No. 1370, dated 17th July 1895.
From—F. A. ROBERTSON, Esquire, C. S., Director of Land Records and Agriculture, Punjab,
To—R. G. THOMSON, Esquire, C.S., Revenue Secretary to the Government of the Punjab.
Preliminary.
I HAVE the honor to forward the Civil Veterinary Reports of the Province.
These are three in number and have been submitted by—
(1). Veterinary Lieutenant R. L. Cranford, Superintendent, Civil
Veterinary Department, South Punjab, on the 26th June 1895.
(2). Veterinary Lieutenant H. P. Turnbull, Superintendent, Civil
Veterinary Department, North Punjab, on the 17th June 1895.
(3). Veterinary Captain H. M. Maxwell, Superintendent, Civil Veteri-
nary Department, Deraját Division and Biluchistán, on the
21st June and 12th July 1895.
As the Deraját charge has been divided between the Northern and
Southern Divisions, in future there will be two reports only for the North and
South Punjab. This review, as was the case last year, deals with all three
reports.
Officers in charge.
2. Of the officers submitting these reports, Veterinary Lieutenant Cran-
ford, Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, South
Punjab, and Veterinary Captain H. M. Maxwell, Super-
intendent, Civil Veterinary Department, Deraját Division, have held their offices
throughout the year, with the exception of three and two months respectively,
when they were on privilege leave, and Veterinary Lieutenant F. B. Drage and
Colonel Gaisford, Deputy Commissioner, Quetta, acted for them. The
office of Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, North Punjab, was
held, from 1st April to 29th October 1894, by Veterinary Lieutenant F. B. Drage,
and from 30th October 1894 to 31st March 1895, by Veterinary Lieutenant
H. P. Turnbull. It will be seen that there have been a good many changes
which are not conducive to steady progress.
The reports from the North and South Punjab are in proper form and
are fairly complete. That from the Deraját is not in proper form.
Horse-breeding.
3. At the close of the year, i.e., on 31st March 1895, there were 33
horse and 23 pony stallions in the districts of the
South Punjab Circle, against 43 horses and 7 ponies at
the close of the previous year, in all 56 against 50, an increase of 6. The
decrease in the number of horses is due to 12 animals formerly classed
as horses in Umballa being now classed as ponies. Seventy horses and 19 ponies
were added to the register, and 20 horses and 3 ponies removed from it from
various causes. One stallion in Hoshiárpur was sold on account of a cankerous
growth in its eye. Mr. Cranford thinks that this should not have been done
without further consideration. It would be well in all cases for District Boards
to consult the Superintendents, Civil Veterinary Department, before selling
stallions on such grounds. Two thousand and thirty-nine mares were covered,
1,209 by horse stallions and 830 by pony stallions. The numbers last year were
1,514 in all. The average number of mares was 39 per horse stallion, and
41.50 per pony stallion, the general average being 39.96 against 29.70
last year, an increase of 10 mares per stallion. These figures are exceedingly
satisfactory. The Superintendent considers that District Board stallions are
urgently required in Jullundur and Montgomery where there are none, and
considers that the number should be largely increased in Mooltan, in which
district the horse-breeding industry shows unaccountable decadence. In most
other districts he also considers that the number might be increased with
advantage.