7
The need of bulls in all districts of the Province where breeding on a large
scale is carried on is greatly felt, but it will be a long time before anything
tangible can be done, as the present breeding herds are totally inadequate in
size. The plan adopted by the Bettiah Raj of confining the distribution of the
bulls to the Bettiah Estate is the one most likely to give good results. It
appears to me that an effort should be made to improve the cattle of Orissa by
starting another cattle farm in Cuttack or Puri District, and it would be
advisable during the coming year to make enquiries in those Districts
with a view to selecting a suitable site.
TABLES X, XI, XII.
HORSE AND PONY STALLIONS.
These Tables are blank, as in the previous year.
TABLES XIII AND XIV.
Particulars of the principal fairs and shows held in the Province are given
in the above tables. Owing to the low price of jute caused by. the war the
Bengal demand for cattle has been greatly curtailed, with the result that
prices were quite 25 per cent. or more below those of the previous year.
As an instance of the drop in the demand, it may be mentioned that only
1,149 wagons representing 9,192 cattle were carried over the Bengal and
North Western Railway this year as compared with 4,004 wagons holding
32,000 head in 1913-14.
I visited Sonepur, Khagra and Singeswarthan fairs to purchase elephants,
but only succeeded in obtaining one at Sonepur, owing to the high prices
demanded. The other large fairs, such as Bettiah, Bihta, Barahpur, Dharam-
gunj, Hardi and Sitamarhi were visited either by the Veterinary Assistants or
the Circle Inspectors. Temporary hospitals were opened and many animals
were brought to them for treatment. At Khagra and Sitamarhi fairs demons-
trations were given on the various methods of treating contagious diseases.
The Inspectors have now been provided with cattle troughs for demonstrating
the treatment of Foot and Mouth Disease ; this, they take from one fair to
another, during the cold weather for demonstration purposes. Large numbers
of pamphlets were distributed.
SUBORDINATE VETERINARY ESTABLISHMENT.
Table VII shows the strength of the Subordinate Veterinary Establishment
during 1914-15.
The number of Inspectors was the same as last year, viz., five only, but two
additional posts, one on Rs. 130 and another on Rs. 70 were sanctioned, with
effect from April 1915.
Fifty-seven Veterinary Assistants were in Government service on 1st
April 1914. As 11 Assistants joined the Department, the total number on the
roll at one period was 68, but three Assistants left the Department, one was
dismissed and one died, so the actual number at the end of the year was 63 only.
This figure includes the five Assistants who were on the Reserve list on 31st
March 1915, but not the one employed by the Bettiah Raj. The total therefore
is sixty-four.
As the posts at Hathwa and Dumraon and that under the Palamau En-
cumbered Estate have been abolished, it is unnecessary to show them on the
Departmental list any longer. The post of Itinerant Veterinary Assistant
under the Sambalpur District Council remained vacant throughout the year,
but that body has now agreed to provide funds from 1st April 1915.
Reserve Veterinary Assistants, Babu P. Panda and D. C. Guha continued
to act as Inspectors of Inoculators at Khunti and Gumla, respectively, in
connection with the Cattle Inoculation Scheme.