20
III.—BREEDING OPERATION.
(1) Bovines.
(i) Stud bulls and their produce.
Table VIII.
23. The number of stud bulls maintained by local bodies is shown
in Table VIII. During the year the new scheme for
issuing premium bulls was introduced on a modest
scale and a few bulls have been distributed but it is clear that different systems
are required in the different tracts. At present the people are somewhat
suspicious and some are inclined to be unscrupulous in carrying out their agree-
ments. It is too early to express any opinion as to the success of the scheme.
(ii) Bull rearing and breeding farms and depôts.
Table IX.
24. The Northcote Cattle Farm at Chharodi, Ahmedabad District, was in
charge of Mr. P. V. Nagarseth throughout the year.
The rainfall was abnormally heavy, more than three
times the average, consequently a large area remained under water for a long
time for which reason the outturn of the hay crop was much less than was
anticipated.
25. During the year the receipts amounted to Rs. 10,984 against
Rs. 11,012 in the last year. Since the introduction of the premium bulls
scheme the sale of bulls has improved and it is hoped that in time the whole
supply will be absorbed in this way.
Owing to damage done by the heavy rains and for want of railway
transport facilities there was considerable shortage of fodder in the villages
surrounding the farm. This was met to some extent by the sale of lbs. 423,625
of hay from the farm stock ; it was sold at an average of Rs. 9 per 1,000 lbs.
Receipts under other heads include Rs. 890 grazing fees for local
village cattle grazed on the farm and other small miscellaneous receipts.
Further the value of 10,00,000 lbs. of hay secured under the fodder reserve
scheme should be added to the receipts for the year.
26. The expenditure amounted to Rs. 15,722 against Rs. 15,503 in the
previous year. The reason for the slight increase is the higher cost of labour
required for clearing and levelling the hay fields to facilitate the use of mowing
machines, etc.
The expenditure under other heads includes petty constructions, repairs,
medicines, appliances and contingencies. There was an increase here owing
to the higher cost of labour and a general rise in the prices of all commodities.
27. The year closed with an increase of Rs. 1,160 in the valuation of the
stock and Rs. 4,024 in the value of the grain and fodder in hand, making a net
increase of Rs. 5,184.
At the end of the year under report there remained in stock 807,625
lbs. of hay which was valued at the rate of Rs. 12 per 1,000 lbs., 242,880 lbs. of
ensilage valued at Rs. 8 per 1,000 lbs. and 7,000 lbs. of kadbi valued at Rs. 12
per 1,000 lbs.
28. The number of cattle on the farm at the close of the year was 612
against 582 at the end of the previous year. During the year 84 animals were
sold and 23 died. Sporadic cases of anthrax and Hæmorrhagic septicæmia accounted for 9 d
of these diseases. Two animals died of dengue and 1 died of tuberculosis.
The others died either from accident or from other natural causes. The rate
of mortality was 3.76 per cent.
There were 134 births during the year as compared with 91 last year,
which shows a marked improvement. The percentage of calving from cows 6 to
13 years of age during the year was 67.25 per cent., which compared with 46
per cent. last year also shows an improvement. The question of getting heifers
to come in season earlier is still engaging attention. There are indications that
it is mainly a matter of feeding.
29. A male buffalo was purchased from the Radhanpur State during the
year and kept at the farm as a stud bull for the convenience of the surrounding