2
was reduced by 4 in the districts of the Dehli Division where one horse died from
natural causes, another was destroyed and two other were sold. Districts, which
have a considerable number of pony stallions, are Dera Gházi Khan, which owns 8,
Ráwalpindi with 7, and Hissár, Ludhiána, Lahore, Amritsar and Shahpur
with 4 each.
The District Boards of Hazára, Ráwalpindi, Siálkot, Delhi and Hissár each
purchased a new pony stallion for stud purposes, and one was presented to the
District Board of Jhelum. One of the ponies was destroyed and one died from
natural causes. There was therefore a net increase of four ponies, bringing the total
up to 69. Twenty-nine of the 31 horse stallions, and 66 out of 69 pony stallions,
owned by District Boards, are Arabs. In this respect District Boards have no
doubt wisely followed the advice of officers of the Civil Veterinary Department.
The Inspector-General noticed in the general report of the Department for
1898-99 that the solid foundation of all horse breeding in this country is the Arab
sire, and Veterinary-Lieutenant Trydell, the Superintendent, North Punjab,
remarks as follows :—
The good the District Board pony does cannot be over-estimated, as he is, so to
speak, the first stepping-stone towards the improvement and keeping up of stock. His
mare progeny is frequently branded, and the smaller is often put to a jack the result
of which is the production of a well-bred mule. Another point in their favour is, they
produce an animal which does not cost the poorer breeder much to feed.
Bannu and Simla are now the only districts without any District Board
stallions.
Two horses in Hoshiárpur District, one in Kángra District and one pony
in Jullundur District have not been shown as having been at stud work; no
returns having been received from these districts.
The Superintendent, North Punjab, reports that the encouragement
given to horse-breeding in the Hazára District by the loan of an Imperial
stallion and the purchase by the District Board of a pony stallion has had very
satisfactory results, as both these horses have been in demand. In the South
Punjab Circle the average number of mares covered per horse stallion was 63.72
as compared with 62.64 last year, and per pony stallion 55.41 as against 51.35 in
the previous year. And in the North Punjab Circle the general average of mares
covered per stallion was 62.72 against 69.64 last year, the average per horse
being 63.57 against 75, and per pony stallion 62.54 against 68.72. Although
there is a decline in the average in the North Punjab, which the Superintendent
attributes to the scarcity of fodder, yet the average is very high and shows
that these stallions are popular and worked to the utmost. The Superintendent,
South Punjab, is of opinion that many more ponies could be profitably employed.
Notwithstanding the famine and the injury to the young stock which it has
caused, he says, "I have been pleased to notice how well the young stock have
often looked in the hands of zamíndárs who take a real interest in their horse
stock, and I think that this class of zamíndár is on the increase. I feel sure the
extra demand for horses this year will have the effect of stimulating breeders
to make endeavours towards supplying this demand."
Results.
4. The following table gives the results of breed-
ing from the stallions above referred to :—
1
YEAR.
1898-99
...
...
...
1899-1900
...
...
...
2
3
4
5
6
7
ASCERTAIN
RESULTS.
Number of mares.
held.
Actual.
1,404
1,443
Per cent.
on
column
6.
39.43
36.90
Number of mares
nob held.
Actual.
2,157
2,465
Per cent.
on
column
6.
60.57
63.10
Total.
Actual.
3,561
3,908
Per cent
on
column
10.
67.00
66.85
8
9
UNKNOWN
RESULTS.
Actual.
1,754
1,938
Per cent.
on
column
10.
33.00
33.15
10
Grand total, columns 6 and 8.
5,315
5,846