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purposes. No one questions that there is room for great improvement in the
average animal of even the larger and better breeds, but in my opinion, improve-
ment can only be effected by maintaining the purity of each pure breed by
breeding only from the best and by maintaining each breed in its own district
or in a district where the surrounding natural conditions are suitable for success.
No experienced stockman would attempt to breed Kachi or Guzerat cattle in
the Deccan; they require other surroundings than trap rock and a limited supply
of spear grass. In their own districts they do well, because they are surrounded
by considerable tracts growing a fine quality of grass, ample shade and water,
and the cultivated lands grow a greater variety of nutritious crops than in the
Deccan. They are safe from famine, and it is practicable at all seasons of the
year to give to full-grown and growing animals a liberal ration. The cattle
are maintained in thriving conditions all the year round. Breeding animals are
thus capable of producing a healthy vigorous offspring and the young stock are
reared under conditions favourable to their perfect development. I have
visited certain tracts of country in the Presidency proper, Sind, and Káthiáwár,
where cattle have been bred for generations either for milk or draft purposes,
where the conditions are favourable, where the zamindar and the ryot are wealthy,
and where the breeds have been kept pure and distinct. I would wish to point
out that in these favourable localities the owner will tell you with pride the
pedigree of his cow or bull, and it is to these tracts of country I would humbly
suggest that our attention be turned; but on what lines we should work, is to
me a matter that requires most careful and deliberate consideration, as the facts
which I have already gathered are such as to lead one to believe that owners
have from generation to generation exercised more care and forethought in
mating their cattle than they do their horses, and that they have been careful
to keep the breeds pure and to keep such breeds in localities suitable for their
perfect development.
Cattle Fairs and Shows.
Ahmednagar.
58. Commenced on the 10th November 1894 and held in conjunction with
the horse show. Total number of animals exhibited
amounted to 168 against 504 last year.
Classes.—Neither so numerous nor so good as last year. There appears
to be great want of interest shown in this particular branch of the show by the
agricultural classes for which no definite reason can be given.
Talhar.
59. Commenced on 28th January 1895 and held in conjunction with the
horse show. The total number of animals exhibited
amounted to 32. A few very good oxen from the
Kachi hills fit for transport purposes. The remaining classes fair.
Moro.
60. Commenced on the 4th of February 1895 and held in conjunction
with the horse show. Total number of animals
exhibited amounted to 392 against 205 last year.
Classes.—Buffaloes and milch cows good. A great improvement in both
numbers and quality over last year.
Bhuj.
61. Commenced on 24th February 1895 and held in conjunction with the
horse show. The total number of animals exhibited
amounted to 311.
Classes.— Milch buffaloes good. Buffaloes and milch cattle fair. The
sheep exhibited were very good.
V.—VETERINARY INSTRUCTION.
Veterinary Dispensaries.
Násik.
62. Veterinary Graduate Mr. R. Reuben.—Inspected by me on the 18th
of December 1894 and found to be in good order.
Plans and estimates have been sanctioned and a suit-
able site selected for the new dispensary, which will have sufficient accommoda-
tion for in-door patients and shall lead to better results in future. The total
number of animals treated during the year amounted to 789, of which 101 were
in-patients. The graduate attended the outbreak of aptha epizootica in the town