(115)
Measurements of cattle (bulls, bullocks and cows) in the DACCA subdivision of DACCA district.
(No information given.)
DACCA SUBDIVISION—DACCA DISTRICT.
Information in connection with proposals for improving the breed of cattle in Bengal.
Serial
number.
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Questions.
2
What is the total land area of the subdivision (cultivated, grazing, and |
sterile, separately, if practicable)?
Is any land available on a Government estate or otherwise, and if so, on
what estate, which is suited for cattle-breeding?
How are cattle fed, whether stall-fed or grazod, or both; and whether
any grain, &c., is allowed?
Is grazing scarce or plantiful? ... ... ... ... ... ...
Is there any scarcity of drinking water for cattle?
...
...
...
...
Are the cattle sheltered during the winter and rains?
...
...
...
Number of bulls in proportion to cows, and whether sufficient or not? ...
Do the calves have all the cows' milk; if not, how much?
...
...
At what age are calves weaned, and how are they fed after weaning? ...
At what age are bull-calves golded, and when do they begin work? ...
Is fodder stored for cattle, and if so, what does it comprise?
...
...
Average yield of milk, and how long after calving do the cows continue
to give milk?
Average price of local bulls, cows, and bullocks
...
...
...
...
Ditto
of imported
ditto
...
...
...
...
...
Whence do the imported cattle come, and for what purpose are they
imported?
Is there any special system of cattle management in your subdivision? ...
What is the average height of the best bulls behind hump?
...
...
What is the average height of the worst bulls behind hump? ... ...
What is the average height of cows? ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Are Brahmini bulls lot looso?
...
...
...
...
...
...
Are there too many Brahmini bulls? ... ... ... ...
Answers.
3
Area of the district.
Cultivated
...
...
...
...
...
405,100
1/3 Grazing
...
...
...
...
...
202,550
= 870,240.
Stcrilo
...
...
...
...
...
202, 590)
There is no special piece of land within any Govornment or private es3tato
where a largo number of cattle can graze for a considerable portion of the
year; grazing is generally mado in fallow fields, on waste lands and rivor
lands, and on such other lands in the sadar subdivision. There are
as well in some places grazing maidans in common, but they are not very
extensive There are grazing tracts on the north, but they are not fit
for grazing throughout the year.
Cattle are both stall-fed and grazed. Grain is not generally allowed to cattle
as fodder, except by well-to-do men in towns and mufassals, who keep cattle
for milk supply only. They are fed with different bhasis of different
varieties of Lcroors and oil-cake and hay. In mufassal placos hay, oil-cake
and bhusis are also given to cattle according to the status of the owners.
Poor men generally graze their cattle in the field, and some times give hay
to them.
Grazing is sufficient almost in all places except in very few, where they
are very thickly populated and the cultivation is extensive.
Drinking water is not sufficient throughout the year in many places which
are far away from rivers and streams and whore there are no large tanks,
no reservoirs of water to supply water throughout the year. There the
inhabitants have a good deal of trouble to draw out water from the wells
for the drink of the cattle.
Yes; there are sheds to shelter cattle from the sun and rain. People
take special caro for the welfaro of their cattle.
Bulls may number 1 to 2 per cent. only in proportion to cows. And in f;ace
the proportion of bulls is very much less than what it should havo been.
As the bullocks are moro serviceable than the bulls, the people are ac-
customed to keep bullocks than bulls. And the worst of it is that the
best bulls are generally castrated, therefore the cattle are becoming degen-
erated, being bred by bad bulls and young ones. Brahmini bulls are also
gradually becoming loss, so the number of bulls for breeding purposes
is proportionately less.
One-half of the milk is milked by the owner of each cow for his own use,
whilst the other half is drunk by the calf.
Calves are on the average weaned at the age of six months. The calves
then graze with other cattle as usual.
The calves are gelded generally at the ages of 1½ to 2 years; in some cases
gelding takes place at the age of 2½ years to 3 years too.
Yes; bhusis of kesum of diflerent varieties and hay are generally kept in
storo as fodder for cattle.
3 pohs to 2½ seers of 80 tolas and exclusive of the milk drnuk by calves
from the teets. On an average cows give milk for five months after
calving.
Largo bulls being rare, the ordinary bulls are sold at Rs. 12 to Us. 15
each. The price of the ordinary bullocks ranges from Its. 10 to Rs. 25 each.
Up-country bullocks are sometimes imported, but they are not used in
cultivation, but in drawing carts in towns and marts.
They are generally imparted from the Bhagalpur Division, and as stated
above, they are used in carts in long towns and marts.
Nil.
5 to 6 feet.
4 to 4½ feet.
4½ to 5 feet.
They are let loose, but are said they are being taken possession of by
servants of some Mahammadans, who dispose of them.
Brahmini bulls have been almost searco in this sadar. The number is
very few.
p 2