Arabs are
preferred and four more are required for Ferozepore District, two for Jullun-
der, two for Ludhiana, and one for Karnal.
417. The Superintendent, North Punjab, recommends the purchase of ten
more horses and ponies, which suggestion I hope will be adopted by the
various District Boards.
418. The Superintendent, North-Western Provinces and Oudh, reports
that applications have been received for 62 more Provincial horse and pony
stallions.
419. The above epitome of work done by District Boards, etc., is most
satisfactory. As an adjunct to work done by Imperial stallions, the results
must in a few years be most marked. Many mares that are now quite un-
fitted for horse-breeding will produce foals that will mate well with our
stallions.
74
420. In addition to the abovementioned 100 horse and pony stallions
maintained by District Boards, there are—
Maintain
ed by
„
„
„ „
„
„
Native gentlemen
Courts of Wards
ditto
Mamdot Estate
in North-Western Provinces ...
ditto ...
in South Punjab ... ...
ditto ... ...
Total
7
5
1
1
14
Cost of feed
and keep and
how defrayed.
421. The average cost of feed and keep of district horse and pony stallions
during 1893-94 was as follows (vide Table E, page lxix):—
North-Western Provinces and Oudh ...
North Punjab ... ...
South Punjab ... ...
Derajafat ... ... ...
HOUSE.
Rs.
264
230
248
188
A.
9
6
7
0
P.
10
0
9
0
PONY.
Rs.
238
207
157
A.
14
13
7
P.
1
10
8
...
422. In the North-Western Provinces the Superintendent states that of
Rs. 3,000 expended as feed and keep, one-third was furnished by District
Boards. It is presumed the remainder was paid from Provincial Funds.
423. In North Punjab the cost of feed and keep is entirely defrayed by
District Boards and Municipal Committees. A certain number in each Pro-
vince are maintained entirely by Native gentlemen.
Mares
un-
branded
or
branded
for
district horse-
breeding.
424. Return of branded or certificated mares will be found in Table F,
page lxx. Returns from North-Western Provinces and Oudh show that
25,254 mares for horse-breeding were present on 1st April 1893; that 3,291 were
added to the registers, and 2,399 were removed during the year, leaving a
balance of 26,146 on 31st March 1894. The Superintendent states that this
number by no means represents the whole of the mares in North-Western
Provinces available for breeding by District Board stallions. Only in the
Etawah District has the system of branding mares for service by District
Board stallions been carried out.
425. Return of mares for horse-breeding are not available from North
Punjab, branding having been attempted in only a few districts; but it is
shown that 7,301 pony mares for mule-breeding were present on 1st April
1893; that 8,834 were added to, and 1,422 removed from, the registers, leav-
ing a balance on 31st March 1894 of 14,713.
426. The report of South Punjab only deals with certificated or branded
mares, and shows that 1,617 were present on 1st April 1893; 262 were added
to the registers; and 225 were removed from the registers, leaving a balance
of l,654 for horse-breeding. In addition to these, 425 mares were selected in
the Amritsar District for pony-breeding and 2,637 are employed for mule-
breeding in other districts of the South Punjab.
427. I feel that the above returns are most incomplete, and consider
that a horse survey, including the whole of India, should be made. Without
some such information at hand, it is next to impossible to decide the districts
in which horse or mule-breeding can be extended. This will form the subject
of a separate communication for the consideration of the Government of India.
Produce
428. From Table D, page lxvi, it will be seen that 537 foals are reported
to have been dropped as the results of the previous year's coverings, giving an
average of 19.17 per stallion employed.
PART II.—PROVINCIAL REPORT.
II—MULE BREEDING.
PART II.—PROVINCIAL REPORT.
III.—CATTLE DISEASE — INVESTIGATION AND
PREVENTION.