16
influential Raises and other gentlemen interested in cattle breeding and who
have sufficient grazing on their Estates, by placing under their care small
herds of 10 or 15 selected male calves to be reared until fit for issue as stud
bulls.
In the Central Provinces the Superintendent states that there are signs
of greater interest being taken in cattle breeding, especially in the Chhatis-
garh Division. Four Malguzars are reported to have purchased about 50
cows and a bull, with which they intend to specialise in cattle breeding, and
that certain Court of Wards and Zamindars have definitely arranged to start
farms.
Bull rearing and breeding Farms and Depôts,
175. The main results of the working
of Provincial Cattle Farms are given in
Table IX.
176. In Bengal, at the Siripur Farm there were 44 cows, of which 9 were
Farm bred. During the year 42 calves were born of which 3 died. Ten bull
calves and 2 heifers were selected, and 2 cows and nine heifer calves were
rejected and sold. The Agricultural Department at Pusa having decided to
give up the desi herd of cattle, handed it over unconditionally to the Court
of Wards, Bettiah. The herd consists of 1 bull, 45 cows and 42 young stock,
together with 4 bulls which were sent to Siripur to be reared. It is intended
to establish this Farm at Manjheria, about 4 miles from Bettiah. At the
Kalimpong Farm there were 15 cows, and one bull was purchased in Febru-
ary 1910.
177. At "The Northcote Cattle Farm," Chharodi, in the Bombay Presi-
dency, the herd consisted of 323 head against 340 last year. The decrease is
due to the disposal of all unsuitable stock. Sixty calves were dropped during
the year, against 95 last year. Sixteen young bulls were sold for stud pur-
poses against 7 last year. There was no contagious disease among the Farm
cattle, although several villages in the vicinity were affected.
178. At the Upper Shillong Farm, in Eastern Bengal and Assam, there
were 82 head of cattle including 10 bulls and 21 cows. Sixteen calves were
dropped. Six young bulls are ready to be distributed. Seven cows, 18
heifers and 6 calves were sold. One cow, 4 calves and 1 bullock died.
Arrangements are being made to secure good grazing ground near Burapani,
as during the winter months there is not sufficient food for the herd at the
Upper Farm.
179. An attempt has been made to encourage the breeding of camels in
the Punjab by the grant of substantial
prizes for various classes of these ani-
mals at some of the Punjab Fairs. The Commandants of the various Silladar
Camel Corps have subscribed R1,700 which has been allotted to the following
centres :—
Camel breeding.
Campbellpore . . . . . . . . . .
Dera Ghazi Khan . . . . . . . . . .
Montgomery . . . . . . . . . .
Muzaffargarh . . . . . . . . . .
Jacobabad . . . . . . . . . .
Shikarpur . . . . . . . . . .
Batesar . . . . . . . . . .
TOTAL .
R
600
200
200
200
200
200
100
1,700
180. The details of the scheme have, however, been left to the General
Officers Commanding the Divisions concerned, who have been asked to work
out, in communication with the local civil authorities, a definite plan and to
decide upon the amounts of prizes to be allotted.
181. The scheme for the encouragement of camel breeding in the Punjab
by throwing open certain surra free grazing areas is still under consideration.
(2) Equines (under Local Bodies).
182. Table X shows the number of horse, pony and donkey stallions
(under Local Bodies) employed at stud.
At the beginning of the year there were
64 horses, 102 ponies and 99 donkeys present. Twelve horses (including 2
Horse, pony and donkey stallions.