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spread far and wide by the travelling herds, skilled veterinary supervision,
and the isolation of animals sick is highly desirable. I visited the Cattle Fairs
held during the autumn months at Hissar, Sirsa, Jahazgarh, Bhiwani, Imlota,
Jullundur, Amritsar, and the Spring Pair at Ludhiana, detailed reports on which
have already been submitted. The Pairs at Jahazgarh, Hissar and Bhiwani were
highly successful gatherings andgreat numbers of cattle changed hands, chiefly
for districts outside the Punjab. Owing to great scarcity of fodder due to
failure of the rains, the people sold off as many of their cattle, especially buffa-
loes, as possible. The Spring Pairs were not very successful owing to great
scarcity, and the veterinary assistant at Jahazgarh reported that the class of
young stock brought in was much below the average, a fact which is considered
to be due to the rapid decline of cattle breeding in the district. The losses
from scarcity of fodder this year will be badly felt, and if severe, will be a great
blow to breeding in the tract, and raise the price of cattle. From a perusal of
the reviews on these Harriana Pairs, it will be seen that the tract is one of the
chief sources of cattle supply for the north-eastern districts of the North-Wes-
tern Provinces, as well as for numerous Punjab districts, in which the supply is
below the demand. In order to appreciate this, however, it must be understood
that in addition to the sales at fairs, the districts are regularly travelled by
dealers who take away great numbers of animals. The importance of fostering
cattle breeding in this tract has been brought to the notice of the Government,
and it is hoped that every endeavour will be made to do so.
Burma.
572. The Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, remarks:—
"There is marked evidence of general improvement in the Shows held during the year. A beginning is every-
thing, and I venture to think that the success of these Shows is, in a great measure, due to the energy of the
township officers in giving publicity to, and explaining the objects of, the Shows. I feel certain that year by
year the competition will be keener, and the Shows cannot but have a beneficial result on agriculture. This year
in nearly every Show the entries in the cattle section were numerous, and the quality of the animals exhibited
decidedly good. Great praise is due to all the officers concerned in bringing about these successful results. I
trust that next season they may be still better."
Sagaing.—The first Show of its kind was held at Myinmu on the 7th
April, and was open to the Sagaing and Lower Chindwin districts. No exhibi-
tors from the latter districts presented themselves. The local arrangements
were excellent and the Show was a great success. A great number of draught
and trotting bullocks of good quality were exhibited.
Amherst.—This Show was held in Salween Park on the 28th January.
The entries in the cattle section showed a slight improvement on last year.
The Superintendent, Veterinary Captain Evans, remarks:
"It is a great pity that more interest is not taken in this Show, as Mr. Peche, the Honorary Secretary,
spares no pains in trying to make it a success. If Sub-divisional Officers and Myooks would take more interest
in the Show and try to induce the cultivators to compete the object of Government would be obtained."
These remarks are worthy of consideration, and it is hoped that some
action will be taken in the matter.
Tharrawaddy.—This Show was held at Letpadan on the 26th and 27th
February and was better than last year. There was a good Show of agricultu-
ral oxen, and there were, moreover, a hundred entries in excess of last year.
Henzada.—This Show was held on the 7th of March and was a great
improvement on the one held last year. Sheds were erected for the accommo-
dation of the cattle. Some of the exhibitors came from Sanywe and Mônyo
townships of the Tharrawaddy district. The bullocks entered were a very
fine lot.
Minbu.—This Pair was held at Kyaungdwa and was a great success. Advan-
tage was taken of the religious festival held at the Pagoda, and the Show was
hence very largely attended. The cattle section was even better than last
season, no less than 500 pairs of bullocks, 20 pairs of buffaloes, were exhibited.