8
do with that number annually. If they cannot afford to take so many, then
Government aid is indicated. Petitions for bulls from agriculturists are fre-
quently received, but districts seem unable to afford anything like an adequate
supply.
Local purchases.
46. A certain number of bulls have been purchased locally by districts
in consultation with this Department. It is, however, a
difficult matter to buy suitable bulls in the open market.
Measures for the in-
crease of supply of bulls.
47. This Province is fortunate in being able to get bulls from the
Hissar Cattle Farm, which is under the Imperial Govern-
ment. If the supply there is equal to the demand, the
Southern Districts of the Punjab have now a satisfactory source from which
suitable bulls can be obtained. A serious endeavour must be made to supply
the Northern Districts for which Hissar bulls are not suitable. A scheme is on
foot to provide a farm for the supply of bulls of the Dhanni breed in the Jhelum
Colony at Sargodha and land has been promised for the purpose. There has
been some discussion during the year whether the object of this farm should
be to breed bulls or to rear purchased calves. Captain Walker is strongly in
favour of bull-breeding as offering the best chance of success, though involving
great expense. During the year Mr. Oliver submitted a detailed scheme which
was a combination of bull-breeding through tenants and bull-rearing, but the
expense involved rendered its acceptance impossible. Captain Walker is now
preparing another scheme for a bull-breeding farm at Sargodha and is confident
of being able to issue 50 bulls a year eventually.
Pending the establishment of a farm, it may be possible to buy a few
suitable bulls for the Northern Districts, though Captain Walker is not very
hopeful. With a farm to send animals to, however, we shall be in a better
position to buy in the open market than we have been hitherto.
Breeds to be encouraged.
48. With sufficient Hariana bulls from Hissar and Dhanni bulls from
Sargodha a great want will be supplied. The Sahiwal
(Montgomery) breed of milch cattle, possibly one of the
best breeds in the country for milk, must not be overlooked. In the near future
something should be done to breed good animals of this famous stock. It may
be possible to breed Sahiwal animals at Sargodha and the subject will be care-
fully considered when the farm is ready for occupation.
In connection with the difficulty that is experienced in fixing types, Mr.
Oliver remarks: "It is almost impossible to describe or lay down correct
points for a typical animal of any particular breed as all the so-called breeds
seem to be so hopelessly mixed. The object then seems to be to find and select
those whose character and shape approach most closely to our idea of what
should be, and then by judicious breeding try and fix a type or strain that is
likely to be permanent."
Captain Walker's view is that we should cling to the best indigenous
types as far as possible. If we breed from animals that are shapely and suited
to the conditions of the locality for which they are required, we ought to produce
bulls which will be of the greatest service to the residents of that locality. This
is undoubtedly the correct attitude. To endeavour to improve the local
breeds holds out far more hope of success than to attempt to introduce foreign
(and possibly better) strains of which the owners are ignorant and secretly
suspicious.
SECTION V.—BREEDING OPERATIONS:—HORSES.
Horse and pony stallions
in non-selected districts.
49. At the commencement of the year there were 2 horse and 43 pony
stallions, the property of local bodies, standing in the
non-selected districts. During the year 3 ponies in the
Gujrat District were transferred to the control of the Army Remount Depart-
ment. This was in consequence of this district becoming a selected district.
In addition, 2 animals in Ambala and Kangra Districts were sold, 1 was de-
stroyed in Ludhiana and 1 died in Sialkot. No purchases have been made
during the year and a balance of 2 horses and 36 ponies thus remains.