18
Number of pony and
donkey mares covered.
20. Two hundred and thirty-three mares were covered altogether against
175 last year. The average number covered per stallion
being 58.25 against 43.75 in the previous year. The
stallion in the Mooltan district covers both pony and donkey mares, but the
services of the other three animals were confined to pony mares.
Demand for stallions.
21. The demand for donkey stallions is very small, and mule-breeding
from a District Board point of view makes very slow pro-
gress. There are, however, one or two districts in which
Stallions are required. One, I believe, is wanted in Hissár district, and will
probably be obtained next purchasing season. Two or three are also wanted
for Ludhiána district, where there is a very large number of pony mares, and
where, judging from reports received from time to time, mule-breeding is
capable of great extension. During the past year, however, great difficulty has
been experienced in obtaining donkey sires. I do not consider it advisable for
District Board to invest in European donkeys, and at present the supply of
country-bred donkeys which are fitted for breeding purposes is limited.
Cost of feed and keep,
and how defrayed.
22. The cost of feed and keep, &c., was Rs. 494-14-8 for all the stallions
against Rs. 516-3-5 last year. The average cost per
stallion per annum being Rs. 127-2-0 against Rs. 116-14-1
last year.
2.—Pony and donkey mares.
Number covered by dis-
trict donkey stallions.
23. Two hundred and thirty-three mares were
covered against 175 last year.
3.—Produce.
Number of male and don-
key stock foaled showing
average to mares covered
and per stallion employed.
24. Out of 175 mares covered during 1893-94, 25 mules and donkeys
were foaled, showing an average of 14.11 percentage of
mares covered and 6.25 per stallion employed. This
average is low, but no results were shown of coverings in
Hissár district.
III.—CATTLE DISEASE INVESTIGATION AND PREVENTION.
Information collected.
25. The usual information has been received weekly from the Police
officials, and monthly from the office of Director of Land
Records and Agriculture, Punjab. These together with
occasional reports from Deputy Commissioners and district salotrís form the
subject of an abstract report which is made and forwarded monthly from this
office to the Director of Land Records and Agriculture, Punjab.
Outbreaks daring the
year.
26. A tabulated form of outbreaks that have
occurred during the past year is shown in Table M.
Rinderpest.
27. Rinderpest seems to have shown itself in 14 districts out of 16 in
this Circle; Ferozepore district apparently suffered more
than Hissír and Amritsar.
Over 20,000 animals are said to have died from the disease in Ferozepore
and the number attacked was enormous. Compared with Ferozepore the losses
according to returns are very small in other districts, but a glance at these
figures I consider is sufficient to show that they are quite unreliable and that
hundreds of cases have never been reported. Take, for instance, Rohtak district
according to Table M, only 100 animals were attacked resulting in 50 deaths.
Kángra district too, in which rinderpest is very prevalent every year, shows
only 141 deaths. In Montgomery only 200 animals were affected while 150
died, in Hoshiárpur 111 deaths occurred; these figures speak for themselves, and
are, I consider, sufficient proof that the returns are absolutely incorrect.
Anthrax.
28. Here again Ferozepore district heads the list; 84,000 head of cattle
were attacked, resulting in 11,000 deaths ; next comes
Amritsar district with 2,197 seizures and 1,492 deaths.
In Gurdáspur 810 animals were attacked, of which 648 died.