10
Feed and keep of stal-
lions. Table XII.
61. The average cost of feed and keep of stallions for the year trader
report was Rs. 305 per horse, Rs. 312 per pony and Rs. 158
per donkey. This information has, as usual, been obtained
from the districts concerned.
Collection of statistics.
62. The present system of collecting horse-breeding statistics referred
to in last year's report is working fairly well except that
breeders in most cases do not return the required informa-
tion. A description of this system is given in Agricultural Circular No. 6.
SECTION 3.—FAIRS AND SHOWS.
Fairs and Shows. Tables
XIII and XIV.
63. The necessary statistics in regard to fairs and shows are given in
Tables XIII and XIV. According to the figures supplied
by the Accountant-General, Punjab, Rs. 20,270 were spent
by Local Bodies on these gatherings. The Government contributions amounted
to Rs. 2,494.
Horse Shows in non-select-
ed districts. Table XIII.
64. During the year, Horse Fairs were held in six districts; of these, Delhi
and Ambala received Imperial prizes and medals as usual.
The fair at Karnal was abandoned owing to famine.
Captain Walker attended the Ambala Horse Show and Mr. Taylor that at Delhi.
Cattle Fairs and Shows.
Table XIV.
65. Cattle Fairs were held in 19 districts. Captain Walker attended the
Amritsar (Dewali), Lidbari (Kangra), Gullushah (Sialkot),
Jallalabad (Ferozepore), Hissar (Autumn), Gurdaspur and
Lyallpur fairs. I attended those at Talagang (2), Attock, Sargodha (Shahpur),
Gujrat and Choa Saidan Shah (Jhelum). Mr. Taylor attended the shows at
Hissar, Delhi, Jahazgarh (Rohtak), Abohar (Camel Fair) and Muktsar (Feroze-
pore), and Mr. Carless judged at Jhang and Ludhiana. Provincial medals were
awarded this year at eight selected Cattle Fairs.
Discontinuance of Im-
perial prizes at Cattle Fairs.
66. The Imperial prizes hitherto awarded at six selected Cattle Fairs have
been discontinued on the recommendation of Captain
Walker, and as the Sargodha show where Rs. 250 were
awarded from Provincial Revenues has been abandoned, all Cattle Shows are now
entirely supported by Local Funds.
SECTION 4.—OTHER BREEDING OPERATIONS.
Importation of Merino
rams.
67. With a view to improving the quality of wool in the Kangra
district, it has been decided to purchase 25 Merino rams as
an experiment at an estimated outlay of Rs. 2,625 and
arrangements are being made for their importation. Half the cost up to
Rs. 1,500 will be borne by the District Board of Kangra and the rest by
Government.
Part IV.—Subordinate Establishment.
Numerical strength.
Table VII.
68. The sanctioned strength of the subordinate staff, as it stood on
the 31st March, 1908, was 128 as detailed below:—
Veterinary Inspectors
Assistants, 1st grade
Do.,
2nd grade
Do.,
3rd grade
Reserve ...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Total
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
12
22
45
46
3
128
This is an increase of 11 Assistants over last year. The department
is now short of the full complement of one veterinary assistant for every tahsil
and one in addition for each district, by 30 men. These will be obtained by
gradual annual recruitment in the course of the next four years.
Work of the subordinate
staff.
69. I consider that the subordinate staff continues to improve in effi-
ciency. Much must depend upon the degree and quality
of the supervision of the veterinary inspectors, some of
whom are doing good work in this connection.