NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
4
Sheep-breeding.
11. There are two separate flocks of sheep main-
tained on the farm—a merino flock
and a Bikaner indigenous flock. Two
hundred and one young cross-bred merino rams and 152
ewes were issued, of which 190 rams and 70 ewes went
to the Kangra District for breeding purposes.
A further lot of 107 Bikaner desert ewes and 5 lambs
was purchased during the year in Bikaner State, bringing
the total number of Bikaner ewes at the Farm to 155.
Careful selection, combined with adequate feeding,
are bringing about a very noticeable improvement in
the progeny of these desert sheep. No issues have yet
been made to districts from this flock.
Goat-breeding.
12. During the year under report 21 female goats
were purchased from the Gujranwala
District as a nucleus for the farm
herd. Two of these goats yielded 813 and 757 lbs. of
milk in 135 and 130 days' lactation, respectively. Se-
lected male goats, as they come of age, will be issued to
districts for breeding purposes.
Donkey, breeding.
13. The infusion of fresh blood into the donkey
stud has been decided on. The
purchase of an American jack,
through the Army Remount Department, is being
arranged for this purpose. The two jacks received early
last year from the Mona Remount Depôt are producing
some promising young stock.
Arab-breeding.
14. The Arab stallion "Saad Salam," purchased
from Bombay in November 1928,
has produced some promising young
stock.
Contagious diseases.
15. There was considerably less mortality amongst
the farm stock this year owing to the
comparatively dry season.
Rinderpest caused 28 deaths; Foot and Mouth
disease caused 2 deaths.
Equine contagious abor-
tion.
16. In collaboration with the Director of the
Imperial Institute of Veterinary
Research, Muktesar, an investiga-
tion of this disease is being conduct-
ed. One hundred and eleven mares were vaccinated,
5
out of which 21 donkey and 6 pony mares subsequently
aborted.
Hospital.
17. The brief summary of the work done at the
farm hospital is as follows:—
1.
2.
3.
4.
Daily average number of animals treated
...
Inoculations performed
... ...
Post-mortem examinations ... ...
Castrations performed
...
94
3,987
621
61
Fodder.
18. The total receipts of fodder were 137,856 maunds
from direct cultivation, 6,995 maunds
from tenants, in addition to 3,463
maunds of hay from the Bir.
Fodder reserve.
19. The fodder reserve on the 31st March 1930
amounted to 151,993 maunds as
against 193,681 maunds in the previ-
ous year. Owing to the very poor monsoon rains, and con-
sequent shortage of grazing available, stall feeding had
to be resorted to earlier than usual, which accounts for
the heavy drain on the farm's fodder reserves. In
dealing with such large numbers of live stock, it is neces-
sary to exercise very careful judgment before attempt-
ing to supplement by hand feeding any shortage of
grazing. The following extract from the report of the
Superintendent of the farm is of interest in this connec-
tion:—
"It has been noticed that, if stall feeding is resorted to too
early, the cows do not go out into the Bir to graze, but
bang about the yard. First of all they eat "Anjan,"
'Palvan' and other succulent grasses and later the coarser
ones such as 'Ghamoor,' 'Bhur' etc. From April to
June the cows rely for their green ration on the green
leaves of Jal and Kair bushes, which at this time of the
year grow very abundantly in the Bir, and are much relish
ed by the stock. The leaves of these bushes are a grea
stand-by in times of famine."
The fodder reserve position is, however, being made
more secure as the result of the increased area now being
brought under cultivation. In this district, where the
annual rainfall amounts to 14 inches only, and in most
years badly distributed, it is almost essential to work
up fodder reserves against two successive bad years.
The huge fodder reserve required can be appreciated
from the fact that there was a total head of stock
6
amounting to, 7,016 on the farm at the end of
the year, whilst the local rainfall rate, as well as the
irrigation facilities, do not permit of any large expansion
of the cultivated area.
Expansion.
20. The new blocks at Thaska and Balak were
considerably improved during the
year under report.
Rectangulation and general lay-out of the culti-
vated area were further developed, with very satisfactory
results.
Experiments and new
crops.
21. Experiments in fodder crops are being carried out
at the stable, and the Mundianwala
blocks, cabbage, Guinea grass, shaf-
tal, Madras juar, sunflower and salt
bush, being given special attention.
The superiority of juar, as a fodder-yielding crop
for the farm, is well established. Madras juar is re-
ported to be the best yielding fodder juar yet grown on
the Farm.
Sunflower is regarded as a very promising green
fodder for the farm. The outturn per acre of sunflower
exceeded berseem by nearly 49 maunds.
The salt bush of South Africa has proved a highly
drought-resisting plant so badly needed in the arid areas
of the Punjab. Small patches of salt bush started from
seed have now been established on the farm. It is
too early to express any definite opinion as to its useful-
ness.
From a few plants imported in July 1929, there
is now an area of 3 acres of Guinea grass established.
Shaftal was found to be less productive than lucerne
or berseem on the farm, and has been discontinued as
a farm fodder crop.
General.
Bhoosa waggon.
22. An improved type of bhoosa waggon, as will
appear from the photograph attached
to this report, was designed and built
in the farm workshop by the Assistant Superintendent,
Fodder, Mr. Read. It weighs, unladen, 20½ maunds,
whilst its carrying capacity is 20 maunds of bhoosa.
7
2. GRANTEE CATTLE FARMS.
Name of the farm.
Area
in
acres.
REQUIRED
STRENGTH OF
HEAD.
Cows .
Bulls.
DETAILS OF STOCK AT THE CLOSE
OF THE YEAR.
Cows .
Herd bal l s.
Produce.
Male.
Female.
Balls issued
daring the year.
Hissar Breed Farms.
1. Bahadur
Nagar
Farm
2. Qadirabad Farm
3. Fazalabad Farm
8,131
1,000
3,140
400
125
400
6
3
6
414
127
380
7
8
6
272
70
197
293
86
209
72
10
14
Montgomery or Sahiwal Breed Farms.
4. Jehangirabad
Farm.
5. Allahdad
Khan
Farm.
4,226
3,800
500
125
8
8
499
182
7
2
318
142
368
163
54
15
Dairy Farm.
6. Montgomery Dairy
Farm.
485
150
Buffaloes
3
...
114
26
3
3
31
5
87
9
...
...
23. There are under departmental supervision 6
grantee farms in the Lower Bari Doab Canal Colony,
including a dairy grant of 485 acres near Montgomery,
for the supply of milk to that city. The table above
gives some details of the number of stock carried on
these farms.
The Jehangirabad Farm shows the greatest pro-
gress up-to-date. The farm stock have been consistently
well looked after by the grantee, who has also shown
a willingness to improve the general management of
his farm in accordance with the recommendations of
the department. There has now been built up on this
farm a herd of Montgomery cows representative of the
best types of this breed from which surplus heifers are
gradually being absorbed into the districts. Cream to
the value of Rs. 20,451 was sold to the Military Dairy
Farm, Lahore Cantonment, at 13 annas per lb. The
limiting factor to any substantial progress on this and
8
the other grantee farms is that the grantees are not
sufficiently keen in practising modern methods of
animal husbandry, which they regard with certain dis-
favour because of the additional labour and cost
involved. The department is greatly handicapped in
this respect because the conditions of these grants do
not insist on the appointment of fully trained dairy
supervisors on these farms, nor do the present market
prices for milk and other dairy products offer sufficient
inducement to the grantees for any voluntary effort in
this direction.
The more frequent visits of the Live Stock Officer
and his assistant to these farms are, however, having
a very good effect on their general progress.
Shergarh small holders'
grants.
24. These grants, consisting of 218½ rectangles
of land in 7 different chaks, are
situated at a distance of about 12
miles from Renala Khurd Railway
Station and 8 miles from Wan Radha Ram Railway
Station in the Montgomery District. Cows giving less
than 2,000 lbs. of milk in a 300 days' lactation period
are not approved. The milk yield of all the approved
cows, which are all of the Montgomery breed, is recorded
and pedigree herd registers maintained by the Co-operat-
ive Department.
3. CATTLE BREEDING IN SPECIAL TRACTS.
(a) Hariana Tract.
25. The following statement shows the allotments
made, and the expenditure incurred, by the district
boards of Hissar, Rohtak and Gurgaon towards the
Hariana cattle improvement scheme:—
District.
Hissar ...
Rohtak ...
Gurgaon ...
Cash Prizes ...
Government
grant.
Rs.
5,000
16,500
18,200
2,000
District Board
contribution.
Rs.
3,000
16,500
...
...
Total.
Rs.
8,000
33,000
18,200
2,000
Expenditure.
Rs.
8,000
(a) 26,136
17,648
2,000
(a) The balance of Rs. 6,864 in Rohtak District was earmarked for the granting
of subsidies to selected cows at Rs. 5 per month per cow. A scheme of subsidising special
Hariana cows has been recently introduced at the request of the Rohtak District Board in
order to encourage the retention by local zamindars of the more valuable Hariana cows
within the district.
9
Fodder shortage was very keenly felt during the
year under report, particularly in the Hissar and Gur-
gaon Districts. The number of bulls supplied, and
the total number of approved bulls now working, in the
three districts of the Hariana scheme are as follows:—
Name of District.
Hissar
...
...
...
Rohtak ... ... ...
Gurgaon
... ... ...
Total ...
Number of approved
bulls distributed
during the year.
32
83
...
115
Total number of
bulls working
in the district.
102
448
606
1,246
The holding of one-day cattle shows throughout the
Hariana tract has helped greatly to popularise the work
of the scheme, besides giving an opportunity for the
staff of the department to keep in touch with the
zamindars of the area and to check covering results of
the approved bulls which are located in the different
villages.
(b) Dhanni Tract.
26. The following statement shows the allot-
ments made, and the expenditure
incurred, by
the district boards of the Attock, Rawalpindi, Jhelum,
10
Shahpur and Mianwali Districts towards the Dhanni
cattle improvement scheme:—
District.
Attock ...
Rawalpindi ...
Jhelum ...
Mianwali ...
Shahpur ...
Cash Prizes ...
Balance
on
31st March 1929.
Rs.
3,372
4 223
654
954
...
...
Government
grant.
Rs.
10,000
9,000
8,000
12,000
2,560
2,000
District Board's
contribution.
Rs.
5,000
4,500
4,023
6,000
1,280
...
Expenditure.
Rs.
17,903
12,761
12,677
17,804
3,838
2,000
Financial provision was also made by a Govern-
ment grant of Rs. 3,000 for the holding of a divisional
Dhanni Cattle Show at a central place, Choa Saidan
Shah in Jhelum District, where all five districts of
the Dhanni cattle scheme could compete. A most
successful show was held after the expiry of the financ-
ial year from 9th to 13th April 1930 to coincide with
the Katas festival. The attendance was estimated at
about thirty thousand people.
Cash prizes were also awarded at different cattle fairs
such as Chakwal, Dina, Tallagang, Fatehjang, Mian-
wali, Gujar Khan and Jatli, where classes for approved
bulls and their progeny were arranged. This system of
small awards is having an excellent effect in stimulating
keenness amongst zamindars for better quality cattle.
It is also valuable propaganda for the interest shown
both by the district boards and the department in the
encouragement of the cattle-breeding industry.
11
The number of bulls supplied this year as well
as the total number of approved bulls now, working
in these districts is as follows:—
Name or District.
1. Mianwali ...
2. Attock ...
3. Rawalpindi ...
4. Jhelum ...
5. Shahpur ...
Total
...
NUMBER OF BULLS SUPPLIED
DURING THE YEAR.
District Board
bulls.
...
...
6
...
4
10
Subsidy bulls.
13
28
9
10
7
67
TOTAL NUMBER OF BULLS WORK-
ING IN THE DISTRICT ON
1st April 1930.
District Board
bulls.
12
18
24
30
72
156
Subsidy bulls.
48
36
17
27
11
134
A small monthly subsidy scheme has been started
for specially selected Dhanni cows, which are properly
looked after and maintained in regular breeding to the
satisfaction of the department. It is too early to note
any results. The number of cows receiving subsidies at
the end of the financial year in all four districts of the
tract was 320.
His Excellency the Governor of the Punjab had an
opportunity of inspecting the work of this scheme at
Gujar Khan and Chakwal, and was very pleased with the
progress being made.
(c) Other Tracts.
(1) Montgomery District Cattle-breeding Scheme.
27. Through the generosity of the grantee of the
Jehangirabad Montgomery Cattle farm the department
has been able to efffect the distribution, free of charge, of
23 farm-bred Montgomery bulls in selected villages of
the Dipalpur Tahsil. Further additions are promised.
12
(2) Nili Bar Cattle-breeding Scheme.
28. A scheme is under preparation for the
starting of a 9,000 acres' Government Cattle Farm in
the Nili Bar Colony for the breeding of Dajil cattle, in
addition to buffalo-breeding. The lands have been taken
over by the department and leased out on temporary
cultivation to tenants, pending financial provision being
made for their utilisation as a stock-breeding farm.
(3) Dajil Village Cattle-breeding Scheme, Dera Ghazi
Khan District
29. The areas of Dajil, Lalgarh and other villages of
the Jampur Tahsil have been selected for concentrating
Dajil bulls. All preliminary arrangements have been
made in anticipation of the provision of funds by the
district board. The department has started a vigorous
castration campaign in the selected area.
4) Malwa Cattle breeding Scheme.
30. This scheme for the resuscitation of the Malwa
breed of cattle is being tried in the home of that breed ly-
ing within the Ferozepore and Ludhiana Districts. Forty
Hissar bulls given by the grantee of the Bahadurnagar
Cattle Farm, free of cost, in the interests of the scheme,
as well as 35 Hissar bulls purchased by the district
boards (15 by the District Board, Ferozepore, and 20 by
the District Board, Ludhiana), have been concentrated in
selected villages. This breed, once famous for its speed
and stamina in the tract, is nearly related to the Hariana
breed, of which it is be ieved to be an off shoot.
(5) Improvement of Cattle- and Buffalo-breeding in the
Lahore District.
31. The Department is concentrating attention on
certain zails around Kahna Nau in Tahsil Lahore where
local conditons are favourable to the improvement of
stock. Seventy-nine Hissar bulls have this year been
concen trated in selected villages.
I have been very favourably impressed by the
improvement hitherto effected within this area by the
department in raising the standard of the village type
by location of our Hissar bulls. I am confident that we
may expect quite substantial results in future as the
result of this policy of concentration.
13
The introduction of a buffalo-breeding scheme in
particular villages of this area is also under
contemplation.
4. GENERAL BREEDING WORK IN DISTRICTS.
(a) Equines.
Number of stallions—Table VIII.
32. At the close of the year under report there
were 64 horse and pony
stallions in the non-selected
districts of the province as compared with 60 at the
close of the previous year.
The following additions and castings were made
amongst horse and donkey stallions: -
Additions
Castings ...
Horses.
6
2
Donkeys.
9
4
The district of Dera Ghazi Khan has been
declared as a non-selected district for the purpose of
mule-breeding operations.
Services of stallions—Table VIII.
33. The total number of mares covered by horse
and donkey stallions during
the year under report was
3,041 and 3,377 as compared with 3,600 and 3,473 during
the previous year. Arrangements are being made for
reducing the number of horse and donkey stallions
owing to the diminution in the number of mares now
being kept for breeding purposes in the non-selected
districts.
(b) Bovines.
Stud bulls—Table VII.
34. At the close of the year under report there
were 3,359 district board
stud bulls at work in the
various districts of the province against 3,130 last year.
There were 596 additions and 367 castings during
the year.
35. Indents for 336 Hissar bulls were sent to the
Government Cattle Farm, Hissar, all of which were
supplied before the close of the year. The castings
include bulls which died or were cast on account of old
14
age, or being otherwise unsuitable for further retention
on the strength of approved bulls.
36. The number of stud bulls supplied to dis-
trict boards this year shows that steady progress
is being maintained in district cattle breeding work.
The department's extension programme was, however,
greatly handicapped owing to the poor financial condi-
tion of certain district boards, particularly in the barani
areas, where the cattle-breeding industry suffered a
severe set-back due to fodder famine.
As a consequence, a number of bulls in excess
of the demand at the Government Cattle Farm, Hissar,
which had been handled and were ready for issue in
March 1930, had to be retained on the farm for a
future issue.
37. The department had hoped to be able to help
certain poor district boards outside the Dhanni and
Hariana tracts, such as Dera Ghazi Khan, Jhang
and Muzaffargarh, through a Government grant-in-aid,
to enable them to distribute up to the minimum require-
ments of bulls as decided in the five years' programme.
A sum of Rs. 15,000 was proposed for this purpose,
but the scheme had to be abandoned owing to financial
stringency.
38. The majority of the district boards have come
to realise the necessity for taking steps to protect the
cattle-breeding industry against the indiscriminate
letting loose of bulls in their districts for breeding; they
have framed suitable bye-laws under sections 56 and 57
of the District Boards Act, which become operative
after notification by Governnemt. The department, being
anxious to make these bye-laws effective, is making
every effort to stimulate interest in the villages. It is
too soon to form any opinion of the effect of the intro-
duction of these bye-laws in the villages; it will naturally
depend on the thoroughness with which they will be
enforced.
Buffalo-breeding.
39. To meet the increasing demand for milk and
ghee, buffalo-breeding is receiving special attention in
certain well-defined areas throughout the province. A
15
good response has been made by certain district boards,
such as Gujranwala, Sialkot, Amritsar and Gurdaspur,
to help to increase the average milk yield of village
buffaloes by creating keenness amongst local zamindars
and by providing the necessary funds for the purchase
of buffalo bulls where these are below the standard
required.
The department is experiencing the need of a
Government buffalo-breeding farm from which issues of
pedigree buffalo bulls can be made to districts. The
Jalalabad area of Feroze pore District has hitherto
furnished the requirements of the central districts for
buffalo bulls.
(c) Others.
40. There are indications, particularly in the
Ferozepore District, of some revival of interest in the
possibilities of the camel for agriculural purposes.
To meet this demand, a scheme of subsidising
specially selected privately owned camel stallions has
been drawn up by the department and the necessary
funds provided by the district board. The scheme is
now in its second year and promises to give very satisfac-
tory results. Efforts have been confined to a portion of
the Abohar Tahsil, where there are now 10 camel stallions
on subsidy work. Four hundred and twelve coverings
have been registered against 340 in the previous year.
There is great scope for expansion of this scheme in the
Abohar Tahsil when the necessary funds and staff
can be provided.
Enquiries are also being conducted by the depart-
ment into the possibilities of reviving camel-breeding
in other suitable areas of the province as an aid to
agriculture.
Sheep-and Goat-breeding.
41. Government has extended its sanction to the
supply of rams and ewes from the Government Cattle
Farm, Hissar, to approved breeders in hill districts at
a concession rate, experimentally for 3 years. A similar
scheme for the supply of merino sheep to Kangra Dis-
trict only at a concession rate has been in force from
16
1928-29. During this year 190 rams and 70 ewes were
supplied to bona fide zamindars in Kangra District,
who own large numbers of sheep.
In spite of the handicaps and difficulties owing to
local conditions, the results of this scheme have so far
been encouraging. The scheme has now reached a stage
when, if it is vigorously pushed through and a sustained
effort made for another 3 years, a very substantial
and permanent improvement is likely to result. Owing
to the shortage of staff in hill areas, it is difficult for the
department to maintain the necessary close supervision
required.
42. The starting of a self-contained sheep-breeding
farm at Sambalpani in the Attock District was consider-
ed, but the proposal had eventually to be abandoned
on account of the difficulty in providing fodder during
the months when no grazing is available.
43. Experience has definitely proved the unsuit-
ability of the merino in the hands of the illiterate sheep-
owner for improving the indigenous flocks of the plains
districts. Only very hardy disease-resisting breeds of
sheep, such as the indigenous breeds, can stand up to
local conditions.
The department will therefore, in
future, pursue its policy of improving the indigenous
breeds of the plains by selection and better feeding.
44. The goat herd on the Hissar Farm has not
been sufficiently long established to be in a position to
supply selected young male and female goats for distri-
bution in the districts. There are, however, some short-
ly reaching the age for issue which will be sold in select-
ed areas.
5. CATTLE AND HOUSE FAIRS AND SHOWS.
Fairs and shows—Table IX.
45. The detailed information regarding cattle fairs
and
shows
under this
department is given in table
IX. These were held in 24 districts of the province.
All fairs were attended as usual by the officers of this
department. The total number of cattle fairs in the
Punjab was 139 against 98 in the previous year.
17
(B) DISEASES AMONGST LIVE STOCK.
1. PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF DISEASES.
46. In the absence of any specific powers to pro-
hibit the movements of infected live stock, the applica-
tion of protective agents on a large scale, such as sera
and vaccines, on which we are now entirely dependent
in this country, cannot be said to be on a very sound
basis. The one redeeming feature of the whole situation
is that our indigenous breeds of live stock are noticeably
disease-resistant and, with more adequate feeding, would
suffer less mortality from such diseases as Rinderpest
and Hœmorrhagic Septicœmia which are prevalent in
this province, with varying degrees of intensity, from
year to year.
The hopes which were entertained for the use of
goats as virus producers in the carrying out of the
serum simultaneous method of inoculation against Rin-
derpest have not been realised. It has therefore been
decided not to defer the adoption of the serum simul-
taneous method any longer and arrangements are being
made for as many outbreaks as possible to be dealt
with by this method in future. I regard the develop-
ment of the fodder resources, particularly in the cattle-
breeding tracts as of major importance in the fight
against disease.
Control and prevention
of contagious disease
in
hill districts.
47. The whole problem of contagious disease
amongst live stock in the Kangra
District has been carefully studied
by the department, and necessary
recommendations made
to the
district board and Government.
It has been decided to make similar surveys of
other districts so that the local authorities may appre-
ciate the department's difficulties in dealing with con-
tagious disease without powers to prohibit the move-
ments of infected live stock in their areas.