(2)
the Veterinary staff, however, has been sanctioned by the Government of India,
and it is hoped that before the close of the present year the cadre will be brought
up to its full strength; when this is effected there will be one stationary
Assistant at each tahsil and one itinerating Assistant for each district, and this
should be followed by a marked increase in the number of animals treated at
the dispensaries.
During the year a new hospital was completed at Bannu and new dis-
pensaries were constructed at Mansehra, Miramshah and Purachnar: the
building of a new hospital at Abbottabad was commenced—which is now
practically open—and a new dispensary at Swabi was taken in hand.
New dispensaries are required at six tahsils, and a new hospital upon a
better site is badly wanted at Peshawar. Endeavours will be made to provide
funds to make good these deficiencies during the present and the next year, and
the matter is already receiving the Revenue Commissioner's special attention.
5. The number of stud bulls at work has remained the same as in
1906-07, namely eleven, the four additions being counterbalanced by four
casualties. The necessity for largely increasing the number of such bulls has
been repeatedly insisted upon in former reports, and as long ago as 1904-05
the submission of definite proposals was promised by the Superintendent, but
the matter appears to have been lost sight of and the Chief Commissioner will
be glad if the Superintendent will now take the matter up in consultation
with Deputy Commissioners: there should be no difficulties as far as cost and
maintenance are concerned on the part of District Boards, and it appears that
suitable Dhanni bulls can now be procured from the Jhelum District.
The attention of Deputy Commissioners is invited to paragraph 33 of
the Superintendent's report and to paragraph 1 of Revised Agricultural Circular
No. 1 in regard to the purchase of stud bulls.
6. The number of donkey stallions has now been brought up to the
full requirements of the Province nine new donkeys having been supplied
during the year. The ten stallions actually at work covered 572 mares, an
average of 57.2 per stallion.
There were no additions or replacements of horse or pony stallions.
The eight horses covered 458 mares and the ten ponies covered 482, an
improvement upon last year's figures. The average cost of the feed and keep
of each class of stallion has decreased, but the figures for both the Tochi and the
Kurram remain high, and it does not appear that the districts and agencies base
their figures upon the same calculations. The point will be enquired into.
7. Since the close of the year Mr. Carless, Superintendent, has visited
Kaghan and inspected the Australian merino rams, and has reported favourably
upon them: he has made certain recommendations regarding their future
treatment, and they will remain in Kaghan this winter, the plan of sending
them down to Haripur last year having proved unsatisfactory. It is too early
yet to pronounce definitely upon the results of this interesting experiment in
cross-breeding, but there is every prospect of its proving both popular and
remunerative.
Of the twelve merino rams expected in October next four will be sent
to Dera Ismail Khan, where their introduction is desired by the people. The
two rams which were sent to the Kurram were not appreciated locally, and were
transferred to the Tochi at the beginning of 1908.
8. The Peshawar Horse and Cattle Show was disappointing in some
respects, and it was unfortunate that it clashed with the Rawalpindi Fair, but
there is no reason to anticipate that its popularity will not be regained. The
supply of free fodder to exhibitors, as is the practice at Haripur, has been sanc-
tioned, and this will doubtless prove an attraction, and the Deputy Commis-
sioner is endeavouring to arrange for the better attendance of purchasers: their
absence this year was the subject of much adverse comment upon the part of
exhibitors.