GOVERNMENT OF BOMBAY.

ANNUAL ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE CIVIL VETERINARY
              DEPARTMENT FOR THE OFFICIAL YEAR 1902-1903.

                                  PART I.—IMPERIAL REPORT.

                                    (a)—MILITARY SECTION.

                                        I.—HORSE BREEDING.

                        (1)—Government Horse and Pony Stallions.

There were 44 stallions on the registers on the 1st April 1902, 26 horses
and 18 ponies. Of these, 4 horses and 2 ponies were located in Gujarát and
Káthiáwár.

No thorough-bred English stallions were received during the year, as, owing
to the decrease in the number of mares generally, resulting from continuous
famine, none were required.

Four Arab stallions were purchased to replace casualties and others
becoming too old for breeding purposes:—

"Jamadar," a bay arab, 14.3, 4 years; and "Jagadish," a bay arab, 14.2½,
5 years, purchased for Rs. 3,000.

"Jambook," a chestnut arab pony, 14.1, 4 years, purchased for Rs. 1,200.

"Jagirdar," a bay arab, 14.2, 4 years, bought for Rs. 1,500.

There was a great demand for arab horses during the past year and prices
were very high. It was a case of getting the best that could be obtained instead
of what one wished to get. The return of regiments from South Africa and the
presence of foreign buyers were no doubt in a great measure the cause of this.

2.    Table III shows that one horse and one pony were removed from the
registers during the year under report, as against six horses the year before.
The general percentage of casualties was 3.85 for horse and 5.55 for pony
stallions, as against 13.33 and nil last year.

3.    There were 46 stallions (28 horses and 18 ponies) on the registers at
the close of the year. Of these, 22 horses and 17 ponies were in the Deccan,
and 6 horses and 1 pony were in Gujarát and Káthiáwár. One of these is old
and worn out. The remainder are vigorous.

4.    The number of stallions actually employed at stud work was 42.88, as
against 40.75 last year, and the remainder were kept in the depôt for acclimati-
sation or treatment.

5.    The attached sketch map will show the various stands and the number
and class of stallions at each of them on the last day of the year under report.

6.    The total number of mares covered by Government horse and pony
stallions during the year was 1,144 against 1,063 last year, and the average
number of mares covered per stallion employed at stud work was 26.68 against
26.08 last year.

                                (2)—Remounts, Country-bred.

7.    The number of country-bred remounts purchased for native cavalry,
police, &c., was 354 against 218 last year:—