8
Demand for
donkey
stal-
lions.
36. The Superintendent, North-Western Provinces and Oudh, reports as
follows :—
The demand for donkey sires for mule-breeding is much greater than the supply. Some-
stands had to remain empty during a portion of the year, while in other instances, to places
where the services of two stallions could have been utilized, I was only able to supply one. If
there were a sufficient number of sires I should be able to establish more new stands ; but as I
cannot work my present ones efficiently it is no use starting others.
37. No doubt if more stands were started more mares would be covered,
but the average number of mares covered per donkey stallion employed is not
excessive.
38. The Superintendent, North Punjab, states :—
As regards the demand for donkey stallions, from my experience of the two previous
years, it is almost superfluous to touch on this subject. Doubtless the demand is far in excess
of the supply I am likely to receive. There are now in the North Punjab very many old and
prematurely old, worn out donkeys that should be either allotted to donkey-breeding or
cast and sold; experience shows that after donkeys get to a certain age they become most
unsatisfactory stallions to serve mares. I have personally watched donkeys of 17 years of
age and upwards taking at least two hours to serve pony mares. I here give for easy refer-
ence the table showing the number and class of donkeys in the North Punjab of 17 years of
age and upwards :—
Breed.
Italian … … … ...
Arab … … … ...
Bokhara … … … ...
Persian … … … ...
Panjabi … … … ...
Total ...
17 years of
age.
2
3
...
2
1
8
18 years of
age.
4
...
1
...
1
6
19 years of
age.
3
3
1
...
...
7
20 years of age
and upwards..
...
...
...
...
1
1
Total.
9
6
2
2
3
22
In addition to the donkeys required to replace the abovementioned old donkeys, at least
20 more could be fully utilized. Of this number I should like as many as possible to be Italians,
as these are certainly not only preferred by the breeders to other classes, but also last longer
and are in every way, in my opinion, superior to any other class.
39. The Superintendent, South Punjab, reports :—
The demand for Imperial donkey stallions is very large. In every district in this Circle,
with but two or three exceptions, two or three more donkey stallions could be fully employed.
As an instance, in the Ludhiana district over 60 pony mares are said to have been sent
away during the month of May last uncovered, owing to the fact that the stallion power was
nothing like equal to the demand.
40. This officer further states in a special report on the extension of mule-
breeding in South Punjab, as follows :—
I would also draw attention to the number of stallions which are decidedly aged and
many of which will in all probability have to be cast before long.
Of 62 now employed in the different districts in South Punjab and stationed at the-
Depôt—
One is over 19 years old,
Four are over 18 years old,
Five are over 17 years old,
Five are over 16 years old ;
while 2 are used for donkey-breeding only.
41. The Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, Bombay, states :—
The following Local Boards and States are willing to purchase donkey stallions, and
arrangements have been made to supply them this season :—
Khandesh, Local Board.
Shikarpur
do.
Khairpur State in Sindh.
Mr. Gullam Rassul Khan, Zemindar and Honorary Magistrate, Moro in Sindh.