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712. The words italicised have been italicised by me. That the Imperial
Government having, as it has at stake, such large interests in both horse and
mule-breeding in the Punjab would ever sanction their interests being neglected
I very much doubt, but with the statement that the provincial interests must
be safeguarded I quite agree, still there is but one way out of the difficulty
and that it is the appointment of a third officer.
Bombay.
713. On this subject, the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department,
remarks:—
" In continuation of the remarks made by Veterinary Major Morgan last year, I issued a circular to all
Collectors which, together with the replies received, is summarised below :—
" Cattle breeding is an important branch of agriculture and very profitable to the individual agricul-
turist, as the. whole of his transport and field work are carried by bullocks. This work is best done by well
bred and typical animals. The necessity of preserving good bulls is thus self evident, but the deterioration of
cattle, and the mixture of breeds has at present reached such a state that some attempt must be made to preserve
the purity of each breed. It will be noticed, however, from the last Annual Report (paragraph 62) that no
District Local Board in this Presidency have maintained stud bulls. The manner in which cattle breeding is
carried on at present is as shortly described below:—
" In large towns where there are professional milkmen, stud bulls are kept by some of them for the use of
their own cows, though their services are utilised by other people on payment of a fee in money or ration fixed
by the owner of the bull. These bulls are in several instances good and well fitted to the required purpose.
In many villages, however, walli bulls, i.e., bulls dedicated to some deity are seen wandering about freely, fed by
the villagers and used to serve their cows. These are not always of a good type. The system, however, is well
fitted to the country and can be taken advantage of in improving the breeds of cattle. With this object in
view I made the following proposal to all Collectors :—
" That District Local Boards should purchase through an expert, such as the Deputy Director of Agri-
culture, bulls of a pure type of the breed in that particular district and dedicate them to some deity most popular
in the district. The initial cost would not be very much, and quite within the reach of any Local Board. The
subsequent keep of the bull is nil as he obtains food whenever he serves a cow, in addition to the fact that he
is fed by the villagers. It is also possible that the people of the Bunnia class, who always dedicate their bulls,
would contribute to the Local Board for the purchase of a selected bull.
" I have not yet received replies from the Collectors of Khandesh, Satara, Broach and Kaira. The Collectors
of Nasik, Poona, Belgaum, Dharwar and Surat have stated that the question will be considered in the next
meeting of the District Local Board, and the result communicated in due course. The proposal cannot be
adopted for want of funds, etc., in the Districts of Ahmednagar, Kanara, Kolaba, Ratnagiri, Thana and
Ahmedabad, in the Pauch Mahals a bull has already been purchased for R150 and handed over to a herdsman,
and the Board is not in a position to purchase another bull for want of funds. Mr. Bagnell, the Collector of
Bijapur, does not recommend the idea stating that no one will be disposed to dedicate such bulls to any deity,
and in case any one does so, a bull so purchased and let loose will not evoke the same feeling of superstitious
regard which a true walli bull does among the ignorant cultivators, as they are not likely to divest themselves
of the idea that the bull was purchased for serving cows and was let loose only to deceive the people into a belief
that it was dedicated. None will give such a bull a morsel of food, and it would be difficult to protect it from
cattle thieves. Instead of this course he recommends that good bulls should be purchased by District Local
Boards and the use of their services allowed to whoever required them free of cost for some time in the beginning.
If the experiment proved successful and demand for their services increased, a small fee may be imposed and
their number increased in proportion to their demand for service.
" Mr. Maconochie, the Collector of Sholapur, is exactly of the above opinion, and has actually given effect
to it by making arrangements to purchase a good Khilari bull from the Jath State, and to keep it at Sholapur
city as a beginning. He wants to extend the system if it works well.
" The question of improving the breeds of cattle is a delicate one and difficult of solution, more especially
so in the Deccan where the improvement is greatly needed. The Deputy Director of Agriculture who was
consulted in this matter states that if the experiment is tried, it should in the first instance be in Guzarath
where the natural conditions are very favourable. The Deccan districts be left alone until some experience is
gained in a more suitable district.
" When replies from all the Collectors are received the matter will be carefully considered, and a full report
submitted to Government."
714. Remarking on the Show held at Ahmednagar, the Superintendent,
Civil Veterinary Department, states :—
" The Collector of Ahmednagar remarks that the suggestions of the Honorary Secretaries as to the revival
of cattle-breeding need not require any consideration. With this I do not agree. Cattle-breeding is an
important item to agriculture and to the agriculturists themselves, a great deal more important than horse-
breeding, for the reason that the whole of their transport and field work is carried on by cattle. This kind of
work is performed very much better by animals which are well bred, and approach as nearly as possible to the
original types. The deterioration and mixing of breeds has reached such a state that it requires a certain
amount of stimulus to endeavour to prevent indiscriminate breeding, and to raise the standard of the cattle
generally. This has come to the notice of the Government, who are anxious that suitable remedies should be
applied. The proposal is that stud bulls of undoubted quality and breed should be purchased by Local Boards
and freely distributed in the districts and prizes for the young stock be offered at the Shows. The suggestion
to start a breeding depôt is at present hardly practicable."
Bengal.
715. The subject of cattle-breeding and the improvement of the various
breeds is, I am glad to see, receiving that attention which it deserves. The
Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, adverting to this subject,
states:—
" Below will be found some information as to the several bulls supplied by this Department, and by the
Department of Land Records and Agriculture, Bengal. During the year under report many requisitions for
bulls were received, but as few good bulls could be procured, I have been unable to comply with them fully.
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