5

were 17 stallions, viz., 5 horses and 12 ponies located at the stands noted
below:—

14.     The Dumber of stallions actually employed at stud-work throughout
the year was 12.94 as against 11.07 last year and the number of mares covered
by them during the year has been 443 or an average of 34.23 each as against
284 or 25*65 last year. This shows a considerable increase in the coverings, due
most probably to the removal of all restrictions, such as branding, etc.

15.     The cost of feed keep, and transit of Government horse and pony
stallions is given in Table XII, and the average cost per stallion for the last two
years is compared below :—

This shows a decrease of Rs. 19. The apparently excessive cost for
maintaining a horse in the Násik District is due to the fact that the Yeola stand
was reopened at the close of the year and considerable extra charges, such as
transit, new gear, and kit, etc., had to be incurred during the few days the
stallion stood there during the year. The average cost for the whole year thus
calculated on the actuals of a few days naturally rose very high. In other
districts there are small variations in the cost of maintaining a horse and a pony,
but as remarked last year no such comparison is practicable, there being
practically all ponies in the non-selected districts.

                                        (4) Fairs and Shows.

                                        (a)  Horse Shows.

16.    There was an only horse show in the non-selected districts held at
Ahmedabad from the 26th February to the 2nd March 1905 (vide Table
XIII). The number of exhibits present was 589 as against 293 last year.
Of these 577 competed for prizes. Out of the total horse stock, excluding
branded mares, about 125 belonged to dealers and 25 belonged to breeders.
One remount was purchased for the police at a cost of Rs. 250. One silver
medal was awarded to the best brood mare in the show and money prizes to the
value of Rs. 2,165 were awarded to 238 exhibits.

                                        (b)  Cattle Fairs.

17.    Table XIV gives particulars of the two Cattle Fairs held during the
year. The first was held at Mhaswad in the Sátára District in December 1904.
The total number of animals present was about 26,000, of which nearly 11,000
were cattle and 15,000 sheep, goats and others. About 250 animals competed
for prizes, and the amount actually awarded was Rs. 700 and two silver medals.
The bigger medal was awarded to the best bull in the fair and the smaller one
was awarded to the second best bull as there wa3 no best cow in the fair
worthy of that honour.

The next fair was held at Sholápur in January 1905. It was a very poor
collection, the number of animals present being only about 7,500, of which 72
competed for prizes. Money prizes to the value of Rs. 245 were awarded and
the silver medals were reserved as no exhibit was deemed fit to receive that
distinction.

This is the first time when any attempt to give encouragement to cattle-
breeding by awarding money prizes at Cattle Fairs has been made by Government

B 483—2