3
imported during the past five years by that Firm have been noted for. They
included stallions by the following well-known sires:—'Carbine,' 'Norden-
feldt' and 'Trenton,' all of which were by 'Musket.' Exception might per-
haps be taken to one horse, viz., 'Welbeck,' owing to his having upright
pasterns, but, as in some districts, the mares are noted for too sloping pasterns,
he can be easily placed. This horse measured 7 3/4 inches below the knee, and is
one of the best bred horses ever imported to India, being by 'Carbine,' for
which 13,000 guineas was paid as a stud horse for England, and is full brother
to 'Lerderderg' that was also shipped to England.
18. Australians—purchased in India.—Only three suitable stallions were
offered; they were all purchased, but as one died before delivery from
pneumonia, the loss fell on the owner, and thus only two were obtained. They
were both excellent horses and well calculated to get good remounts.
19. Arabs.—I consider that the market for stallions has been quite up to
the standard of former years, and it included four horses such as have not been
offered for sale since I have held administrative charge of this Department. I was
fortunate to be able to purchase the four, but of course had to pay far above
the average price. The total average, however, was below that sanctioned.
20. I was glad to see Abdulla Faras back in Bombay, after three years'
absence; he always has a few horses of excellent quality, and I am pleased to
say he has promised to return in the winter. As usual, Ali bin Talib had the
largest number and the best horses in the market.
Casualties during
the year.
21. Table III will show that 14 horses died, and that 29 were destroyed,
giving the following percentages:—3.66 of deaths and 7.59 of horses destroyed.
When compared with last year, we find that five more horses died, and that
eight more were destroyed.
22. The main causes of death arose from abdominal disease due in many
instances to coarse indigestible grass, which was the only class of fodder obtain-
able in many districts.
23. The horses shown as destroyed had either to be got rid of for age or
incurable disease.
Sale of rejected
stallions.
24. My attention was drawn in Government Resolution to the necessity of
extensively advertising the sale of stallions, as it was thought that young
horses when cast as not getting good stock should realize good prices. This
has always been done, and when any good horses are sold for this reason, the
fact is notified to Clubs and Regimental Messes besides being advertised in
various newspapers. These horses are sold at the time that race meetings are
held, as then better prices are realized.
25. A reference to Table IV will show that 20 horses were sold during the
year under report. Most of these fetched good prices. Some of the half-
breds and hackneys were such bad specimens of their class that it could not
be expected that they would realize much.
Proper attention to
the mating of mares
and stallions.
MISCELLANEOUS MATTER REGARDING STALLIONS.
26. In the Resolution on the Annual Administration Report of this Depart-
ment for last year it was stated—
"The careful mating of mares to stallions, upon which the success of horse-breeding operations so largely
depends, also appears to the Government of India to demand the most careful and unremitting attention on the
part of the Inspector-General, Civil Veterinary Department."
This important matter has always been before me since I assumed charge,
but with the strange medley of stallions which existed, and even now exists,
it is only possible to attend to this gradually. Below will be found the
number of each class of stallion in 1893-94, when I assumed charge, and the
number now existing:—
Thorough-breds
.
.
.
.
.
.
Hackneys, etc.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Arabs .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Other breeds .
.
.
.
.
.
.
1893-94
. 71
. 174
. 114
. 13
372
At present.
127
126
125
5
383
B 2