No. 1196, dated 9th July 1898.
From—Captain J. R. DUNLOP-SMITH, Direotor of Land Records and Agriculture, Punjab,
To—M. W. FENTON, Esquire,. C. S., Revenue Secretary to Government, Punjab.
I.—INTRODUCTION.
Introductory.
I HAVE the honour to submit the Annual Provincial Report of the
Civil Veterinary Department for the year 1897-98. It is
based on the reports of the Superintendents of the North
and South Punjab, who have sent copies of their reports in full to the Inspector-
General, Civil Veterinary Department. Under recent orders these are due to this
office on 1st June, and to Government on 1st July. The reports of both
Superintendents were received in this office on the 2nd June.
Officers in charge.
2. The Province is sub-divided for veterinary purposes into two circles.
The North Punjab Circle contains 13 districts, and for
the greater part of the year under report was in charge of
Veterinary-Lieutenant Turnbull, who was relieved on 1st April 1898 by
Veterinary-Lieutenant A. S. Trydell. Veterinary-Captain Joslen held charge
of the South Punjab Circle, which is made up of the remaining 18 districts,
throughout the year.
II.—HORSE-BREEDING.
North Punjab.
3. There were 6 horse and 26 pony stallions the property of different Dis-
trict Boards, and 2 ponies belonging to a private breeder pre-
sent at the beginning of the year in the North Punjab Circle.
Eight pony stallions were added from time to time, 3 of which were lent by the
Civil Veterinary Department to the District Board of Rawalpindi in return for
their maintenance. One pony stallion died in Ráwalpindi during the year,
and 1 horse and 4 pony stallions were sold in the Shahpur, Gujrát, Peshá-
war and Ráwalpindi districts. Two of the latter were among those which
had been temporarily lent. There were thus present at the close of the year,
in addition to 2 owned by a private person, 5 horse stallions and 28 pony stallions
belonging to District Boards; and 1 pony stallion lent by the Civil Veterinary
Department was standing at Ráwalpindi. On the average, therefore, there
were 6 pony stallions and 1 horse stallion at the service of every three districts.
They were distributed as follows:—
District.
Pesháwar... ... ... ... ... ...
Kohát... ... ... ... ... ...
Rawalpindi... ... ... ... ... ...
Jhelum... ... ... ... ... ...
Gujránwála... ... ... ... ... ...
Gujrát... ... ... ... ... ...
Shahpur... ... ... ... ... ...
Siálkot... ... ... ... ... ...
Lahore... ... ... ... ... ...
Jhang... ... ... ... ... ...
Dera Ismáil Khan ... ... ... ... ... ...
Total
...
...
Horse stallions.
...
1
...
1
1
...
1
...
...
...
2
6
Pony stallions.
2
...
7
...
3
3
5
3
4
1
...
28
The returns show that 6 horse and 28 pony stallions were employed at
stud work during the year. The former covered 372 mares and the latter
1,765, a total of 2,137 mares, as compared with 1,899 in the previous year. The
average number of coverings per horse was 62.00, a distinct increase on the
similar percentage of last year, viz., 43.33, and per pony 63.03 against 60.70.
The general average is 62.85, as compared with 57.54 last year. This is again
much higher than in the South Punjab. Five hundred and ninety foals were
dropped out of 1,899 mares covered during the previous year, giving an average
of 31.05 per every hundred mares covered and 17.87 per stallion employed.
The corresponding figures in the previous year were 30.78 and 17.79.