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given rise to quarrels, especially in the mixed villages regarding the bulls
being allowed to graze in the cultivated fields. The bulls have been injured,
and those persons who would turn loose good bulls are afraid to do so. The
practice of turning loose bulls by the Hindus was a most satisfactory one so
long as the animals released were of good stamp, and it was undoubtedly a very
suitable method of providing herd bulls. Bulls turned loose as calves and
allowed to feed in the cultivated fields naturally developed into large strong
animals. In past times the cultivated area was comparatively small and the
waste being so extensive, the people kept more cattle and depended more on
the money realised from the sale of them than they do at present. The addi-
tion of a bull or two was then considered to be a benefit, and cattle being cheap
a good bull calf could be bought for a few rupees. At the present day the culti-
vated area has extended so considerably that grazing grounds of any extent
only exist in a few favoured spots, and the bulls are driven to feed almost
exclusively in the cultivated fields. The cultivator at the present day natu-
rally objects to a number of worthless bulls, which do nothing but harm to the
herds grazing on his crops. Bulls suitable for the improvement of the breed of
cattle cannot be purchased for a few rupees now a days, but the "banian."
naturally seeks the most inexpensive calf he can procure to release, as his res-
ponsibility ceases when it is released, and he has to submit to none of the
inconveniences which result from the accumulation of these wretched brutes
in the villages. This all falls on the cultivator from the damage done to his
crops and cows. Hence it is easy to understand that these worthless bulls
become injured, especially by those who have no religious sympathies with
them. I have found that practically all cultivators, whatever their caste,
complain bitterly of these useless bulls, and would be very glad to be rid of them.
What the effect of the quarrels arising over these bad bulls, on cattle breeding
is may be gathered from what has occurred at Nuh lately. This is a large
town with a fair number of good cows in it. It seems that a short time ago
there were four bulls here. One of them was injured by a Mahomedan culti-
vator and perished after great suffering. The Hindus were alarmed at this
and brought a complaint. These bulls being the property of no individual
no action could be taken in the matter. The Hindus thereupon sent the other
bulls to the Jeypore state, leaving one old bull almost useless for the work at
Nuh.
The harm done by these useless Brahmini bulls was noted in Kurnal and
Delhi also, and especially in the latter district.
It has been urged on the authorities that the first step towards the improve-
ment of cattle and the encouragement of breeding is the regulation of the
supply of good herd bulls in the villages and the prevention of bad bulls being
released as "pun" by the Hindus, and it has been suggested that a good bull
should be maintained for every 300 cows, that this bull be branded and pro-
tected, that no Hindu be allowed to release a calf unless the permission of the
local or village authorities be obtained and the calf approved of.
It has been urged that the provision of bulls should be regulated by
the district authorities
At the present time there are no returns and no one in any district
knows how many bulls there are, whether sufficient in number or of what
quality, and until some effort is made to ascertain this nothing practical can
result.
It has been suggested that the statistical return of cattle should in future
include the number of herd bulls in every village, and that the matter of
providing a sufficient number of suitable herd bulls in all villages should
invariably be provided for in all future settlement operations.
The indigenous bulls in the Kurnal district are very inferior in quality,
there is no selection in turning them loose. It is quite hopeless to expect
any improvement in the breed from the use of these animals, rather may
we expect deterioration. The same is true of Delhi and Amballa.