18
It suffered severely from lack of rain and consequent scarcity of grazing.
No crops could be grown and no hay could be made. The cost of feeding the
cattle was heavy.
24. The receipts amounted to Rs. 18,850 against Rs. 10,984 in the
previous year. These receipts do not include those of the fodder reserve
scheme which are dealt with separately below. The increase was due to larger
sales and to the levy of grazing fees for outside cattle, which were allowed to
maintain themselves on the rough grass available in certain areas of the Farm.
Eleven bulls were sold to the Java Government and ten premium bulls were
issued at one-fourth of their usual price. A sum of Rs. 1,275 should be added
to the credits on the latter transaction.
25. The expenditure amounted to Rs. 24,584 against Rs. 15,722, the
increase being due to the enhanced cost of concentrated food stuffs.
26. The year closed with an increase of Rs. 1,565 in the valuation of the
stock, which was more than counterbalanced by a decrease of Rs. 5,398 in the
value of the grain and fodder in hand. There was a net decrease of Rs. 3,833
therefore.
27. The number of cattle on the Farm at the end of the year was 641
against 612 at the end of the previous year. If the ensuing season is
normal there will be a strong local demand for cows and bullocks and the Farm
will be in a position to supply a considerable number to replenish herds that
have been depleted, a sufficient justification for the expense involved in main-
taining animals in a famine year.
Sixty-six animals were sold during the year and 45 died. Outbreaks of
rinderpest, hæmorrhagic septicæmia and anthrax occurred but were promptly
dealt with and only 22 died from epizootic disease.
The number of deaths, viz. 23, from natural causes including non-conta-
gious disease and accidents appears high, but many were due to old age.
There were 128 births compared to 134 in the previous year. The percen-
tage of calvings has again dropped. Abnormal seasons have much to answer
for in this connection.
28. The services of the buffalo bull kept for stud purposes were not
utilised very much owing to the year being unfavourable.
Twelve young buffalo bulls were purchased from the Military Dairy Farm,
Poona, with a view to issuing them to the districts on attaining maturity.
29. Owing to the failure of the rain no hay nor ensilage could be made
during the year under report and the Farm reserves have been used up. The
fodder reserve supply which had accumulated for two years and which amounted
approximately to 200,000 lbs. was sold to cultivators at rates approved by the
Director of Agriculture. Hay was also supplied from the Farm to the
Ahmedabad Municipality, the Government Farm at Surat and certain stallion
stands. A sum of Rs. 14,318 was realised on account of the sale of the hay,
which amount would have been made larger if the market rate had been
obtained. The cost of the hay was Rs. 12,990, but this sum includes the cost of
a Dutch barn and hay making implements now in hand. Against this it must
be stated that a large proportion of the hay was unbaled. Experience at the
Farm proves that with labour saving devices hay can be made cheaply and well
in normal years. There is room for development in methods, but good progress
has been made in adopting hay making implements. Suitable baling machinery
is an urgent requirement.
30. A stallion was kept at the Farm for three months, during which time
he covered 14 mares.
31. The scheme for establishing a cattle farm on the site obtained at
Bankapur in the Dharwar District has progressed to the extent that plans and
estimates have been prepared for the necessary buildings. The question of a
satisfactory water-supply is not settled and is holding the scheme up. The
project has now been handed over to the Director of Agriculture to deal with.