7
TABLE IX.
BULL BREEDING FARMS.
The Bettiah Farm is still under the control of the Veterinary Department
and was visited by me on two occasions during the year. The strength of the
herd at present is 34 cows, 31 bull calves below 3 years of age, 20 heifers
below 3 years of age, 2 stud bulls, one stud buffalo and 11 buffalo bull calves.
Nine bulls were distributed during the year, making a total of 34, one having
been brought back as unsuitable and castrated. No buffalo bulls were distri-
buted during the year; 36 calves were born, out of which 21 were bull calves
and 15 heifers, 7 of the former and 2 of the latter died, 22 animals consisting
of 6 cows, 8 heifer calves and 8 bull calves were rejected and sold for a total
sum of Rs. 950. Four farm bred heifers were taken into the herd while one
cow died.
Three bull calves were secured locally, while 11 buffalo bull calves were
purchased in the Punjab for the herd during the year. Two attempts were
made to secure cows in Shahabad, and in the neighbourhood of Sitamarhi and
Madhubani, but owing to the high prices demanded, it was impossible to secure
any.
The fencing of the compounds and of the plots was completed during the
year. Grazing especially on the new plots was good, while the supply of other
fodder was ample. The cows have not been doing so well this year and there
has been a large number of rejections. The stud bull will be changed as soon
as a suitable animal is obtained. The cost of the herd during the year amounts
to Rs. 9,514.
SEPAYA FARM.
The following is the report of the Superintendent of the Government Cattle
Farm at Sepaya, Saran District:—
The herd at the end of the year consisted of 2 bulls, 89 COWS, 53 calves
over one year of which 31 were male and 22 female and 60 calves at heel
making a total of 204 against 119 at the beginning of the year.
Two bulls were sold, one to the District Board, Purnea, and the other to
the District Board, Saran, during the year. The total number of herd at the
end of the year includes 28 new cows with 17 calves at heel purchased from
the Ballia and Shahabad districts between the 8th and 28th March 1916.
There were 44 new births in the year under report and 2 losses by death, viz.,
one calf and one V6ry old cow.
2. Agricultural herd.—In addition to the breeding herd, there were 43
bullocks retained for agricultural purposes at the beginning of the year. Five
new bullocks have been purchased during the year from the Ballia and Sha-
habad districts. One bullock died of " Impaction of the Stomach".
3. Grazing area.—Seventy acres of land which were set aside last year
for grazing and exercise of the breeding herd have been divided off with wire
into six paddocks—four of 12½ acres each and two of 10 acres each.
4. General health of the cattle.—One hundred and thirty-four general cases
were treated during the year under report. Foot and mouth disease broke out
in the Farm, and after a few attacks only, the disease subsided. Eighty-four
cattle were inoculated with Black-legeids and 179 with Anti-Rinderpest serum,
as there were outbreaks of the diseases in the vicinity of the Farm. The con-
dition and general health of the cattle were good.
TABLES X, XI AND XII.
These are blank as in previous years.
TABLES XIII AND XIV.
Particulars of principal fairs and shows are given in Tables XIII and
XIV. The demand for cattle during the year under report improved consider-
ably, but the prices were not nearly as satisfactory as in 1913-14. The total
number of cattle transported in wagons by the Bengal and North-Western