3
Taking into account only the figures of ascertained results the per-
centage of successful coverings in the North Punjab Circle was 33.6 and in
the Southern Circle 40.2. The coverings by pony stallions were somewhat
more successful than those by horse stallions. With reference to the remarks
in paragraph 3 of the Review of the Hon'ble the Lieutenant-Governor on the
Provincial Report of last year, the attention of Deputy Commissioners has
again been drawn to the Manual on Horse-breeding by Veterinary-Captain
Pease and to a Primer regarding the Management and Treatment of Brood Mares
published by the "Official Press" at Meerut. The percentage of coverings,
the result of which is not known, is large. This is unavoidable, owing to the
fact that many mares are sold or have been taken to other districts before
the result has been ascertained.
Cost of feed and keep.
5. The following statement shows the cost of the feed and keep of
the different kind of stallions as shown in the returns
of the last five years :—
NORTH PUNJAB.
Horse ...
...
...
...
...
Pony
...
...
...
...
...
Donkey ...
...
...
...
...
SOUTH PUNJAB.
Horse
...
...
...
...
...
Pony...
...
...
...
Donkey ...
...
...
..
...
1895-96.
Rs.
233
232
155
a.
3
3
8
p.
2
10
2
243
228
137
12
2
6
0
1
0
1896-97.
Rs.
287
290
218
a.
1
10
1
p.
3
1
9
311
278
175
10
2
8
5
1
10
1897-98.
Rs.
291
306
202
a.
15
10
2
p.
7
11
4
322
287
169
14
13
8
2
2
11
1898-99.
Rs.
238
227
137
a.
0
1
0
p.
7
3
0
263
246
154
15
12
14
7
2
11
1899-1900.
Rs.
259
276
167
a.
2
5
2
p
1
10
8
293
284
195
3
13
13
3
2
4
II.—MULE-BREEDING.
6. There are in the Province only six donkey stallions, the property
of District Boards: two in Gurgáon, one in Mooltan, one in Delhi, one in Hissár
and one in Dera Ismail Khan District. A number of Imperial donkey stallions
have been placed in the hands of zamíndárs. Veterinary-Lieutenant Smith reports
that the scheme has been a great success, resulting in many applications from
zamíndárs that donkeys may be placed in their keeping. The subject of
improving the breed of donkeys by placing good stallions in charge of lambar-
dárs or other persons, has recently been made the subject of separate reference.
Many District Boards have promised to contribute to the maintenance of such
donkeys. The coverings by District Board donkey stallions were 220 against
311 last year. The decrease is due to the scarcity of grass: the owners of
pony mares had to remove them to places where grass was more plentiful, in
many instances to places where there were no stallion stands.
III.—CATTLE DISEASE—INVESTIGATION AND PREVENTION.
7. In the North Punjab Circle the number of deaths from cattle disease
during the year is reported to have been 7,377, of which 4,229 were due to
rinderpest and 1,398 to anthrax. The Superintendent writes that the figures
must be considered to be very unreliable when it is remembered that there are
some million head of cattle in his Circle of the Punjab. Rinderpest has been
severe in the South Punjab. Veterinary-Lieutenant Smith writes as follows:—
This disease has been very prevalent during the year. Table M shows 14,512 as
the number attacked as against 3,915 last year. The figures for this year would be
considerably increased had returns been received from Kángra, Hoshiárpur, Jullundur
and Simla.
The districts which have suffered most from this disease are Gurdápur, Hoshiárpur,
Umballa, Amritsar, Kángra and Simla. The percentage of deaths to number attacked
has been 51.64 as compared to 58.41 last year.