(4)
29, Cattle poisoning.—Twenty-nine cases of criminal cattle poisoning have
been reported from 12 districts. These were investigated and handed over to the
police to deal with.
See table V.
30. Veterinary hospitals and dispensaries.—There are now 88 hospitals
and dispensaries in the provinces as against 83 last year, being an increase
of five, which have been established at Aonla, district Bareilly, Jalaun,
Muhammadabad, district Ghazipur. and Sandila and Shahabad in Hardoi district.
The question of opening institutions of this kind in Khurja, district Bulandshahr,
and Kashipur, district Naini Tal, is under consideration. The municipal board
of Naini Tal propose to start a dispensary in Naini Tal itself this year. The
number of cases treated during the year was 101,381 as against 101,487, being a
decrease of 10G. This decrease is due to the influenza epidemic and partly to the
temporary closing of some dispensaries owing to the deputation of veterinary
assistants to military duty, and others being sent to the seat of outbreaks of cattle
diseases and to carry out inoculations. In addition to this, 921 animals were
castrated and medicines were supplied for 5,986 cases which were not brought to
the hospitals.
31. The travelling veterinary dispensary in the Etawah district is continuing
to do good work.
III.—Breeding operations.
(1) Bovine.
(i) Stud bulls.
See table VIII.
32. Two hundred and eighty-six stud bulls and buffaloes are now being
maintained in 39 districts and already demands for many more have been
received for the coming season. The animals will bo distributed shortly when
they are ready for stud work.
33. The public is gradually beginning to appreciate the scheme under
which this department is now issuing stud bulls on loan, and it is anticipated
that during the next few years there will bo a very large demand for those
animals.
34. Some very good calves got by these Government animals have already
been seen and as time goes on it is expected that very great improvements will
be noticeable. Local collections of cattle have been made in certain tracts and
awards made to the owners of good specimens.
The cervices of Mr. Stow, Farms Manager, who is also an expert at dairy
work, have been socured and his advice will bo available in matters relating to
improvement of stock, establishment of dairy farms, and management of cattle
generally.
(ii) Bull-reaving and breeding farms and dépôts.
See table IX.
35. Kheri cattle farm. There are at present 361 head of cattle on the
farm. The past year was a healthy one and very little mortality took place in
spite of the drought which resulted in a shortage of fodder and grazing. The
issue of bulls to districts amounted to 21, as it had to be temporarily suspended
owing to the fodder famine in the districts to which otherwise they would have
been allotted. The following places are now provided with bulls from the
Kheri farm:—Moradabad, Farrukhabad, Etawah, Cawnpore, Banda, Mirzapur,
Ghazipur, Gorakhpur, Lucknow, Rae Bareli, Sitapur, Hardoi, Kheri, Fyzabad,
Gondii, Bahraich, Sultanpur, and Partabgarh.
36. Considerable improvements have been undertaken at the farm during
the past year which include construction of buildings, clearing of jungle, making
new paddocks, etc. Much of the work however was hampered by the disastrous
outbreak of influenza during the month of November, 1918.
See table IX.
37. Madhuri Kund cattle farm.—Eighty-six animals, the produce of the
farm, have been issued up to the present and are working in 27 districts which
include Dohra Dun, Sabaranpur, Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Bulandshahr, Aligarh,
Agra, Mainpuri, Etah, Bareilly, Bijnor, Budaun, Moradabad, Shahjahanpur,
Etawah, Cawnpore, Fatchpur, Allahabad, Benares, Mirzapur, Gorakhpur, Azam-
garh, Naini Tal, Almora, Lucknow, Fyzabad, and Gonda.
38. Steady improvements and additions continue to be made and the
irrigation plant is now in working order.