182
should take little interest in such an important department of zemindari. A few
Government bulls were said to be located in this tehsil, but none were to be
seen. No doubt the soil and climate are prejudicial to cattle-breeding, and
the zemindars are poor, and this probably accounts for their lack of interest
in this matter.
In the Tehsil of Taran Taran and Amritsar cattle are much finer, and a
sufficient number of animals should be bred to meet all requirements. This
has been recognised by the local Boards which have supplied several excellent
bulls for the improvement of cattle breeding and much has been done in con-
sequence. The zemindars invariably spoke of the bulls with appreciation, and
showed the young stock with pride. The best class of animals were to be
seen about Nowshera, Janroi, Sarahli, Kalan and Ramwala.
Jallandhur.—The greater part of this district is unsuitable for cattle
breeding, and the requirements are principally made up by purchase at the
several large cattle fairs held in Rohtak and Sirsa districts.
Little or no interest is taken in breeding, and in fact the zemindars say
that they prefer the small sized cattle, and only use them for well work and
ploughing for which they are suitable. Although small in height they are
capable of doing much useful work. The larger sort of cattle are held in con-
tempt by these zemindars, who speak of them as " Dhila badan " or slack-
bodied animals. The indigenous cattle inspected were very small and
wretchedly thin, but this can be accounted for by the fact of the severe
drought experienced this year.
Indigenous
Bulls.
750. One of the most important questions with regard to the improvement
of cattle-breeding is that of the Brahmini or village herd bulls. From returns
made of the cattle in each of the five districts visited, the number of indige-
nous bulls given seems to be quite inadequate. It seems hardly credible that
the supply of herd bulls can be so low. The following figures for a few
tehsils will give some idea of the numbers present according to recent
returns:—
District.
Ludhiana . . . . .
Ditto . . . . .
Lahore . . . . .
Ditto . . . . .
Ditto
.
.
.
.
.
Ferozepur
.
.
.
.
.
Ditto . . . . .
Amritsar
.
.
.
.
.
Ditto
.
.
.
.
.
Jallandhur
.
.
.
.
.
Ditto . . . . .
Tehsil.
Ludhiana . . . .
Jagraon . . . .
Lahore . . . .
Chunian . . . .
Kasur . . . .
Zira
.
.
.
.
.
Muktesar . . . .
Amritsar . . . .
Taran Taran
.
.
.
Nakoder . . . .
Phillour . . . .
Number of
cows.
41,318
18,179
38,692
41,025
40,434
15,513
19,983
31,253
38,793
15,763
19,644
Number of
herd bulls.
41
200
75
139
199
114
288
165
172
121
97
REMARKS.
A glance at the above will show how very disproportionate the number of
bulls are to the cows, and when it is remembered that those enumerated
include the old and those otherwise unfit, the proportion is still more absurd.
The question then arises, how are all these cows covered ? Experience shows
that a large number are served by the young and premature bulls of the herd,
so that there is constant in-and-in breeding, and this no doubt is largely
answerable for the degeneracy of the Indian cattle. Until some such system
as separate herding of young male stock is resorted to, or a preventive screen
applied to all young bulls, the old system of in-and-in breeding must, much as
it may be regretted, continue.