12

Cast mares sold to bonâ-
fide breeders.

85. During the year under report three cast mares from British Artillery
and Cavalry have been sold by public auction to bonâ
fide breeders for horse-breeding. They are sold by the
Military Department. The list of mares sold and
prices realized will be found in Appendix XIII. The highest price was Rs. 76
and the lowest Rs. 6, and the average Rs. 29-10-8.

Number of country-bred
remounts purchased.

86. The number of remounts purchased, as
shown in Appendix XIV, is given below :—

87. Of the 281 remounts purchased by the Bombay Native Cavalry only
74 are shown as by Government stallions. I am satisfied that this is incorrect.
Many horses by Government stallions are bought by dealers from the breeder
for the purpose of sale. The purchaser fails to obtain the covering certificates
from the breeder and hence there is no trace of the horse's origin and it is not
included in the Government stallion's produce.

88. I feel again compelled to give my support to the opinion frequently
expressed that plenty of Bombay country-breds of good quality and substance
exist as yearlings and 2-year olds, and that all that is required to make these
into horses suitable for the different branches of the srvice is good feeding and
nursing between the ages of 2 and 4-years old.

89. I beg again to draw attention to the sale of Bombay Presidency
country-breds in Bombay. I am frequently at a loss to know where the young
stock goes to, and I expressed an opinion in my last report (which opinion was
supported by Veterinary Surgeon Cooper of the Berar Veterinary Department)
that many were sent to Bombay and probably sold as Arabs.

90. I was informed at the last Rájkot Horse Show by a Native Chief of
Káthiáwár that a short time before leaving his state he had seen two batches of
young horses (one of 20 and one of 6) proceeding to the coast for shipment to
Bombay.

Castration of colts.

91. In Appendix XV. will be found the number of colts, the property of
zamíndárs, castrated by Government Salutris during
the year. The number of colts castrated by these
Salutris for the last seven years is given below :—

No deaths resulting from the effects of the operation have been reported
during the year under review.

                         Mule-breeding Operations.

Donkey stallions: Number
of.

92. The number and breeds of donkey stallions
present on the 1st April 1887 were as follows :—