MUKTESAR, FOR THE TWO YEARS ENDING THE 31ST MARCH, 1924
5
1,350 maunds of grain and 5,000 maunds of hay were purchased in this
manner, but great difficulty was experienced in obtaining hay of the
desired quality. During the season 1923-24, owing to the increase in
the programme for serum manufacture, tenders were called for antici-
pated requirements, and arrangements were made with contractors for
the delivery of 4,650 maunds of grain and 15,000 maunds of hay. In
addition, a local contractor to whom the portions of the estate not required
at present for laboratory work were leased was requested to deliver 575
maunds of grain in lieu of rent. The grain contractor was, however,
only required to supply about 2,800 maunds for the working season, and
did his work very well. It is hoped in time that the laboratory will be
able to take over the working of the estate so as to ensure ample supplies
of good fodder for the serum making animals there, and plans for effecting
the necessary rearrangements in the staffing of the laboratory so as to
realize this most necessary economic desideratum will be submitted
shortly to Government.
(b) Animal supplies. During the year 1922-23, 2,245 hill bulls, 18
hill buffaloes, and 150 plains buffaloes were purchased and admitted for
use into the out-kraals at Muktesar. Of these hill bulls, 463 were des-
patched for use at Izatnagar during the winter season, and 276 plains
buffaloes were purchased for use as serum-makers there.
During the year 1923-24, 3,423 hill bulls and 233 hill buffialoes
were purchased for use and admitted into the out-kraals at Muktesar.
Of the hill bulls, 1,140 were despatched to Izatnagar for use there during
the winter season, and 652 plains buffaloes were purchased for use as
serum-makers.
In regard to hill bulls the system of purchase was entirely revised.
In the first place, considerable interference with the work of producing
an efficacious anti-rinderpest serum and with the course of experimenta-
tion upon rinderpest had been experienced during recent years owing to
the fact that the animals purchased as hill bulls frequently displayed a
disturbingly high degree of resistance against the disease. There appears
to have taken place through the seasonal migrations of the hill inhabi-
tants to the plains at the foot of the hills a very distinct intermingling of
" plains " blood with the normal bovine population of the hills, which
had always been regarded as a race or kind of cattle extremely susceptible
to rinderpest and therefore most useful for furnishing " virus " in the
hyperimmunization of serum-makers. After a little experience, one has
little difficulty in recognizing the external characteristics of the small
sturdy hill cattle, and can distinguish admixture with the larger, more
lightly built plains animals. As in the past what were accepted as hill
bulls were purchased at rates varying according to their body weights
there was every inducement for contractors to bring unsuitable animals.
Again, difficulty was experienced in obtaining supplies to keep pace with
the rate of consumption. It was to the advantage of contractors to
bring animals from the outlying districts of Almora and Garhwal during
seasons of the year when despatch along the difficult hill roads was