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being brought on the list of approved and branded mares for Imperial stallions,
and thus the stock generally throughout breeding districts will be increased in
number and value.
8. The demand for this class of sire is daily increasing, and so it may be
hoped that by these means horse-breeding will gradually extend.
Stamp of stal-
lions employed.
9. The stamp of animal chiefly bought is a sound, strong Arab. The
Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, North-Western Provinces and
Oudh, remarks: "All the animals purchased, as far as conformation and sound-
ness are concerned, leave little to be desired considering the prices paid. Many,
indeed, are of quite a superior class, and we may consider ourselves fortunate in
having secured them. Of their capabilities as foal-getters I have had as yet
hardly a chance of judging, as it will be observed that four horses only have been
issued up till the end of the year. They were all tested in depôt before issue,
and proved themselves, without exception, ready coverers—a fact on which we
may congratulate ourselves."
10. The Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, Punjab, remarks:
"Surely every district in the Punjab should have its own stallion to improve the
breed by crossing with mares unfit to mate with Imperial stallions. Possibly the
day is not far distant when each tehsil will have a stallion." This is not
unlikely when we consider that the inhabitants of the Punjab are for the most
part a race of horsemen, and will doubtless soon recognize the importance of the
subject, and will urge upon the District officers and Local Boards to assist them
in this direction.
District mares.
11. Appendix II (vide page 110) shows the number of district branded and
unbranded mares in Bengal. An abstract is given below:—
North-Western Provinces and Oudh ...
...
Punjab ... ... ...
...
TOTAL
...
UNBRANDED MARES.
1st April
1892.
8,075
23,136
31,211
1st April
1893.
25,254
24,039
49,393
BRANDED MARES.
1st April
1892.
2,559
1,741
4,300
1st April
1893.
2,730
1,808
4,538
12. From this it will be seen that an enormous increase is shown in the
North-Western Provinces and Oudh, and this is owing to the fact that last year
many forms were returned blank. The figures may be taken as approximately
correct, and they show what an enormous field is being opened up by the intro-
duction of District Board stallions.
Coverings and
foalings.
13. Appendix III (vide page 112) gives the results of the year's operation
in the Bengal Presidency.
Feed.
14. Appendix IV (vide page 113) gives the cost of feed and keep of dis-
trict stallions during the year under report. The general average has fallen in
the Punjab and risen in the North-Western Provinces and Oudh.
Sale of stal-
lions.
15. No animals have been sold during the year.
Casualties.
16. One pony stallion died of pneumonia at Sialkot during the year under
report.
Comparative
merits of the
stallions.
17. The stallions are nearly all Arabs, this breed being considered the best
for the purpose of mating with small mares.
Demand
for
stallions.
18. See paragraph 5 headed "District Stallions."
Tours of the
Officers of the
Department.
19. The Inspector-General, Civil Veterinary Department, in April at-
tended the Umballa Horse Show; was present at Muzaffarnagar and Umballa
for the inspection of brood mares and young stock by the Hon'ble Military
9