177 



MULE-BREEDING. 



By Veterinary-Major G. J. R. RAYMENT, 



Late Supdt., Civil Veterinary Dept., N.-W. P. & Oudh. 



If horse-breeding is little understood in India and by few, mule- 

 breeding is even less so. Many people, who take the greatest interest 

 in the breeding and rearing of horses, for racing, army, or hack 

 purposes, know nothing whatever of this important industry, which, is 

 daily gaining ground in many parts of the country. Under these 

 circumstances, I venture to add my mite, gathered during an ex- 

 perience of seven years and-a-half, to the very meagre literature 

 already existing on the subject. Where so little is known every 

 contribution, however small and imperfect, will prove of some value. 

 MULES AND JENNETS. 



2. It is perhaps hardly necessary to premise by saying that th@ 

 animal known as a mule is the hybrid produced by crossing the male 

 ass or jack with a horse-mare, the jennet being the produce of the 

 female ass or jenny by the horse-stallion. 



DONKEY-STALLIONS. 



3. The donkeys used by the Government in India are Italian, 

 French (Poitou), Spanish (Oatalonian), Cyprian, Persian, Arab, 

 Home-bred, Punjabi and a few Bokhara and Khorassani. 



Italian. — This donkey is far and away the best. He has been 

 carefully bred for many generations past, and the result is that he 

 has a decided stamp not to be mistaken when once learnt. He stands 

 about 12 hands 2 inches. He is a handsome beast, and the tan 

 markings about his face and eyes, his dark coat and white belly, 

 remind one of the black buck. He has a good straight back, big 

 joints, and as a rule for a donkey is straight behind, with his hocks 

 fairly well under him. Above all, being of his kind thorough-bred, he 

 stamps his stock, transmitting his good points to his progeny. Again, 

 his coat is finer and more silky than that of the ordinary jack, so he 

 feels the heat less and stands the Indian climate better than the others. 

 The great drawback to his general use is his high price. He costs 

 over Rs. 1,200 in these days of depreciated currency by the time he 

 reaches the Babugarh Depdt. 



