(6)
supporting carts and animals is a very urgent necessity and it is hoped that funds
for this purpose will before long be forthcoming.
(2) EQUINE. (UNDER LOCAL BODIES.)
(i) Horse and pony stallions.
See table X.
33. At the beginning of the year under report there were 55 stallions on
the register, 53 being the property of the provincial government and 2 the property
of court of wards. Since then these two have been removed.
34. Six stallions have been purchased by the department during the year,
two were castrated and sold, being unfit for further stud work, and one was
destroyed; leaving a balance of 56 at the close of the year.
See table XI.
35. The number of mares covered during the year has amounted to 2,739,
being a very satisfactory increase on that of previous years and amounting to 295
more than last year. Two stallion stands were opened during the year, viz. at
Etawah and Awagarh.
36. As year by year we have been gradually replacing the old stallions
(some of which were somewhat small) by young, sound sires of 14 hands and over,
there has now arisen a noticeable increase in the demand for them; at the same
time I regret that in some localities, although the breeders have represented the
necessity for more facilities for horse breeding, district boards have been unable
to meet their wishes from want of funds to defray the cost of maintenance.
37. Regarding the young stock got by the provincial stallions, a satisfactory
feature is the distinct improvement and promise shown by them. Some
exceptionally good youngsters in the districts of Moradabad, Budaun and
Saharanpur have been seen, the progeny of the Arabs Jeddah, Exchange, Achilles,
Akbar, Hannibal and Toby.
38. As the result of the interest shown in the matter by the special
manager, Mr. Pullen, the breeding stud of the Awagarh Court of Wards has been
reorganized and put on a sound footing. Six brood mares have been purchased
by this department for the estate and 3 stallions have been lent from the provincial
stud.
(ii) Donkey Stallions.
See table X.
39. At the beginning of the year there were 18 provincial donkeys on the
register; one was added by purchase from the Hissar cattle farm and one was sold
as being unfit for further stud purposes, one died, one belonging to Almorah
district board was removed from register, being unfit for stud purposes, leaving a
balance of 16 at the end of the year. Two donkey stallions were lent from this
department to Rai Ishar Sahai of Fatehpur, who had bought a few mares for mule
breeding. There seemed every hope of a successful issue as some good young
mules were foaled, but unfortunately an untimely outbreak of surra amongst the
brood mares necessitated the temporary postponement of further operations. The
number of mares covered during the year amounted to 507.
See table XI
There appears to be still an increasing demand for the services of donkey
stallions for mule breeding, but the limited number available renders it difficult
to meet the demand. It is practically impossible to obtain a sufficient number
of suitable animals in India, and it will be absolutely necessary to make some
arrangements for importing them in the future if we wish to foster the mule
breeding industry.
SHEEP BREEDING.
40. During the year under report some steps have been taken to invesitgate
the character of the existing stock as found in the plains tracts of the United
Provinces, and the conditions under which they are reared and maintained.
It is now proposed to carry out a series of breedign experiments with the
object of ascertaining if there is any possibility of establishing a permanent
improvement in the quality and quantity of the fleece of the indigenous flocks,
and to obtain an accurate estimate of how far operations in this direction would
be likely to be successful, if carried out on such scale as would be necessary, if wool
production in India is in future years to be regarded as an economic resource.
Small experimental flocks of ewes will be located in selected tracts in the
province, with a view to find out what is the influence of climate, pasture,
water and general environments of the various localities on sheep breeding