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SECTION VII.—BREEDING OPERATIONS:-GENERAL.
Inspections of stallions
and stands.
57. All stallions and stallion stands are inspected in non-selected
districts by the officers and the subordinate staff of this
Department in the course of their tours and recommendations
are made regarding them when necessary. At most of the stands the Veteri-
nary Assistants are only at liberty to examine mares for part of the month as
they have their itinerating duties to perform. This is a drawback, but it cannot
be avoided. Mares, about which there is any doubt, are not allowed to be
covered until they have been inspected by the Veterinary Assistant. Where
there is a stationary Veterinary Assistant in charge of a Veterinary Hospital,
he is able to examine every mare and supervise the covering.
Fairs and shows.
58. Horse shows are held in 6 non-selected districts and grants from
Imperial Funds were given at Delhi, Karnal and Ambala.
Cattle shows are held in 17 districts and the Imperial
grant of Rs. 2,000 was allotted to the fairs at Hissar, Jahazgarh (Rohtak), Choa
Saidan Shah (Jhelum), Lyallpur, Jallalabad (Ferozepore), and Lidbari (Kangra).
Medals are usually given at shows where money is provided from Imperial
sources.
All the remaining cattle shows and horse shows in non-selected districts
are supported entirely by Local Funds. The source and amount of prize money
and information as to the number of animals present and prices of stock are
given in Tables XIII and XIV.
Captain Walker asks for assistance from Provincial Funds in special
circumstances; for instance, when a show is held in a place remarkable for a
particular breed, or when a new show is being started. Specific proposals of this
nature will no doubt be submitted and receive consideration. Where a good case
is made out, an allotment might be provided.
Revision of schedule.
59. Most of the schedules have recently been revised by Mr. Oliver to
suit local conditions. In the case of horse shows this was
especially necessary as some of the old classifications were
no longer applicable in non-selected districts.
Attendance of officers at
shows.
60. Mr. Oliver attended the following fairs and shows in the Punjab:—
Choa Saidan Shah, Amritsar (April and October), Jhang,
Delhi, Karnal, Ambala, Jahazgarh and Muzaffargarh.
Mr. Sowerby, I. C. V. D., who was attached for training, visited Lyallpur and
Gujrat, as neither Superintendent could attend.
Captain Walker attended Shahpur, Jallalabad and Rewari.
Separate reports have been submitted regarding all. shows attended at
which Government grants were given. Officers of this Department invariably
act on the Judging Committees of all shows they attend. The shows at Hissar
and Lidbari were unattended, other duties intervening. At the former place,
however, the judging committee had the advantage of the services of the
Superintendent of the Government Cattle Farm.
The Department is frequently indebted to Captain Farmer for his valua-
ble services on Cattle Show Judging Committees.
Remarks on the utility
of shows and fairs.
61. Captain Walker is not very sanguine about the success of cattle
shows, and remarks that they are very dependent on the
efforts of District Officers to make them a success. Of
the recently established shows, he singles out that held at Choa Saidan Shah
as showing most promise. He writes: "As a rule, however, considering the
liberality of the prizes in many places, one is struck with the apathy of stock
owners. More keenness to breed good animals may come in time and better
results may reward continued and patient endeavours on our part. Further
trial is no doubt desirable, but so far there is not much evidence to show that
the giving of prize money tends to improve the indigenous stock."
Further experience will probably show that improvement in stock is not
likely to be fostered by the mere giving of prizes, however valuable. No
general keenness will be evinced in a show until dealers resort to it regularly,