NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
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SECSTION I—CATTLE-BREEDING.
38. Cattle-breeding—Tables VIII and VIII-A-
The prosperity of the Frontier agriculturist is intimately
bound up with that of his cattle. Bullocks supply him with
the motive over for all operations, be it be all the plough
or the cart or waterlift. Other sources of power exist only
in very few places and even these are not cheap enough
for agricultural purposes. Then installation is further pro-
hibited by the small holdings and meagre resources of the
average ryot. Hence he will have to depend upon his
bullocks for a long time to come. The cows which breed
the bullocks yield also milk which together with its products
constitutes almost the best animal food most farmers con-
sume.
Prior to 1927, when the livestock improvement work
in this Province was entrusted to the Civil Veterinary
Department, Punjab, no serious effort with any degree of
success was made by the overworked Department of the
Punjab. In 1927 the Department was separated from the
Punjab with a separate whole time Superintendent, when
Mr. S. M. A. Shah, B.Sc. (Hons.), M.R.C.V.S.,
(London), was appointed to the post. At that time about
20 bulls were at stud and were entrusted to the custody of
big Khans, but no scientific record of any kind was main-
tained. The condition of the cattle was non-descript and
of a very deteriorated quality. In vigour on an average
they were no better than goats.
A thorough survey of cattle in the Province with a
view to determine the relative traction capacity of the local
cattle and to evolve schemes to develope this traction power
and indirectly to increase the income of the cultivator from
his land was undertaken by the Superintendent. During
these surveys it was not possible locally to replace a good
pair of bullocks and that lakhs of rupees annually were
being drained away from the Province to the adjoining
districts of the Punjab for the purchase of bullocks.
Immediate economic solution of this serious problem led to
the introduction of a large number of stud bulls of an
approved breed with plenty of stamina and vigour, at the
same time not ignoring the uncertain supply of fodder in
certain barani and hilly tracts of the Province. Various
12
breeds were considered and it was decided, after thorough
consideration, that the well-known Dhanni breed of the
North Punjab was the most suitable for the purpose.
Later on the milk consumption in urban areas was
investigated and it was found that the local cows were very
poor milkers and thus they could not meet the demand of
milk in the cities and towns. Stud bulls of Montgomery
and Nili were, therefore, introduced in the Province to
develope the dairy cattle.
Recently Dajal breed is also given a scientific trial in
Dera Ismail Khan District and the results achieved will be
carefully observed.
39. Dhanni cattle-breeding—
During the year under report 52 more bulls of Dhanni
breed were entertained and 39 bulls were cast due to old
age. Thus at the close of the year there were 204 bulls
against 191 in the preceding year. These bulls covered
13,619 cows against 12,235 in the past year.
The produce of these bulls under the plough can till
at least two or three time the area of land that is tilled by the
local breed. This has resulted in a great economic gain to
the cultivator in the form of saving of feed. In times of
necessity the cultivator can get at least double the price by
selling the produce of stud bulls compared with what he would
get by selling of his local animals. The drain of money from
this Province for the purchase of bullocks to the Punjab has
been considerably reduced. The scheme is tending towards
improvement every year and the apathy of zamindars is
gradually being converted into a keenness on account of high
prices which are now obtainable for good plough bullocks of
Dhanni breed.
The out-put of the scheme was inspected and much
appreciated by the Hon'ble Finance Member, the Hon'ble
Minister for Transferred Departments and the Animal
Husbandry Expert, Imperial Council of Agricultural Research
in various Cattle Fairs and Shows.
40. Montgomery cattle-breeding—
Four stud bulls of Montgomery breed remained at stud
throughout the year under report at the Civil Veterinary
Hospitals, Kohat, Parachinar, Bannu and Peshawar. They
covered 221 cows against 200 cows in the preceding year,
13
Much improvement has been effected by these bulls in
the milk strain of local cows. It is under consideration to
locate more stud bulls at Mardan, Nowshera, Haripur,
Abbottabad and Dera Ismail Khan.
41. Dajal cattle-breeding—
Four stud bulls and two cows of Dajal breed were im-
ported for the first time in the Dera Ismail Khan District in
February, 1936. These bulls covered 12 cows. The out-
put of this new scheme will be carefully observed and will be
extended in future years if it proves useful.
42. Buffalo-breeding—
During the year under report one buffalo bull was enter-
tained and seven were cast due to old age leaving the balance
of 22 buffalo bulls of Nili breed against 28 in the preceding
year. These bulls covered 2,426 buffalo cows against 2,724
of the last year.
The present milk strain of buffaloes specially in the
Peshawar Valley is very low and one may put it at an
average of about 1,000 pounds per lactation per buffalo.
This is very low indeed especially when one knows the
potentialities of the Nili and Murah breeds to produce as
much as 8,000 pounds per lactation. It has now been
conclusively proved that the inheritence of the milk
character is through the sire. Approved sires are simply
not available in the Valley and one does not know where
to get them from. After a considerable consideration it is
now decided that we should rear our own sires and the
nucleus of the scheme would be the male buffalo calves
from the military dairy farms as by this procedure we
are in a position to know the pedigree of the sire. To have
a stud farm of our own is undoubtedly very desirable, but
the recurring expenditure which would probably run into
lakhs of rupees is an unsurmountable factor. We have
now arranged with the Military Dairy Farm, Peshawar, to
buy all male buffalo calves at the age. of two months at
Rs. 15 each and these will be handed over to the keen local
breeders on subsidy allowance. In two or three years when
this strain will be available for stud ; it is expected that
the crosses of this strain with the local strain will naturally
increase the output of milk and consequently of ghee in
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the Peshawar Valley ; thus ameliorating to a certain extent
the financial difficulties of the cultivator.
SECTION II—EQUINE BREEDING.
43. Horse-breeding—
In the beginning of the. year there were 14 horse and
one pony stallions in the non-selected districts, out of
which two were cast leaving the balance of 12 horse and
one pony stallions in the Province. These horse stallions
and the pony covered 611 and 33 mares respectively against
592 and 44 in the preceding year. The average number
of mares covered by a horse stallion increased from 42.2
to 43.6 per cent. Horse-breeding operation, however,
owing largely to the increased mechanical transport, have
not expanded and the number of horse stallions dropped
from 14 to 12.
44. Mule and donkey breeding—
The number of donkey stallions on the 1st April, 1935
was 15. During the year under report three more donkey
stallions were purchased from the Government Cattle Farm,
Hissar, thus the total number of these stallions was raised
from 15 to 18. These stallions covered 877 mares against
675 in the preceding year. The average number of mares
covered by a donkey stallion raised from 45.0 to 48.72.
In the interest of improvement of donkey as pack animals
of the donkey stallions were allowed to cover the donkey
mares.
SECTION III—SHEEP AND GOAT BREEDING.
45. Sheep and goat breeding—
Sheep and goat produce most of the meat consumed
in India and provide considerable quantities of milk and
butter-fat and very large amounts of wool and hair, the
quantity and value of which could be greatly increased.
The zamindars were, therefore, encouraged by demonstra-
tions and propaganda to rear sheep and goats in greater
numbers than they are doing now.
15
46. Sheep-breeding—
The term "sheep have golden feet" meaning thereby
that where sheep graze the land turns out gold, is true and
is due to the sheep's manure, which is uniformly distributed
over land grazed by sheep. The climate of this Province
is very cold in winter and, therefore, there is a
heavy demand for wool and woolen materials.
The
rearing of heavy fleeced sheep of good quality would, there-
fore, be very profitable. It would also help to develope
cottage industries such as the manufacture of woollen
materials and thus give employment to peasants. A very
advantageous feature about wool is that it can easily be
stored for any length of time and can conveniently be
carried to any place. These advantages would mean a
good deal to peasant whose resources are very limited as
the result of his poverty and ignorance.
Possibilities of improving the local sheep industry in
certain parts of the Province by crossing with the Ghilzai
strain have been examined and some practical shape will
be given to these observations as funds permit. The main-
tenance of a flock of Hashtnagri strain of sheep at Tarnab
is under consideration.
Some useful results have been achieved in the Kaghan
Valley by the introduction of Hissar dale cross. Crossing
with the pure merino in certain parts of the Mansehra Sub-
Division is full of possibilities and the Department is in
correspondence with Australia and the Union of South
Africa for the introduction of pure merino blood. During
the year under report ten more Hissar dale rams were
purchased from the Government Cattle Farm, Hissar and
located in Bannu and Kohat Districts.
47. Goat-breeding—
Certain areas like Teri Tahsil, portions of the Dera
Ismail Khan District at the foot of the Black Mountains
Pezu and bain passes of the Bannu District are absolutely
arid tracts. Any form of progressive agriculture is out of
question. Nothing except the scanty growth of shrubs on
the hills is to be found in these areas. The agriculturists
in these areas really deserve sympathetic consideration.
Perhaps it would be possible to grow mesquit bushes on
these hills indirectly to provide feed for goats. Seven bucks
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of Jumnapari strain of g oats, which are well-known for their
milk yield, were introduced. More bucks will be purchased
and located in these areas.
The local goats in Kaghan Valley possess hair which
resembles very much with the moihair and there seems to
be possibilities for the development of moihair industry.
The Department is in correspondence with the Union of
South Africa in this connexion.
SECTION IV—POULTRY KEPING.
48. Poultry keeping—
Animal products used for human food few have been
longer or more widely known than poultry. From the stand
point of consumption and nutritive value poultry meat differs
very little from other lean meats.
It is an efficient
protein
food
needed
for
the
building
of
body
tissues. The development of the poultry industry to its
present state in western countries has been brought about
largely by the demands for poultry products in human diet
and by the relative economy in the production of the pro-
ducts in comparison with other animal food products. In
respect of consumption, there are few other commodities so
widely used as poultry meat and eggs, the latter have also
various industrial uses.
The poultry keeping in the North-West Frontier Pro-
vince is still in infancy. The average person feeds his
stock on any grain he happens to find convenient, with no
regards as to the requirements of the young growing animal
or the "bred to lay' stock he may possess and the result
is rather a matter of luck. The principles of poultry keep-
ing are unknown to public and thus the local indigenous
breeds have deteriorated to such an extent that it is unwise
and uneconomical to maintain the local breeds.
With a view to improve the local strain of poultry a
nucleus of white leg horn breed of poultry was established
at Tarnab Farm.
Regular pedigree sheet and records
were started to develop the egg laying strain of breed as
acclamatized in the Province. Eggs available from this
nucleus were supplied to establish demonstration farms in
the civil veterinary hospitals in the Province, from where
17
the eggs will be issued to the zamindars for breeding pur-
poses at a nominal cost. It is expected that this scheme
will improve the local indigenous breeds of poultry within a
few years.
SECTION V—DAIRY FARMING.
49. Dairy farming—
Fresh unchanged milk obtained under scrupulously
clean and hygienic conditions from healthy and properly fed
cows furnishes a food complete and thoroughly wholesome
both for children and adults. It contains all the essential
nutritive constituents of a complete food in most suitable
proportions and as such approaches to being a perfect food
nearer than any other single natural food. The necessity
and importance of milk as an article of diet is realized by
all. What, however, is not realized by the general public
is the importance that should be attached to the milk being
clean. However valuable and rich in nutritive elements
milk may be, as a food in itself, yet, when it is carelessly
produced, handled and distributed under uncleanly condi-
tions, it may prove to be a source of serious danger to
public health.
The present milk which is available in the market is
decidedly unclean, unwholesome and contaminated by
adulterating dirty water and other raw products. The
consumers of such milk suffer from various diseases. To
ward off the danger of disease infection and to procure un
adulterated fresh milk opening of municipal dairy farms is
under consideration. During the year under report one
standard dairy farm was started at the Peshawar Islamia
College under the scheme.
At present lot of milk is wasted on account of crude
methods of preparing ghee. It is under consideration to
instal separators and ghee plants at some important rural
centres in Peshawar District. Milk will be purchased from
the zamindars of the neighbouring villages. Cream will
be separated from milk and the skimmed milk will be
returned to the farmers at a nominal price. Ghee will then
be manufactured scientifically which will be marketed on
commercial lines.
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SECTION VI—LLIVESTOCK SHOWS AND FAIRS.
50. Livestock shows and fairs—Table XIII and XIV—
Four cattle fairs and horse shows were held during
the year under report at Haripur, Peshawar, Kohat and
Bannu and their statistics are given in tables XIII and XIV
attached.
All these fairs and shows were personally attended by
the Superintendent, and his staff. Separate exhibition
wards were arranged in all shows, where the value of cattle
breeding scheme could be correctly judged. Worthless
indigenous cows when crossed with Dhanni stud bulls pro-
duced marvellous off-springs, which were under six months
of age exceeded their mothers in size, conformation, activity
and stamina. For the purpose of contrast the off-springs
of best cows crossed by indigenous bulls were also made to
stand side by side. It was here that the value of the cattle
breeding scheme could be appreciated and this fact was
brought home to the Hon'ble Sir George Cunningham,
Kt., K.C.I.E., C.S.I., C.B.E., I. C. S., Home Member,
the Hon'ble Khan Bahadur Nawab Sahibzada Sir Abdul
Qaiyum Khan, Kt., K.C.I.E., Minister for Transferred
Departments,
Colonel
A.
Olver,
C.B.,
C.M.G.,
F.R.C.V.S., Animal Husbandry Expert, Imperial Council
of Agricultural Research, Lieutenant-Colonel E. W. C.
Noel, C.I.E., D.S.O., I. A., Director of Agriculture and
Allied Departments, North-West Frontier
Province,
District Officers and visitors who were extremely glad to
see the marvellous results obtained as a result of the
Subsidy Scheme.
Handbills regarding different diseases of livestock were
posted at suitable places and also distributed amongst the
common masses. These gave useful hints to eradicate and
overcomee the most dreadful scourges of the livestock.
Various lectures were also delivered by this Department on
general principles of feeding, breeding and keeping of live-
stock.
The foot-bath construction at the Cattle Show,
Hairpur, was a novelty to the public. This is a very useful
thing to ward off the possibility of occurrence of foot and
mouth disease, which is so rapid in spreading that one
sick calf with her mother in the show is sure to infect
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the whole lot. But the construction of foot-bath costing
only a nominal amount has materially helped to stop the
appearance of such a terrible disease. This demonstration
convinced many zamindars to construct such foot-baths in.
their own villages.
Some useful speeches on veterinary and allied subjects
were also broadcast from the Peshawar Broadcasting
Station.
CHAPTER IV—MISCELLANEOUS.
51. Veterinary education—
There were 10 Frontier students studying at the
Punjab Veterinary College, Lahore, at the beginning of the
year under report. Eight more students were admitted out
of which three left from the first year class and two left the
College after qualifying as L. V. P. Hence there were
13 Government stipendiaries at the College at the close of
the year.
Three more students of this Province were studying at
the Behar Veterinary College, Patna, as private students.
It is under consideration to depute some Government
stipendiaries to this College in future years.
A Veterinary Stock Assistants' Class was held at the
Civil Veterinary Hospital, Peshawar City, to impart
elementary training in animal husbandry and veterinary
science to the youngmen of this Province. The admission
to this class was restricted to the young matriculates, who
after qualifying the prescribed examination were employed
as Veterinary Stock Assistants and Compounders in the
Department.
Two Veterinary Assistant Surgeons were deputed to
the Imperial Veterinary Research Institute, Muktesar, for
training in the technique of preparation and preservation of
the goat tissue virus and the rinderpest vaccination, who
on their return trained the local staff in the field.
Another Veterinary Assistant Surgeon was deputed to
the Imperial Dairying Institute, Bangalore, to undergo the
Post-graduate Course.
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52. Blood manure experiment—
A considerable quantity of blood is wasted in the
slaughter houses, which can profitably be used in various
horticultural operations. An experiment was conducted at
Peshawar and it was proved that the blood manure could
easily be manufactured on commercial scale at a very cheap
rate.
53. Prevention of cruelty to animals—
With the object of prevention of cruel treatment and
to secure the welfare of the animals a society was establish-
ed at Peshawar. The Hon'ble Home Member presided
the society and a sum of Rs. 1,000 was sanctioned by the
Government as a grant-in-aid to the society. The Super-
intendent worked on the Executive Committee and also
acted as Honorary Veterinary Surgeon to the society.
For the treatment of dumb creatures who are driven and
beaten mercilessly while they are lame, wounded, diseased
or dibilitated, the society opened a veterinary dispensary in
Peshawar Cantonment on the 1st October 1935, which is
daily open for two hours from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The
animals are treated free as out-door patients. Mr. Shah
prepared a series of handbills and films to demonstrate the
cruel treatment inflicted by some of the merciless owners
and to show the general principles of feeding, watering,
grooming, and stable cleanliness which should be adopted
by every stock owner. An Inspector was appointed by the
society who persuaded the stockmen not to put the animals
to work while they are diseased, wounded, lame or
debilitated. The tonga drivers who did not hear to his
advice were convicted under the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals Act. It is under consideration to open a regular
dispensary of the S. P. C. A., for the treatment of animals
as in-door patients in Peshawar Cantonment.
54. Expenditure—
The detail of expenditure is given in table XV attach-
ed.
55. General remarks—
There was a considerable increase in the activities of
the Department. Details of work done during the year are
21
given in previous chapters. In a nut-shell they are as
follows :—
(1) District offices were established in accordance
with the recommendations of the Royal Com-
mission on Agriculture in India.
(2) A well-equipped veterinary laboratory was
established.
(3) Rinderpest goat-tissue virus was locally pre-
pared in the
Veterinary
Laboratory
at
Peshawar.
(4) Vaccination against rinderpest was introduced.
(5) Ten additional regular dispensaries were open-
ed.
(6) Thirty-four more touring dispensaries were
started.
(7) Fifty-two more Dhanni, four Dajal bulls and
two Dajal cows were purchased.
(8) Buffalo-calves of approved milk strain were
purchased from Military Dairy Farm.
(9) Three more donkey-stallions were added to the
list.
(10) Ten more Hissar dale rams were purchased.
(11) Five bucks of Jamnapari breed were imported.
(12) Poultry demonstration farms were opened.
(13) Blood-manure was manufactured.
(14) S. P. C. A. Dispensary was opened in the
Peshawar Cantonment.
(15) Various lectures were delivered and demonstra-
tions held.
(16) Speeches were prepared and supplied for
broadcasting.
(17) Articles were published in various veterinary
journals.
(18) Thirty departmental leaflets were issued.
(19) Veterinary Stock Assistants' class was held.
(20) Foot-baths for the control of foot and mouth
diseases were introduced.
22
As emphasized in the previous year's report the
creation of the post of Deputy Director Veterinary Services
is a pressing necessity. Proposal for the conversion of the
post of the Superintendent into Deputy Director Veterinary
Services has been submitted to Government which involves
a nominal expenditure and it is hoped, will meet the approval
of Government.
The clerical staff continued to work zealously and
energetically under the supervision of M. Ghulam Sarwar
Khan, Head Clerk, whose name is specially mentioned for
his good work. As it will appear from the report the
Department has increased its activities by almost hundred
per cent. This has naturally enhanced the responsibilities
of the Head Clerk, who controls the office. In view of the
above Government has been approached to enhance his
grade and pay compatible with his position and responsi-
bilities.
On the recommendation of the Superintendent, nine
zamindars were granted Kursi Nashin tickets in recognition
of their services rendered to this Department.
With a few exceptions the work of the technical staff
was satisfactory. The Superintendent commends the work
done by his Personal Assistant Raja Sadar-ud-Din Ahmad,
and the following officials :—
(1) Ch. Feroze Din, Veterinary Assistant Surgeon,
Peshawar City.
(2) Hafiz Siraj-ud-Din, Veterinary Inspector, Dera
Ismail Khan.
(3) M. Samiullah Khan, Veterinary Inspector,
Mardan.
(4) M. Hamesh Gul Khan, Veterinary Assistant,
Bannu.
The Superintendent is deeply indebted to Lieutenant-
Colonel E. W. C. Noel, C.I.E., D.S.O., I. A., Director of
Agriculture and Allied Departments, North-West Frontier
Province, for his kind, keen, sympathetic and enthusiastic
interest in the welfare of the Department and invaluable
direction and guidance.
The Superintendent, also takes this opportunity of
thanking all District Officers and Political Agents especially
Major G. L. Mallam, Bar-at-Law, I. A., Deputy Commis-
sioner, Kohat, and Captain E. H. Cobb, O.B.E., I. A.,
23
Deputy Commissioner, Bannu, who in spite of their manifold
duties, have taken so much interest in making the veterinary
organization of their district effective and production of good
results to the stock breeding industry of the Province.
S. M. A. SHAH,
Superintendent,
Civil Veterinary Department,
North-West Frontier Province.
GS&PDeptt-NWFP—1448CVD-140-6-10-36—(69)