14
49. The averages shown in North and South Punjab are somewhat mis-
leading, as owing to no provision having been made for clothing or stable gear
required for horses in South Punjab and the Derajat, the whole cost was de-
bited to North Punjab.
50. With reference to the high averages existing in Bombay, the Superin-
tendent states:—
There is a general decrease of Rs. 48-9-2 per stallion throughout the Presidency. The
expenses are still high, but this year were unavoidable, as I was compelled to change a great
number of stallions and to spend a considerable amount in the repair of stables.
Branded mares:
number
pres-
ent.
51. The number of branded mares at the commencement of the year was
as shown in Table XII (vide page xxxiv) as follows:—
25,452 for horse-breeding,
6,194 for mule-breeding.
During the year under review 8,475 mares for horse-breeding were removed
from the registers, whilst 3,607 were added, leaving a balance on 31st March
1894 of 20,584. These figures, I feel, are not reliable, as by reference to Table
XII it will be seen that whilst 6,720 were struck off as "transferred to other
districts," only 540 were shown as having been received.
52. I feel that our system of registration is defective, and that could we
trace the destination of the 6,720 transferred, it would be found that they are
in other districts. If my surmise is correct, the number on the register at the
close of the year would be very similar to what it was at the commencement.
The attention of the various Superintendents will be drawn to this, in order
that the zilladars may be called upon in future to explain to what districts
mares have been transferred.
53. Our system of registration requires supervision. I am frequently
informed that many useless mares are kept on; still it must be borne in mind
that as we have accepted the mare when young, and by branding her have
perhaps prevented her sale, that it would be a matter of injustice to her owner
to refuse him the services of a Government stallion. That a certain number
of such mares do exist I feel convinced, and every endeavour will be used to
gradually eradicate them without causing discontent amongst the breeders.
54. The Superintendent, North Punjab, remarks as follows with reference
to the mares branded by him:—
The 554 mares I was able to brand during the year were for the most part well-grown,
strong, useful mares well adapted for breeding purposes; many were by Government stallions,
in fact some showed two or more crosses. I should doubtless have branded many more mares
if it was not for the strict orders I received, on more than one occasion, from the late Inspec-
tor-General, Civil Veterinary Department, viz., only brand mares of exceptional quality, size
and strength, if they were not by Government stallions. This order I carefully carried out,
but at the same time I would most respectfully remark that one is continually meeting with
pure country-bred mares that could not strictly be classed as showing quality, size and
strength combined, but which would, if mated with a good stallion, in all probability throw a
very useful foal, which foal would be likely to grow into a remount for Native if not for
British Cavalry; also that if it happened to be a filly, she would in time be quite fit to brand
for breeding purposes.
Another objection in refusing to brand this class of mare is that very often the owner
is most anxious to breed from her; and now that so many animals are annually castrated, he
has the greatest difficulty in finding a stallion to cover the mare; but when he has found one, it
probably is a very poor specimen, certainly no better than the mare ; the produce of such mating
is not very likely to grow into anything worth looking at, whereas if the mare had been
branded, quite a different result would in all probability have happened.
55. I quite agree with the above remarks and consider that good, in-
digenous stock should be branded; our object being to improve the breed
gradually.