3
It is quite impossible for the ordinary district returns of horses and ponies
to say what are, and what are not, suitable for breeding purposes, and it seems
to me useless to expect it.
It is also not quite clear from whence these figures were obtained. Mr.
Cranford in para. 12 blames district authorities for their incompleteness, but so
far District Officers have not been authorized to call upon the subordinate
Revenue staff for special returns of unbranded mares, with the exception of
those covered by Imperial horse and donkey stallions. It was strongly
represented to Government that the district staff should not be called upon for
returns of this nature at present, but that the figures supplied should be con-
fined to branded mares, and the Local Government concurred with these
representations. The remarks of Mr. Cranford in para. 12, therefore, appear
to be made under a misapprehension.
Mule-breeding.
5. As regards mule-breeding, there is not very much to note. Four donkey
stallions were employed in the Southern Punjab Circle, and
233 mares were covered against 175 last year. This gives
58.25 per stallion against 43.75 last year. The demand for donkey stallions is
very small. There are no donkey stallions belonging to District Boards in the
North Punjab, and only 1 in the Deraját. Only 25 mules are reported to have
been foaled, but the returns are incomplete, none having been received from
Hissár.
Cattledisease.
6. As regards cattle disease, the remarks made are taken entirely from
the weekly police returns and monthly district returns. In
the report over 20,000 animals are said to have died from
rinderpest in Ferozepore, and most other forms of cattle disease appear to
have been much more rife in Ferozepore than elsewhere, but there is no doubt
that the figures on these points are quite unreliable. An enquiry will be made
however, into the alleged unusual prevalence of disease in Ferozepore during
the past year. The report is unnecessarily long and prolix on this subject,
seeing that it is not made from personal observation, but simply on figures
admittedly inaccurate.
Cattle Fairs.
7. Mr. Cranford visited 6 Cattle Fairs and gives a brief report on each.
No Cattle Fairs were attended by Superintendents, North
Punjab or Deraját.
Mr. Cranford now expresses an opinion less favourable to the Hissár
bulls than the one he previously entertained, considering them too big and
cumbersome; and recommends that bulls of other breeds should be also
employed. This subject will receive special consideration by Veterinary
Captain Pease, Assistant Inspector-General, Civil Veterinary Department,
during his approaching tour in the Province, and will be duly reported on at
its conclusion.
Mr. Cranford, Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, South
Punjab, states that his attendance at Cattle Fairs seriously interferes with
his other duties in connection with horse-breeding. This will receive due
consideration by the Inspector-General, Civil Veterinary Department, and
myself, and it may be found possible to reduce the number of Cattle Fairs at
which his presence is required. It is to be hoped that a depôt for Punjab
stallions will before long be established within the
Province.
Veterinary Dispensaries.
8. Separate notices are given by Superintendent, South Punjab, of
Veterinary dispensaries established at Amritsar, Hoshiár-
pur,
Umballa,
Jallálabad
and Rohtak. The figures given
for these dispensaries are somewhat doubtful, but there is no doubt that all
are doing good work. The only Veterinary dispensary in the Northern
Circle is that at Siálkot, which has also worked well. Veterinary dispensaries are
now established at the following p
lálabad (Ferozepore district), Roh
Siálkot, Ráwalpindi, Gujrát, Gujrá
Ismáil Khan.