7
III.—BREEDING OPERATIONS.
(1)—BOVINES.
Stud bulls and
their produce.
50. Table VIII shows the number of stud bulls employed and obtained dur-
ing the year. From this it will be seen that the Punjab is the only province in
which any real progress has been made in this important matter. The subject
has received attention from District Boards and Municipalities in that Province
for a long time past and spasmodic efforts have been made to supply good bulls.
The Hissar Cattle Farm has been in existence for many years and it has supplied
bulls to District Boards on payment but these have not in all cases been suitable,
though many districts have been glad to obtain them.
51. The bulls from the Farm are now greatly improved by careful
breeding and selection but will not of course be suitable for any but good big
cows such as exist in many Northern districts. Conditions vary so greatly in
the different districts that it is only by careful enquiry and assiduous touring in
them that we can decide what measures are best to adopt to assist the people
by supplying them with suitable stud bulls. So long as Superintendents have
huge Provinces to deal with, it cannot be hoped that this can be done as owing
to pressure of other work very little real knowledge can be gained of the local
requirements. With the increase in numbers of Superintendents, however, it
will be possible in time to divide up the provinces into workable charges, so that
Officers can gain an intimate knowledge of their districts and ascertain what
it is possible to do in the way of providing suitable stud bulls. Most provinces
realize the necessity for action in providing bulls but are handicapped by the
fact that suitable animals cannot be obtained for the purpose.
Bull-rearing
and breeding
Farms and
Depots.
52. Table IX shows the main results of the working of the Provincial Cattle
Farms. This will show that, so far, there are only two in existence, viz., one at
Nagpur (Tilunkheri) and the other at Hoshangabad (Pawarkhera) in Central
Provinces. Both these have been very recently started. At Nagpur (Tilunkheri
Farm) where there are 43 cows, there are 2 male stock two years old, 15 year-
lings, 14 calves, 8 yearling heifers and 22 calves, so that some progress is
being made. The other Farm is too young to allow of an opinion being
formed as to its success or otherwise, but the Superintendent reports an increase
of 19 head.
53. In the Punjab it has been decided to establish a bull breeding farm at
Sargodha in the Jhelum Canal Colony for the purpose of breeding bulls of the
Dhanni type which will be suitable for the Northern districts of that Prov-
ince.
54. In Bombay, a farm is to be established at Sholapur. There is one at
present at Chharodi in the Ahmedabad district conducted by the Gujarat Cattle
Preservation Association under the presidency of the Commissioner, Northern
Division.
55. In Bengal there are farms at Pusa and Hathwa Raj.
(2) EQUNIES (UNDER LOCAL BODIES).
Horse, pony
and donkey
stallions.
56. Table X gives the number of horse, pony and donkey stallions under
Local Bodies. There were 35 horses, 96 ponies and 75 donkeys at the beginning
of the year and the numbers remaining at the end were 43 horses, 85 ponies and
68 donkeys. 18 horses and 3 ponies were added by purchase and transfer during
the year and 10 horses, 14 ponies and 7 donkeys died, were destroyed or trans-
ferred, leaving a total of 128 horse and pony stallions and 68 Jacks against 118
and 75 last year.
57. All stallions are now maintained by District Boards. The importance of
providing sufficient stallion power in those districts not selected by the Remount
Department where mares are plentiful and also to replace Government stallions
removed when horse-breeding was abandoned in them, as well as the necessity
of fostering mule breeding to maintain the supply for the Transport Depart-
ment, has been realized by Government and sanction given for the purchase of
6 stallions in the United Provinces and 20 horse and pony and 16 donkeys in