PART II.—PROVINCIAL REPORT.
IV.—CATTLE BREEDING, &c.
464. The Government of India, in Revenue and Agricultural Department
Resolution No. 27—133, dated 4th July 1893, directed that information with
reference to cattle should be collected under different headings; but during
the year under review little progress has been made. On this point the
Assistant to the Inspector-General, Civil Veterinary Department, who superin-
tends the animal disease branch of the Head-quarter Office, reports as follows :—
Collection of Statistics, etc.—The Department is not yet in working order, so that
reports have not yet been regularly submitted, and the collection of statistics has made little
progress. In the Bombay Presidency endeavours have been made to obtain early reports
regarding outbreaks of contagious and infectious diseases amongst stock. The Local Govern-
ment sanctioned a system of reporting by Mamlatdars and other village officers. The
reports received are useful, but all districts do not appear to have submitted them with equal
regularity. General reports have been received from the North-Western Provinces, but no
other Provinces have given any information on the subject. It is not to be hoped that
much can be done until the Subordinate Veterinary Department is appointed.
465. The Assistant to Inspector General, Civil Veterinary Department
has carefully reviewed the results of the introduction of Brittany cattle into
India and has arrived at the following conclusions :—
(a) That the most suitable cross for the hills is that between Brittany
and small plains cattle, the cows being good milkers.
(b) The cross between the Brittany and Pahari is not satisfactory, the
cows being bad milkers.
(c) The cross between the Brittany and the Nagori yield nicely-shaped
animals, but inferior milkers.
(d) The males of all these crosses are useless as plough cattle in India,
owing to the absence of the hump and to the altered position of
the neck.
466. This officer concludes his report on this subject with the following
remarks:—
I may remark that no better breed of cattle could have been selected from Europe to
improve the milking powers of the hill breeds in India, or for the production of milch cattle
for the hills. The reasons why success has not attended the enterprise are firstly, that
the zemindars prefer plough cattle to milch, and the produce of Brittany and Pahari, being
humpless, is considered useless ; secondly, cattle-breeding is carried on in a most haphazard
fashion by the people, who never feed their cows on anything but grass ; and when any breed
is submitted to the treatment which Indian cattle receive, they fall off in milk. The pro-
duce then soon becomes as bad, or nearly so, as the original indigenous stock.
It is only therefore to be expected that improvement can be made when the enterprise
is undertaken by Europeans who are willing to spend time and money.
467. The conclusions to be drawn are therefore against the introduction of
European breeds of cattle.
468. The Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, Bombay, reports
that bulls have been supplied and supported by various Local Boards; but, as
he justly remarks, " it will be necessary to obtain the present records of the
Presidency before suggesting improvements or attempting to take any steps
in the matter."
469. This officer, with a view of testing the powers of transference of
sheep from one part of India and Australia to other parts, has maintained a
flock at Ahmednagar ; they were obtained from Baluchistan, Deccan, Rajpu-
tana and Australian Merinos. His experiments in crossing them with Siah
Band rams are most instructive.
470. I regret that but little progress has been made under this most
important heading during the year under review, but it must be considered
that instructions were issued somewhat late in the year. I trust, however, that
during the coming cold weather much will be done.
Cattle
fairs
and shows
471. The Superintendent, North Punjab, reports as follows:—
No cattle fair or show has been visited by me during the year under report; in fact
only one cattle fair was held in the North Punjab, viz., Shahkot, Jhang district and as
that fair followed so close upon the horse show at Jhang, it was impossible for me to reach
there in time.