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The market was not brisk and prices were very low, about 10 per cent.
below the average, and this is said to have been due to the fact that some of the
traders who usually come in from Palcode and Coimbatore being absent.
The whole of the arrangements seem to have been very good, and there were
no cases of contagious disease reported from the fair.
Bengal.
The Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department in Bengal, reports:—
"There are about thirty-six large Fairs held in Bengal, where various classes of animals are disposed of, and
of these, four of the most important have been visited, viz., Sonepore, Kalimpong, Barahpur (Shahabad) and
Sitamarhi."
It will be seen from this that the other Pairs are not visited by a Veterinary
officer or Veterinary Assistant, so that there is practically no check on the
spread of contagious diseases. It is hoped that now some Veterinary Assistants
have concluded their training at the Bengal Veterinary Institution, arrange-
ments will be made for the inspection of all Cattle Fairs held in the Province,
and the isolation of cattle sick from contagious disorders will be carried out.
Kalimpong Fair.—The cattle were more largely represented this year, but
there is still much room for improvement, both in numbers and quality. The
Nepali breed are very small and compact with small bone. The Sikkim cattle
known as the "Siri" breed are comparatively large and handsome beasts, hav-
ing a long coat, a well developed hump and large powerful frame. On the whole
the Fair was larger and a better class of animal attended.
Barahpur Fair—This Pair was very well attended, 18,473 cattle attended
and were admitted to the grounds, whilst it is estimated that there were about
15,000 head of cattle and 1,000 buffaloes collected outside. The cattle were of
good useful stamp though small in size, and are largely purchased by dealers
from Lower Bengal for cart work, and are of the class generally seen in the
streets of Calcutta.
Some of the pairs exhibited were really fine cattle. The Superintendent
remarks:—
"The three bulls collected only showed what could be done if big landowners would retain the better bred
bull calves and rear them for the benefit of the surrounding district."
With this remark I quite agree, my opinion being that more good can be
done for cattle breeding by the purchase and turning loose of considerable num-
bers of the better class of the indigenous bulls than in any other way.
Sitamarhi Fair.—The Superintendent visited this Pair from the 22nd to
24th March. This mela is a well known cattle market to which planters and
others come to buy good plough and cart bullocks. The better class of cart
bullocks used in Lower Bengal are also bought at this Pair.
The attendance was very good indeed, over 150,000 cattle being present
on the 24th. An agricultural Show was held this year, and prizes awarded to
cattle for the first time. This was very successful. The number of entries be-
ing large and competition keen. The Superintendent remarks:—
"I explained to the meeting the object of these Shows and recommended that they should introduce some
good up country bulls for the purpose of crossing with their present good cattle. The committee decided to
purchase two Hissar bulls and to consider the advisability of employing a veterinary assistant to instruct
the cattle owners in the better method of treating their animals and preventing the spread of contagious dis-
ease."
Both these measures are commendable, and more especially so is the em-
ployment of Veterinary. Assistants in the inspection of the cattle gathered toge-
ther at the Pair with a view to isolating and treating cattle suffering from con-
tagious disease. If anything is be done in the way of preventing spread of
the contagious maladies affecting cattle, a commencement can well be made in
the proper veterinary supervision of the large Cattle Pairs and the isolation of
diseased cattle and herds. If this be neglected, it is very certain that disease
will be spread all over the country should it appear at a Pair.