52
Table VI shows the receipts, expenditure and the balance available
which are Rs. 15,902-1-7, Re. 5,220-4-7 and Rs. 10,681-13-0 respectively.
The treatment at this dispensary is free. The cattle population within
5 miles of this dispensary is 6,000 and the number of cattle treated 745 which
gives a percentage of 12.41 as against 11.05 last year.
Jacobabad Dispensary,—Veterinary Graduate D. T. Wadhwani held
charge from 1st April to 13th February 1908 when he went on leave and
Mr. M. V. Sathe officiated him from 2nd March to the end of the year. The
number of animals treated at this dispensary was 705 against 615 of which
430 were Equines, 98 Bovines and 177 others as against 355, 111 and 149 re-
spectively—an increase of 90 over last year. Mr. D. T. Wadhwani attended
the fair at Jacobabad and translated a pamphlet into Sindhi on Hæmorrhagic
Septicæmia by Mr. Hewlett. This was done at the request of the Director of
Agriculture, Bombay. Two castrations were performed against 3 last year.
There is no accommodation for in-patients at this dispensary but the Superin-
tendent, Indian Civil Veterinary Department, on different occasions visited a
house with the Commissioner in Sind, the Deputy Commissioner and the
Executive Engineer, Jacobabad, which is to be converted into quite a good
dispensary with stabling for horses, cattle sheds and kennels. The number
shown as in-patients in Table V as treated at the dispensary being mostly
cruelty cases. No fees are charged at this dispensary. The cattle population
within a radius of 5 miles is 9,359 and the number of cattle treated is 98 which
gives a percentage of 1.04 as against 1.18.
III.—BREEDING OPERATIONS.
8. There are no stud bulls or rearing or breeding farms in the Province
and the control of Horse and Mule breeding being under Army Remount
Department, there is nothing to be recorded under the sub-heads (1), (2) and (3).
4.—Fairs and Shows.
Cattle Fairs.
9. Shikárpur.—This show was held for the first time at Shikárpur in
connection with the Horse Fair held there on 5th and 6th February 1908.
Vide Table XIV, 180 animals attended the show and Rs. 370 were awarded in
prizes which includes a sum of Rs. 60 awarded by the Transport Registration
Department.
Talhar.—This show was held on the 1st and 2nd March 1908. The num-
ber of animals attending fell from 438 last year to 252 this year, the falling off
being attributed to the scarcity of fodder prevailing in the Province. Rs. 419-8-0
were actually awarded in prizes as against Rs. 439-0-0 awarded last year.
Moro.—This show was held in the Hyderabad District for the first time on
25th and 26th March 1908. 761 animals attended the show and Rs. 750 were
awarded in prizes out of Rs. 910 allotted from Local Funds for the purpose.
I have commented upon these shows in detail in my reports upon them.
As far as my limited knowledge of Sind goes at present the only localities where
breeding is conducted on good lines are in the Karachi District. In Karachi
excellent milch herds are to be seen and considerable care is taken of them.
Old and worn out cows are eliminated, selected bulls only are kept. Young
heifers and bulls are herded separately - the latter are sold off at small ages.
There is no promiscuous bulling by young bulls born in these herds and the
stock is regularly fed. All this trouble is a good deal accountable for by the
fact that there is an excellent sale for milk and ghee in Karáchi and it is to the
interest of the owners to do their best, which shows if the native desires to or
has a reason he is quite competent as a breeder. In other parts of Sind cattle
are reproduced any how for plough and other purposes. I am alluding to the
Zebu. With regard to the buffalo they are—by comparison—decidedly better
partly due to the fact that there are not so many varieties to breed from or
rather to cross with, and partly because the villagers rely more upon them for
a milk and ghee supply. Parts of the Hyderabad District struck me as being
overstocked with the Zebu.