4
The hackneys include Norfolk trotters, half and three-quarter breds. The
other breeds existing in 1893-94 included Persians, Turkomans and country-
breds.
27. By the above it will be seen that the number of thorough-breds and
Arabs have increased by 67, whilst the hackneys, etc., have decreased by 48
and other breeds by 8. The 5 now remaining of this class are country-breds,
which by various crosses of thorough-bred blood may almost be reckoned as
such.
28. With this vast collection of different classes of stallions it is next to
impossible to breed to type, especially in a country where so much has to be
entrusted to native agency, but by restricting our operations to thorough-breds
and Arabs this can be done, and, with this end in view, I solicited the sanction
of the Government of India, before the receipt of the Resolution above
referred to, to be allowed to introduce a system in Baluchistan whereby every
mare branded would be allotted to Arab or thorough-bred sires. It was
possible to do this in Baluchistan, as the change only involved the transfer of 5
horses of other breeds. As each mare is branded she is allotted and is branded
either V.I./A. or V.I./T. according to the class of sire with which it is thought she will
mate well. Sanction having been accorded to my proposal, this system is now
in force in Baluchistan, and I anticipate the most favourable results from its
adoption.
29. It will be understood that it can only be introduced gradually in other
Provinces, as otherwise it would mean the sale of all hackney and other
stallions, which I am not prepared to advocate, as I calculate that this would
involve an expenditure of 4 ½ lakhs of rupees. As, however, none but thorough-
breds and Arabs have been obtained for the past five years, the change will
gradually be effected, and during the year 1900-1901 it will also be possible to
introduce this system in the whole of Sind, in about eight districts of the Punjab,
and I am now in communication with the Superintendent, North-Western
Provinces and Oudh, with a view of its introduction in districts of those Prov-
inces where it is found to be possible.
Castration.
30, During the year under report the following colts were castrated:—
By Imperial Veterinary Assistants
.
.
.
By District Board Veterinary Assistants
.
TOTAL
1898-99.
1,480
1,361
2 841
1899-00.
1,294
1,152
2,446
This shows a reduction of 395, of which Baluchistan contributes 129.
This reduction is entirely due to the poorness in condition of the colts
and the consequent unwillingness of the owners to have them castrated.
Disposal of young
stock.
31. I have before shown what large numbers of young stock are removed
annually by the Bhojpuri dealers, and, from what I saw this year at the various
Horse Shows, these numbers show no signs of diminution. It is true that
they buy animals of every class, some of which may well be described as
rubbish, still they buy a large number of excellent foals. Their market for
the best of these is Calcutta, where a large number of country-breds are sold
annually.
32. Being desirous of ascertaining the approximate number and class of
young stock annually exported from the Punjab and North-Western Provinces
to Bengal, I addressed the Director of Land Records and Agriculture, Bengal,
on the subject and have obtained the following information.
33. The Collector of Shahabad gives the number imported into that district
as 2,400 annually. The Collector of Patna states that one dealer, Jan Dad
Khan, keeps from 50 to 100 horses at a time. The Collector of Saran says that
although he cannot guarantee the figures given, still, from information collected,
he finds that 750 horses and 800 ponies are annually imported from the Punjab
and North-Western Provinces.
34. This gives a total of 3,000 head of young stock of all classes imported
into these districts, and this is fully borne out by the large strings met on the
roads.