7
SIPAYA.
Government contemplate starting a cattle farm at Sipaya near Gopalganj
and for this purpose an area was selected by the Director of Agriculture,
Mr. Milne, last year.
The Maharani of Hathwa has graciously handed oyer some of the Siripur
cattle with which to start it. They include 1 hull, 15 cows, 20 heifers and
11 calves.
The farm will be under the management of Mr. M. Mackenzie, late
Manager of Siripur, with a Veterinary Assistant who will be placed in charge
of the herd. Mr. Mackenzie takes the keenest interest in all Agricultural
subjects and should for this reason be the means of making it a success.
TABLES X, XI, AND XII.
HOUSE AND PONY STALLIONS.
No horse or pony stallion was maintained during the year.
TABLES XIII AND XIV.
These Tables give particulars of the principal fairs and shows held in the
province. At Sonepur Fair five elephants were purchased, two for the
Madras Police and three for the Government Agent, Godavari, at a total
cost of Rs. 14,360.
The other fairs of importance were Bettiah (Dasahra), Bihta, Barahpur,
Khagra, Dharamganj, and Hardi, all of which were attended either by the
Veterinary Assistants or the Circle Inspectors. Mr. Pool was present at the
Bihta and Barahpur fairs. Temporary hospitals were opened by the local
Veterinary Assistants for the treatment of sick animals and help was eagerly
looked for.
In connection with the fairs held in Tirhut a statement was asked for from
the Traffic Manager of the Bengal and North-Western Railway regarding the
number of cattle which were transported to Eastern Bengal and Assam during
1913-14. The figures are as follows: 4,004 wagons representing roughly
32,032 head of stock, taking eight cattle to the truck. If one adds to these
figures another 15,000 for those that were taken by road, it will be seen that
the drainage of plough and cart bullocks from the northern districts of the
province during the year has been phenomenal.
During my tenure I have never seen anything to equal the demand that
has arisen. Bullocks of all kinds and of any age have been bought by Eastern
Bengal and Assam dealers while the price as compared with eight years ago has
risen quite 75 per cent. In parts of Tirhut, however, the planters reckon that
it has gone up as much as 100 per cent. It therefore appears to be necessary
that Government should meet this demand by providing high class stud bulls
and distributing them in suitable breeding areas as early as possible.
SUBORDINATE VETERINARY ESTABLISHMENT.
The total strength of the Subordinate Veterinary Establishment is specified
in Table VII. Up to June, 1913, there were four Inspectors on the roll
after which the fifth post was temporarily filled by promoting one of the Senior
Veterinary Assistants, Babu S. N. Chatterjee. This Inspector is for the present
in charge of the Bhagalpur Division with his headquarters at Bhagalpur.
At the commencement of the year the sanctioned staff consisted of 58
Veterinary Assistants exclusive of the three employed by the Raj Estates,
Hathwa, Bettiah, and Dumraon. As the posts under the Palamau Encumbered
Estates and Sambalpur District Council remained vacant, the total number
actually employed was 56 only. To this were added the four new graduates
that passed in March 1913, making the total number 60. But as one Veteri-
nary Assistant resigned during the year the number was 59 at the end of
March 1914. The Veterinary Assistant of the Hathwa Raj joined the depart-
ment in September last.