108
(c). District Boards should, I consider, maintain only such a number
of stallions as the funds at their disposal will permit them to do
without having to charge covering fees. This system, if general-
ly adopted, will lead to extortion and to the result that the
stallions will not be patronized. On this subject I purpose ad-
dressing the Director of Land Records and Agriculture of the
Provinces in which the system is carried out.
(d). The same rules which exist for the care of Government stallions
might, with advantage, be adopted for District Board stallions,
except that I would increase the number of mares to be covered
by them from 50 to 70. This number has in many instances,
been exceeded, some stallions having covered as many as 120
mares during the year; this will lead to premature decay of
the stallions and will result in disappointment to the zemindars.
(e). I am informed that the want of syces well trained in the manage-
ment of stallions and mares at the time of covering is much
felt. This may account for many of the mares not holding. I
shall endeavour, in communication with the Directors, Land
Records and Agriculture, North-Western Provinces and Oudh and
Punjab, to arrange for the training of these men at the depôt.
Mule-breed-
ing (Provincial).
545. But little progress has been made in this direction. Provincial bodies
maintained few donkey stallions, and it will not be possible to induce them
to keep more until our supply is better. As before noted, we cannot furnish a
sufficient number of satisfactory Jacks for Imperial work.
Cattle-disease,
cattle-breeding,
fairs and shows,
etc.
546. A start, but only a start, has been made in this direction. Informa-
tion as to the prevalence of diseases of a contagious nature has in some Provin-
ces been carefully collected; but the majority of Superintendents have not
paid sufficient attention to this important subject. I, however, trust that
much more will be done during the coming winter. Local Governments
will be asked to cause the Superintendents, Civil Veterinary Department,
of their various Provinces to attend as many cattle fairs as possible, with a
view of obtaining full information of the different breeds of cattle, in order to
enable us hereafter to frame some definite proposals for the improvement of
such breeds that are capable of improvement by the transfer of bulls from one
district to another. Without precise information on this point, we cannot
attempt anything in this direction.
547. I would, however, draw attention to the remarks of the Superinten-
dent, North Punjab (page 81), on the subject of the difficulty he experiences
in attending to the cattle fairs, and the general work connected with cattle-
disease. I am fully of opinion, that in horse-breeding centres, such as the
Punjab and North-Western Provinces, it will be necessary to employ a separate
Veterinary Officer in each Province, whose duties will be solely those having
reference to cattle disease and breeding.
548. In the Punjab there are 73 Veterinary assistants and salutris em-
ployed, and the remarks of both Superintendents in that Province are worthy
of consideration (vide page 99). The strictest supervision must be exercised
over the professional work of these men, and to effect this an extra Veterinary
officer will be required as soon as funds are available.
Veterinary In-
struction.
549. During the year under review good work appears to have been done
in the old-established institutions of Bombay and Lahore. Two new schools
were opened—one in Bengal and the other in Rajputana.
550. This leads me to consider the question as to the advisability of
starting any more institutions of this description. The Superintendent, Civil
Veterinary Department, North-Western Provinces and Oudh, in his report
records his regret that no veterinary schools exist in that Province, Whe-
ther it will be advisable to increase the number of these schools is, to my mind
a matter of great doubt.