( 8 )
of new cases treated by the Veterinary Assistants and excludes old cases,
cases for which advice was given but no medicine, and inoculations, and they
are as correct as it is at present possible to make them. As the inspecting staff
increases and more attention can be paid to the work of each assistant, they
will become of greater value in judging the work which these men now per-
form in the districts.
60. The Veterinary Assistants of the following districts did not work
satisfactorily:—24-Parganas, Darbhanga, Puri, Khurda, Bettiah, Sasaram, Nadia,
Midnapore and Darjeeling. In the cases of the assistants of Khurda and Puri
special enquiries were made into their work by the departmental Inspectors and
myself.
61. Since the beginning of last year, the assistants were instructed to
inspect all the ekka and hackney ponies and their stables at least once a
quarter. This work has been carried on satisfactorily and in the case of Hooghly
and Burdwan it has resulted in marked improvement in the condition of the
ponies. I regret, however, to say that Gaya still has a deplorably bad service.
62. With the object of putting down cruelty and improving the condition
of ponies used for hire, proposals will be submitted to Government during the
coming year, for the extension of Calcutta Hackney Carriage Act to the whole of
Bengal, and for the compulsory employment of the Veterinary Inspectors by
municipalities for the inspection of ponies at the time of granting licenses.
PART III.—BREEDING OPERATIOSS.
63. Table VIII shows the number of stud bulls kept in the various
districts of the province. One bull the property of the Muzaffarpur District
Board was lost or stolen and though a reward of Rs. 25 was offered, no trace
of it has yet been obtained.
64. During my absence on leave last year no bull calves were purchased
for the department, but this year arrangements have been made with the
Managers of the Bettiah and Hathwa Raj estates to rear some as an experi-
ment. The shortage of bulls in the breeding districts still continues. District
Boards in Bihar have been addressed with a view to their purchasing bull
calves, and getting them reared by planters or native gentlemen interested in
cattle-breeding. Members of the District Agricultural Associations have also
been approached on the same subject.
65. Bull-rearing and breeding farms and depôts.—The bull breeding farms in
this province are Siripur, Kalimpong and Bettiah ; they are not supported at
Government expense. They were inspected by me, and necessary instructions
were given in connection with the management and upkeep of the herds.
66. Siripur Farm.—At the close of the year, on this farm, there were 44
desi cows; of these 9 were farm bred, the remainder being purchased from the
neighbouring districts in previous years. All these cows have been approved
and have received the service of a bull of their own type. Some cows were sent
to Pusa to be mated with the stud bull there. A temporary exchange was made
with a young bull of this farm for the Pusa stud bull. During the year 42
calves were born; of these 23 were males and 19 females. Three of these
calves died within a short period of their birth. During the year ten bull
calves and two heifers were selected, while two cows, no bull calves and
nine heifer calves were rejected. The sale of rejected stock realized Rs. 407.
67. It is worthy of note that no rejections were made amongst the bulls,
and regarding heifers most of them were sold because they were not required.
68. A new scheme has been adopted on the recommendation of the
Senior Member of the Board of Revenue, the Hon'ble Mr. F. A. Slacke, by
which all bulls reared on the farms are in future to bo distributed to various
centres in the estates, instead of as formerly, selling them to persons who had
no connection with the Raj.
69. During the year 13 bulls were selected and distributed. There
are now altogether 17 farm-bred bulls in various villages at the disposal
of the tenants. From the reports submitted periodically by the Sazowals and
from personal enquiries by the Superintendent, it appears that there services
are eagerly sought after and that they are treated well. One bull was badly
beaten by a tenant of a neighbouring zamindar on to whose land it had strayed;
the Manager of the estate is taking action.