10
of Lahore city and on the Ráwalpindi-Kohála dâk line, is now dealt with in
selected districts by the Army Remount Department.
Surra.
57. Ninety-eight cases of surra were reported from 10 districts, of which
Ferozepore alone is responsible for 74 cases with 25 deaths.
Dourine."
58. A case of " dourine " was detected in a village in the Chúnián Tahsil
of the Lahore District and duly reported to the Army
Remount Department.
Remarks by the Director
of Land Records.
59. The Superintendent has been hampered during the year by the
changes consequent on the formation of the Army Remount
Department, and by the short supply of rinderpest serum
available. The inspecting agency which he asks for will be furnished by the six
Inspectors who have recently been sanctioned, one being for each division and one
for the headquarters office. Captain Walker's notes show that valuable enquiries
are being made into the various cattle diseases which prevail in the Province.
The opportunities for personal observation of epidemics will be increased now that
we have two English Veterinary Officers whose attention is mainly given to cattle.
IV.—CATTLE BREEDING.
Captain Walker reports :—
Supply of bulls.
60. No bulls have been supplied from the Hissár Cattle Farm during the
year, but a few have been obtained locally by districts.
Three bulls were bought at Choa Saidan Shah in April for
the Kángra District, and I understand that they are appreciated there. If the
stock of these bulls turns out well, the district will probably import some more.
There appears to be a great demand for bulls, and I am glad to say 34 will be
available at the Government Cattle Farm, Hissár, for distribution next autumn.
Where there is a demand for bulls, strenuous efforts should be made to supply
them and State aid is indicated. In connection with a report to the Inspector-
General, Civil Veterinary Department, on the advisability of giving grants for
prizes from Imperial Funds, 1 have expressed my opinion that money from Imperial
funds for the purchase of bulls should also be given. Bulls should not be provided
unless responsible persons apply for them and agree to look after them. Certain
conditions are required, no doubt, but they are difficult to enforce.
General remarks on cattle
breeding.
61, One of the greatest difficulties is the question of castration of male
stock not suitable as sires. In some places castration is fairly
general, but in others it would be opposed and I fear strict
rules as to castration are not applicable. In no case of course could castration of
males unfit for use as sires be insisted on unless we are prepared to supply a
sufficient quantity of approved sires. A very intimate knowledge of the cattle of
the Province is required before one can specify the kind of bull required in any
particular district, and this fact renders the subject of cattle breeding a complica-
ted one. The difficult question of the kind of bull required is well worth the close
attention of district officers and their opinions formed on the spot would be of
great service to this Department.
General remarks on cattle
breeding.
62. In many parts of the Province it is not the custom among agricultur-
ists to breed cattle as a business, but to purchase what they
require from professional graziers. In course of time when
grazing becomes scarcer prices must go up, and it will be to the interest of all
agriculturists to breed their own cattle. Thus the necessity for a good system of
providing stud bulls becomes more important year by year.
General remarks on cattle
breeding.
63. The conditions on which bulls are given will necessarily vary according
to localities and here again the help of district officers is
required in order that the best conditions applicable to the
various localities may be eventually defined.
An experiment in Hissar.
64. The Deputy Commissioner of Hissár (Mr. C. M. King, C.S.,) intends
to provide approved bulls from the Cattle Farm to persons
who wish to turn a bull loose on religious grounds on their
paying into the District Board Fund the sum they would have paid for a bull
obtainable privately. This system has much to commend it, as, if it worked pro-
perly, bad bulls would not be turned loose.