35
8. Out of the 19 mentioned as being employed at stud work, one horse
stallion belonging to District Board, Kohát, died on 1st November 1894, conse-
quently his services were only available for part of the year.
Average number of
mares covered per stallion.
9. The general average of mares covered per
stallion is 45.78 as against 26.66 the previous year.
10. This average is only calculated from the 19 stallions working
throughout the year, the five stallions purchased at close of year not being
included.
The marked increase is partly due to the fact that the average of the
whole of the stallions of the previous year was taken, whether working through-
out the year or not.
Demand of stallions.
11. From the experience gathered during my last cold weather tour,
I am inclined to think that pony stallions might be placed
with great advantage in the following districts:—
Kohát.—Two pony stallions at least are required in this district, though
I was informed by the Deputy Commissioner that at present no funds are
available to purchase even one.
Pesháwar.—Great good might be done by placing one pony at Peshawar
and Mardán, respectively. I am in communication with the Deputy Com-
missioner on the matter.
Jhelum.—Only one pony stallion is stationed in this district at Choya
Saidan Shah in Pind Dádan Khan tahsíl, but. the tahsíls of Chakwál and
Talagang might be greatly benefited by an additional pony being placed at
each.
Hazára.—From what I saw of the Haripur portion of this district, I am
of opinion that one pony would do good work there, and from the remarks
made by my predecessor, Mansahra could also find sufficient small mares to utilize
the services of another.
Jhang.—Requires two pony stallions. On my tour I found that the
District Board country-bred horse stallion was allowed to cover VI branded
mares, which practice, as the horse was quite unsuitable, I recommended
should be discontinued and that the horse should be castrated and sold.
12. It will be seen from the foregoing remarks that 10 additional pony
stallions would find employment in the above-mentioned districts, and I would
recommend that, where possible, such may be purchased.
Cost of feed and keep
and bow defrayed.
13. The general average of cost of feed and keep throughout the
North Punjab Circle was Rs. 227-8-10 per horse and
Rs. 204-12-7 per pony stallion. Table E will show the
relative cost in each district.
14. The whole of the cost was met by District Funds.
2. Mares unbranded or branded for District Horse-breeding.
Number present at com-
mencement of year.
Number added to regis-
ters.
Number removed from
registers.
Number present at close
of the year.
15. There were 13,486 mares present on the 1st April 1894, which
were available for horse and pony-breeding, since which
1,806 have been added and 976 removed from the registers,
leaving a balance of 14,316 mares on 31st March 1895.
This by no means represents the total number present in
the whole Circle, as no information under this head is to
hand from Peshawar and Hazára districts. I am also of
opinion that the information supplied from District offices is by no means
reliable, as the outgoing and incoming of mares from one district to another
being impossible to be checked and registered.
16. The practice of branding mares for district stallions has, as
recommended by my predecessor, been discontinued, and as far as can be seen
up to the present is found to work well.