PART II.
CIVIL VETERINARY DEPARTMENT PROVINCIAL REPORT.
Re-organization of the
Superior and Subordinate
Civil Veterinary Depart-
ment, Punjab.
The two Circles, known as the North and South Punjab Circles, have not
been altered in consequence of the separation of the North-
West Frontier Province. The Superintendent of the North
Punjab Circle still retains charge as Civil Veterinary Officer
of the districts included in the Frontier Province under the
direction, as far as that province is concerned, of the Revenue Commissioner.
The statistics included in this report both as regards horse and mule breeding
and cattle relate only to the Punjab as newly constituted. The Punjab has at
length been fortunate in obtaining the services of a third Superintendent of the
Civil Veterinary Department, able to give his whole time to the investigation
and treatment of cattle disease. The new Circle which has been constituted,
embraces the whole of the Punjab, and is officially styled the Provincial Circle.
Superintendents of the other two Circles, North and South Punjab, are thus
able to devote themselves exclusively as far as the Punjab is concerned, to the
duties connected with horse and mule breeding. As it happened indeed,
Veterinary Lieutenant Trydell, the Superintendent of the North Punjab, was
absent on furlough throughout the year. Veterinary Lieutenant Smith, the
Superintendent of the South Punjab, was in charge of both North and South
Circles during the year, and Veterinary Lieutenant Walker, who has been placed
in charge of the Provincial Circle, did not join the province until October.
For the greater part of the year, therefore, Veterinary Lieutenant Smith had to
work single-handed. The arrangements for the re-organisation of the Subordinate
Veterinary Establishment were completed in time for Mr. Walker to take charge
on his arrival, of the establishment of Veterinary Assistants who were formerly
in the employment of District Boards, and who have now been organised as a
Provincial Service. Sections III, IV and V of this report are abstracted from a
very interesting report received from Mr. Walker. The sections dealing with
horse and mule breeding are collated from the reports received from the Sup-
erintendents of the North and South Punjab.
I.—HORSE-BREEDING.
At the commencement of the year under report, District Boards
owned 3 horse stallions and 91 pony stallions. No casualties occurred
among the horse stallions. The Shahpur District Board purchased a country-
bred horse stallion during the year, thus raising the total number of horse stal-
lions on the register at the close of the year to four. Six new Arab pony stal-
lions were purchased during the year by District Boards, viz., two by Dera Gházi
Khan, two by Muzaffargarh, one by Kángra and one by Jhang. Six pony
stallions were removed from the register on account of animals that have died
or were destroyed or sold. The number on the register at the close of the
year, therefore, remains unchanged, viz., 91. The only pony stallion owned by
Courts of Wards has been sold during the year. The number owned by pri-
vate persons has been increased from 2 to 3 in consequence of the purchase
of a country-bred pony stallion by Malik Umar Hayát Khan of Kálra in the
Shahpur District. All the stallions owned by the District Boards except one
country-bred horse stallion and one country-bred pony stallion, are Arabs.
Veterinary Lieutenant Smith who, as above noted, was in charge of the North
and South Punjab Circles, during the year, considers that the results of District
pony and mule breeding may be considered to have been attended during the
year under report with most favourable results. As regards the effect of the
Arab strain he writes as follows:—
"The effect of these pony stallions being made available has been most"
"marked in the District Board produce seen at the various horse fairs, and as"
"many of these pony stallions are high caste racing Arabs, the Arab type is"
"distinctly stamped in the produce, making it difficult at times to distinguish"