56

mares in the district are now branded. In the Deccan, he could not brand more
than 115 mares, due to a large number of mares having been sent away or sold
owing to famine, and the young stock being small and stunted. The number of
branded mares standing on the register at the close of the year was 11,941.

15. The following table compares the average cost per horse, pony and
donkey stallion, incurred during the year with that of the preceding year :—

It will be seen from the above that there is a large increase in cost in the
case of horse and pony stallions. This is ascribed chiefly to the unusually high
prices prevailing in the Deccan districts, where more than half the number of
stallions was located. The cost on account of donkey stallions shows a decrease
due chiefly to the lowering of cost in the Shikárpur District, where nearly half
the number of donkey stallions was located.

Government while reviewing the Annual Report, Civil Veterinary Depart-
ment, for 1896-97 desired the Superintendent to notice in the report under review
any economy in the feed and keep of stallions at the depôt which might result from
the arrangements to raise fodder in the compound of the new stallion stables
at Ahmednagar, which were sanctioned in Government Resolution No. 2338,
dated 28th May 1897, Financial Department. The Superintendent shows
in paragraphs 84 and 85 a combined net profit of Rs. 951-8-3 on account of
the fodder raised there and on account of the grass brought from the Shendi
kuran. Leaving out of account the latter item, it will be seen that there is a
loss of Rs. 261-10-4 on account of the grass raised in the stable enclosure.
This may be due to the unfavourable season, which necessitated resowing of
jowári and guinea grass, and also to the cost of maintaining the bullocks till
the jowári crop was reaped. It is hoped the present year's operations will be
successful.

In order to ensure a full supply of hay to Government stallions located at
Ahmednagar, the Padampur Forest kuran covering an area of 60 acres of good
grass land and situated within easy reach (about 3½ miles distant from the
stables) has been transferred to the management and control of the Superintend-
ent, Civil Veterinary Department, from 22nd June 1898.

It is satisfactery to note that the Superintendent is persuading people to
try experiments with oats in parts of the Presidency, and that the crops raised
during the year under report in Ahmedabad and Sind were successful.

Total cost of the Department.

16. The total cost of the Department was Rs. 67,878, i.e., Rs. 855 less than
during the preceding year. There was a saving of
Rs. 7,748 principally due to no Arab stallions being
purchased during the year under report as stated in paragraph 3 above, and to
the abandonment of the Ahmednagar Show, as stated in paragraph 19 below.
But this was, excepting the small sum noticed above, all counterbalanced by an
increase in cost under other heads, chiefly in that of feed, keep, &c., of stallions.