10
Local purchases.
52. In a few cases, districts continue to purchase bulls in the open
market with the advice of this Department, but good
bulls are difficult to obtain in this way.
Sargodha Ball Farm.
53. A revised scheme for a Bull Farm near Sargodha was submitted,
and it- met with the general approval of the Punjab
Govenment. An initial outlay of Rs. 1,29,809 is contemplated.
On the recommendation of the Inspector-General, Civil Veterinary Department,
who, with the Director of Land Records and Agriculture, and the Superintendent,
Civil Veterinary Department, visited the Colony last November, the rights of
grazing on the Drema Bakh near Sargedba have been applied for. It is hoped
that a commanded site in the vicinity of the rakh can be obtained for a Home
Farm, The site originally allotted for the Bull Farm is too far from the
rakh. This question of site is causing some delay in commencing operations.
It is contemplated to issue 50 bulls a year from this Bull Farm, suitable to
the northern districts of the Punjab, and they will no doubt supply a great
and pressing need.
(2). EQUINES (UNDER LOCAL BODIES).
Replacement of stallions.
54. Reference was made last year to a scheme, which then awaited the
sanction of the Government of India for assisting districts
in the purchase of stallions, the number of which was
inadequate. The scheme was approved, and the initial outlay involved, viz., Rs.
36,600, was shared equally between the Imperial and Local Governments. With
this sum of money it was proposed to purchase 20 horses and 16 donkeys. The
standard scale referred to last year was finally fixed at 62 horses (3 horses and
59 ponies) and 68 donkeys. Of this number, 20 horses and all the donkeys are
replaceable by Government. District Boards are responsible for the up-keep-
of all stallions. The required number of horses (all Arabs) were purchased in
Bombay through the Inspector-General, Civil Veterinary Department, and
despatched to Lahore in three lots. They were there tested with mallein, and allotted
and despatched to the districts concerned. In addition to the 20 horses supplied
by Government, the districts of Rohtak, Sialkot, Gurdaspur, Muzaffargarh,
Jullundur and Hoshirpur each bought a stallion to replace casualties for which
they were responsible. In each case these animals were either bought through.
or with the approval of, the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department. The
districts of Ludhiana, Kangra and Gurgaon are each one stallion (replaceable
from District Funds) short of the standard scale. They were unable to purchase
the horses for financial reasons which have been accupied by the Director of
Agriculture on the understanding that they will be provined next year.
Number of horse and
pony stallions in non-select-
ed districts. Table X.
55. At the close of the year, there were 5 horses and 55 ponies present
in the non-selected districts against 2 horses and 36 ponies
the previous year. This is two short of the standard
scale. As referred to above, Ludhiana Kangra, and
Gurgaon are each one short, and Jullundur is one animal over strength. There-
were four casualties during the year.
Services of borse and
pony stallions. Table XI.
56. Five horses and 36 ponies were actually employed at stud during the
year under report. It should be mentioned that 3 of the
newly purchased horses are included in these numbers,
though they only served a few mares at the end of the year.
Most of the ponies were received later, and they were not used in the
year under report. With the. approval of the Inspector-General, Civil
Veterinary Department, I have advised districts to limit the services of the newly-
imported stallions to half the usual number of mares for their first year. The
average number of mares covered was 74.5 per horse, and 66.72 per pony against
64 and 68.52, respectively, last year.
Training of syces.
57. Through the kindness of Captain Farmer, Superintendent, Gov-
ernment Cattle Farm, Hissar, 12 syces from the
districts of Hissar, Rohtak and Mianwali were sent there
for a month's training.