168
Hissar Farm
Bulls.
A considerable number of these animals are maintained in the various
districts, of the Punjab, and are distributed to selected villages being placed
in the charge of zaildars and lambardars. In those parts of the province
where the indigenous breed of cattle is poor and where the Brahmini bulls
are of poor quality and small, these animals are much appreciated by the
villagers, as the calves they get are bigger and heavier than those of their
own bulls. In the districts visited during my tour this year, where indige-
nous bulls of good stamp are scarce, or where the cattle are very bad, the
people appreciated the Hissar bred animal on account of his size.
568. In my report of last year I had to record that in the Harriana tract,
visited, it was found that the Hissar bred animal was exceedingly unpopular.
The reason for this unpopularity is that the animals are badly bred. I have
found during the present year that in many places the people complain of the
softness of the stock and their inability to perform the same amount of work
as ordinary indigenous animals. These animals, however, are tho only ones
which we have at our disposal at present, and there is no arrangement so far
by which we can procure better bred animals. I am quite opposed to the
policy of the Government in distributing cross bred animals of every degree
and variety of cross into districts with the object of improving the breed
and my reasons for being opposed to it have been given at considerable
length, I am glad to say that the introduction of these mongrel bulls into
Harriana has now ceased, and I trust that arrangements may be made to
supply good pure bred bulls to all districts at no distant date. It is far better,
in those parts where the indigenous cattle are fair, to select the best speci-
mens of the indigenous breed and turn them loose in the villages. This has
been adopted in Harriana.
A great number of Hissar bulls have been inspected during the year,
and a detailed report submitted. Many of the bulls were of good quality, but
a number were bad and unsuitable for breeding purposes, worn out, lame and
the like. Attention has been drawn to certain points with regard to these
animals. One point demanding attention is continuity of action. When a
bull which has been posted to a village is worn out, or becomes useless
from any cause, he should be removed, and another of the same class sent.
It is evident that when a bull has been posted for a considerable time to a
village and has got a quantity of improved stock, it is very imperative if we
wish to make any marked improvement in the cattle to ensure continuity
of action by which alone we can hope to secure any appreciable and lasting
results from the distribution of Government bulls. It must be borne in mind
that the theory of improving a breed is to the effect that when crossing only
operates on a fraction of the species for a short time, without continuity with
animals of various races, it neither creates a half bred race, nor does it
absorb or destroy the original race. We produce isolated individuals but
no race. Whatever improvement occurs is impressed on individuals and
not on the race which is even thrown back by receiving strange elements,
and gives individuals of great diversity of character. Crossing cannot subs-
titute a new for an old race unless it is sufficiently persevered in to give
fixity to the characters of the new produce.
It is very obvious, therefore, that if a bull standing in a village produces a
fair quantity of improved stock in the shape of cows, and if no bull of the
improving breed be available to continue the breed, the cows will be served by
inferior bulls and the stock rapidly degenerate to its primitive condition. The
Hissar Farm bulls are, as has been stated, of various and bewildering crosses.
It has been pointed out, therefore, that it is absolutely necessary to replace bulls
in the villages by others of the same breed or cross breed as the original one sent.
I am of opinion generally that good pure bred indigenous bulls are superior
to the Hissar Farm breed for the production of draught cattle.
The question of tying these animals up has been dealt with, and the gen-
eral opinion arrived at is that such a proceeding is not only inadvisable but
impracticable. Attempts to get it carried out have done much to make the
bulls unpopular, and if it had been persevered with, there is no doubt that the
demand for Government bulls would have ceased entirely.