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This Department would welcome more money for the improvement of agricultural stock on which most of the
wealth of the country depends. The Superintendent, Veterinary-Captain Ringe, has loyally worked for the objects
of both Departments, and with the very limited funds at his disposal, the results have been distinctly good.
985. The Director of Land Records and Agriculture, Punjab, states:—
It is, I think, now generally accepted that the Hissar bull, having been bred up free, loses his vitality if kept
under restraint, and that the present system of allowing them to mix freely with the village herds is the only one
that will work. The remarks of the Superintendent, North Punjab, as to the apathy and ignorance of the people
about cattle breeding shows how necessary it is to have the services of an expert in cattle who would advise the
District Boards and District Authorities as to the selection of the best stamp of bull to cross with the local breeds.
986. The Punjab Government in their Resolution on the subject, state:—
Veterinary-Captain Pease, in the report referred to above, drew attention to the evils resulting from the
practice of turning loose inferior bulls as 'pun' At the request of Government, the Director of Land Records has
submitted a separate report as to the practicability of doing anything to regulate the custom.
987. Two points are of great interest in the above remarks:—
(a). Showing the necessity for the appointment of an Officer who will
take this subject, as well as others connected with cattle, in hand.
(b). The necessity of some regulations on the subject of loosing bulls
amongst village herds as a religious act.
988. In the Central Provinces, where cattle are of such value, although the
matter of cattle-breeding is alluded to in the Superintendent's report, still no
mention is made of this important matter in the review by that Administration
which was submitted to the Government of India.
989. The same remarks apply to Madras and it is to be regretted that
attention is not directed to a subject in which the agricultural community are
interested.
990. I am pleased to be able to note that the Government of Bombay has
not lost sight of this question, for in their review on the report of the Superinten-
dent, Civil Veterinary Department, they remark:—
Fuller details on the important subject of cattle-breeding might have been given in the Report. As suggested
by the Survey Commissioner and Director, steps should be taken to procure complete information of the results of the
service of stud bulls maintained by Local Boards.
991.
I trust, now that the horse-breeding operations of which the
Superintendent, Bombay, is in charge, are limited to the Presidency proper, and
that he has been relieved of Sind, that he will devote his attention to this matter.
992. To show how far reaching is this most important subject of cattle-
breeding, I would quote a short paragraph extracted from a Memorial of the
Zemindar Association, submitted for the consideration of the Famine Com-
mission:—
Improvement of breed and number of cattle.—The importance of this subject cannot be denied, but the question
is what the Famine Commission has to do with it? The Association beg to point out that even wells and canals are
of no use without the active help of bullocks. If a tenant has a good well for irrigation, and is possessed of a
sufficient number of bullocks, be can feed not only himself, his family, and his bullocks, but can provide food for a
good many of his neighbours, however keen the famine may be: and therefore this question is most relevant.
Everybody knows the importance of this subject, but nothing can be done without the Government help. The
Government has done very much in improving the breed of horses to meet the requirements of the Military Department
and it can adopt similar suitable measures to improve the cattle-breeding also. It will be mere waste of time of the
Commission if we mention in detail why the condition of bullocks is so poor in the country, and how it can be
improved. These are things for future consideration. But it should be admitted that it also deserves the full attention
of the Famine Commission.
993. The matter is most forcibly put and it must entirely rest with the
Government of India and Local Governments to decide whether it is to be taken up
or not. Given enough Officers, this Department is quite prepared to take the question
up on a systematic and scientific basis.
994. Although the work done which is reviewed in the above quoted
extracts, refers to the year 1896-97 and not to the present year, still I have
alluded to them as they are issued too late to be incorporated in the Administra-
tion Report of the year to which they refer.
995. During the year under review, the Government of India was pleased
to nominate me as President of a Committee ordered to assemble to report on
various points connected with the Hissar Cattle Farm, and as bearing on the
question of cattle-breeding in India generally, one of the points submitted for
the consideration was:—
Should endeavours be made to continue to breed bulls, with a view of benefiting the breeds of cattle in
Northern India.
996. As containing my views on a subject to which I would wish to direct
the attention of all Local Governments, I would extract my remarks from my
instructions to the Committee when laying before them the objects for which
it was assembled:—