Proccedings of the Hon'ble the Chief Commissioner and Agent to the Governor-General, North-West Frontier
Province, No. 671-Rev., dated 11th September 1922.
READ:—
Report on the working of the Civil Veterinary Department for the year ending
31st March 1922.
REMARKS.—Mr. J. S. Garewal held charge of the Department through-
out the year. He made extensive tours in the Province and inspected nearly
all the Veterinary Institutions and Tonga Lines. He also attended the Horse
and Cattle. Fair held at Peshawar and acted as a Member of the Judging
Committee.
2. The sanctioned strength of the Veterinary staff is now complete and
remained unaltered during the year under review. The proposal further to
revise the pay of the subordinate staff of the Department, which was under
consideration last year, has remained in abeyance owing to financial stringency.
For the same reason some reductions in staff are under consideration.
3. The year was not a healthy one for cattle, and cases of contagious
disease rose from 4,332 in the previous year to 10,660 in the year under report.
Of these 3,106 cases proved fatal against 1,067 in the preceding year. Of
equine diseases, Surra was the most prevalent in the Dera Ismail Khan District
and accounted for nearly one-third of the total fatal cases. Amongst bovines
8,053 cases were reported, of which 2,220 proved fatal as compared with
940 out of 3,278 cases last year. Rinderpest and Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia
were rifo throughout the Province and accounted for 1,193 and 781 deaths,
respectively, against 640 and 222 deaths last year.
The number of
inoculations performed during the year for Rinderpest and Hæmorrhagic
Septicæmia amounted to 18,054 and 16,619, respectively. Though the number
of animals inoculated against both diseases was considerably larger than
in the preceding year, the spread of the epidemics is reported to be due to
the delay on the part of Patwaris in not promptly reporting outbreaks
which occur in their circles. The Chief Commissioner would bring this matter
to the special notice of District Officers.
4. The number of Veterinary Hospitals was 19 as before. 45,231 cases
were treated in these institutions against 47,060 cases in the previous year. In
addition 4,290 cases, which did not attend dispensaries, were supplied with
medicines. Veterinary Assistants visited 2,302 villages and treated 12,322
animals as compared with 1,720 villages and 8,412 animals in the preceding
year. It is satisfactory to note that there has been a further increase in the
number of castrations during the year, i. e. from 3,285 performed last year to
4,209 during the year under report.
The Superintendent, Veterinary Department, has put in a strong plea
for an increase in the number of Veterinary Dispensaries and staff. There is
no doubt that these institutions are gaining in popularity, but at the same
time funds are short in every direction and any expansion in the activities of
the Department must wait till the financial situation is easier.
5. There were 18 horse and 20 donkey stallions at the end of the year
or 4 horse stallions short of the sanctioned scale. The deficiency should be
remedied as soon as funds permit. Fifteen horse, 3 pony and 20 donkey stallions
actually served at the studs during the year under review. The total number
of mares covered was 1,740 as against 1,885 in the preceding year.
6. The District Boards continue to maintain an interest in the
improvement of cattle-breeding. There were 56 bulls in the Province at the
close of the year against 54 in the year previous. The Dhani breed of bulls
is much appreciated and 2 more bulls of this type were supplied to the Dera
Ismail Khan District. The Montgomery breed of bull has also been introduced
in the Province, as a measure towards solving the milk-supply question. The
results will be awaited with interest. Fifteen more Nili buffalo-bulls from the
Ferozepore District were purchased during the year for breeding purposes.