( 8 )
favourably on the fleece. Some difficulty is experienced in acclimatizing the pure
merino stock and the mortality is somewhat high. The half-bred progeny however
seem to do well and when we have obtained sufficient of these, the future lines of
experiment will be directed towards endeavouring to fix a type of sheep with the
superior wool-producing capacity of the merino, but which will be able to stand
the vicissitudes of the Indian climate.
Fairs and shows.
See table XIV.
45. I personally attended the Etawah and Nauchandi fairs and Mr. Wilson
was present and judged at those held at Hardoi, Fyzabad, and Khairabad.
The Deputy Superintendant visited the fairs and shows at Aligarh,
Saharanpur, Bulandshahr, Etawah, Dewa, and Batesar for rendering assistance in
the cattle judging, and giving demonstrations to the stock-owners in general
management, and first aid in cases of emergency or disease. One thousand rupees
were contributed by the department to various shows for prizes for the best
specimens of bovine stock.
It is somewhat doubtful if the system of distributing money in the form
of prizes for cattle at fairs and shows is productive of much improvement in the
local stock. A scheme is being drawn up with a view to distributing prizes locally
in those areas chiefly where Government stud bulls are located for the best
stock got by them. It is hoped by this means to encourage the breeder to
look ahead and breed up to a higher standard than he has formerly done.
IV.—SUBORDINATE ESTABLISHMENT.
Numbers, supervision, and work performed.
See table VII.
46. The strength of the subordinate veterinary establishment as it stood
on 31st March was as follows:—
Veterinary inspectors 15, farm overseers 2, veterinary assistants employed
by district boards, 121; veterinary assistants employed by municipalities, 18;
veterinary assistant employed by the society for the prevention of cruelty to animals,
1; and provincial veterinary assistants (including 1 at the Cawnpore agricultural
farm), 16, or in all 173 against 162 last year, making an increase of 11 only.
47. As I mentioned last year, the staff is still far below the requirements of
such an important public department as this. In spite of the various representations
which have been made to district boards regarding the inadequacy of their veterinary
staff the increase this year has only amounted to 3. Considering the annual
financial loss which districts must suffer on account of cattle disease, not only in
the value of the animals themselves, but by the loss of time and money sustained
during busy seasons when every available bullock is required, it is difficult to
understand how district boards can fail to realize the urgency of providing sufficient
veterinary help for the people.
48. The veterinary inspectors continue to do very useful work and have
been busily employed during the year in the inspection and checking the work
of veterinary assistants, conducting inoculation, campaigns, and other measures to
suppress outbreaks; in inspecting and supervising the work connected with horse,
cattle, and sheep-breeding and inspection and care of stud sires. Cattle pounds,
dairy sheds, &c., have been visited by them and reports on the state of the working
cattle and hackney carriage horses in municipalities have been furnished. The
provincial veterinary assistants have been found to be of the greatest assistance,
and can always be most usefully employed. They are in many cases the only
means of relieving district board veterinary assistants when they proceed on leave,
and thus prevent a locality from being left entirely without veterinary help, such
as frequently used to occur before this reserve staff was started. They are also
sent in cases of emergency to assist districts, municipal bodies, and private owners,
in cases of extensive outbreaks of disease, when the local staff is insufficient to
deal with the situation, which is not an infrequent occurrence. They conduct
inoculation campaigns and make special investigations and enquiries regarding
disease, breeding operations, &c., and are often deputed to obtain morbid material
for research purposes, and to collect parasites, flies, &c., connected with the spread
of disease. Those veterinary assistants remaining at head quarters are afforded
opportunities for laboratory work, which is likely to be a great help to them in
the ordinary duties. Although a great many of the veterinary assistants working
in districts and municipalities are capable of, and do perform very good work, I am