9
Replacement of stallion
power.
50. This number of stallions is of course quite inadequate. The sub-
ject was referred to in last year's report and the matter
has been dealt with during the year. The Inspector-Gene-
ral, Civil Veterinary Department, pointed out the need for more stallion power
and the Imperial Government on his recommendation proferred financial assist-
ance. It is proposed to fix a standard scale of stallions for each district. A
certain number of animals will be replaceable by Government and a certain
number by District Boards. The maintenance of all stallions will be a district
charge. The proposed standard scale is 59 ponies and 3 horses. The horses
are required in the Hoshiarpur and Muzaffargarh Districts and will be country-
breds or Arabs. All the ponies will be Arabs. With assistance from Imperial
Funds, the Local Government propose to supply 17 ponies and 3 horses during
1905-06 in replacement of those taken away on the formation of the Army
Remount Department.
If these are supplied, a serious want and, in a sense, a grievance will have
been removed. The scheme awaits the final sanction of the Government of
India and the concurrence of District Boards. The aim is not so much to supply
remounts for the army but to gradually improve the indigenous stock by the
infusion of good blood and in short to supply adequate stallion power of good
quality.
Services of horse and
pony stallions.
51. Two horses and 38 ponies were actually employed at stud during
the year against 43 ponies last year. The average per
horse stallion was 64 and the average per pony 68.52.
Branding of mares in non-selected districts is now discontinued, and all mares
that are not obviously unsuitable are allowed the services of stallions. Produce
results are not available. The question of the necessity of statistics of this
kind and produce certificates is under consideration.
Feed and keep of horse
and pony stallions.
52. The average cost of feed and keep of stallions per annum is shown
in Table XII. The figures work out at Rs. 249-8 per
horse and Rs. 231-11-1 per pony against Rs. 394-7-7 and
Rs. 242-1-7 last year.
SECTION VI.—BREEDING OPERATIONS:—MULES
Donkey stallions in non-
selected districts.
53. At the close of last year there were 61 donkey stallions at work in
non-selected districts, of which 52 had been handed over
by this Department to District Boards. Of these, 3 were
transferred to the Army Remount Department when the Gujrat District was
taken over, 2 died and 1 was destroyed during the year. This left a total
number of 55 donkey stallions at the close of the year.
Replacement of donkey
stallions.
54. In connection with the replacement of stallions, the question of the
sufficiency of donkeys was also taken up. Mule-breeding
is very popular in the Province, as it is profitable. It is
proposed to fix a standard scale of 68 donkeys in non-selected districts, all of
which will be replaceable by Government. They will be maintained, however,
by District Boards as at present. Bearing in mind the extreme importance
of mules to Government, the liability to replacement seems reasonable, especially
as it has always been the custom up to now for Government to provide donkey
stallions.
Services of donkey
stallions.
55. Fifty-seven donkey stallions were actually employed at stud during
the year under report in non-selected districts. They cover-
ed 4,054 mares, or an average of 71.12 mares per stallion.
Last year the average was 23.1, but this was due to the fact that the stallions
were handed over to districts at the close of the year. The large number of
mares covered points to the popularity of mule-breeding in the Punjab.
Feed and keep of donkey
stallions.
56. The average cost of feed and keep of donkey stallions is shown
in Table XII.
It amounted to Rs. 132-3-10 for each stallion per annum. The charges
were borne entirely by District Boards, from whom the figures have been
received.