NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
17
centage as possible of the yearly output of farm-bred bulls in
the Hariana tract ana meet the demand of other districts by
purchase in the tract. The districts of the Hariana tract
should be regarded as selected districts for cattle breeding
and a special organisation provided to develop the cattle-
breeding industry of the area.
I am glad to be able to note the very real interest being
taken by the zamindars of the Hariana Tract in the work of
the scheme. Local conditions are undoubtedly favourable to
the expansion of the scheme according as funds are made
available for the purchase of a larger number of bulls. One
hundred and fifty stud bulls were supplied to the Gurgaon
district board from the Hissar Farm, bringing the total
number of approved bulls now working in that district
to 617. These bulls were distributed to villagers who paid one
quarter of the price. The Rohtak district board purchased
69 bulls from the Hissar Farm and an equal number of
locally-bred Hariana male stock were bought for rearing on
the Farm until. fit for issue to the district. The number
of approved bulls now working in the Rohtak district is 265.
The Hissar district Board purchased 40 bulls from the
Hissar Farm, which were issued to applicants willing to pay
one-quarter of the cost. The number of approved bulls now
working in the Hissar district is 170.
The arrangement made for the holding of small cattle
shows at different centres throughout the Rohtak district is
having a very good effect in popularising the work of the
scheme. Besides giving an opportunity for the inspection
of the produce of the bulls enrolled under the scheme, these
small shows at which prize money is distributed create healthy
rivalry amongst the local cattle breeders who need to come
only short distances from their villages in order to compete.
The Rohtak district board has been so impressed by the
usefulness of the small one-day cattle show that it has doubled
its allotment for prizes for the coming year, a sum of
Rs. 2,400 being provided. It is hoped to be able to extend
this system of holding numerous small cattle shows to the
districts of Hissar and Gurgaon in the coming year if suffi-
cient funds are available.
Dhanni Cattle Breeding
Scheme.
38. The following statement shows the allotments made
and the expenditure incurred by the
district boards of Attock, Rawalpindi,
Jhelum and Mianwali towards the Dhanni
18
Cattle Breeding Scheme in their respective districts during
the year under report:—
District.
Attock ..
Rawalpindi ..
Jhelum ..
Mianwali ..
Total ..
Last
year's
balance.
Rs.
2,659
1,645
111
1,329
5,744
Govern-
ment
Grant.
Rs.
6,500
6,500
6,500
8,500
28,000
District
board
contri-
bution.
Rs.
4,000
4,000
4,542
5,000
17,542
Total,
Rs.
13,159
12,145
11,153
14,829
51,286
Expen-
diture.
Rs.
11,197
9,656
10,403
14,800
46,056
Balance.
Rs.
1,962
2,489
750
29
5,230
REMARKS.
A grant of rupees one thousand was also made by
Government for award at cattle shows to special classes
for cows and male stock entered in the Dhanni herd book.
The number of approved bulls enrolled under the scheme
in the different districts at the end of the year is as under :—
Attock District.—Eighteen District Board bulls and 37
private bulls on subsidy.
Rawalpindi District.—Twenty-one District Board bull
and 27 private bulls on subsidy.
Jhelum District.—Thirty-three District Board bulls
and 24 private bulls on subsidy.
Mianwali District.—Nineteen District Board bulls and
65 private bulls on subsidy.
There is such an insistent demand from the district
board members for the benefits of the scheme to be applied
equally throughout their districts that there is danger of the
value of concentrated effort being lost by dissipating resources
more and more in villages which do not offer much scope for
cattle improvement. This tendency is being resisted by the
Department.
There is no progress to report in the starting of a Dhanni
Cattle Farm in the tract owing to certain unforeseen difficul-
ties which have arisen in connection with the site selected
near Chakwal. There is now some urgency for the starting of
this farm in order to meet the increasing demand for selected
stud bulls of this breed by the Northern districts. The
19
breed is rapidly extending in popularity as the result of the
very noticeable improvement in the type of bullock now being
exported from the tract and there is a consequent shortage
of bulls for purchase.
The fodder situation in the tract during the greater part
of the year was unfavourable, the price of bhoosa reaching as
high as Rs. 2-4-0 per maund. On account of this fodder
scarcity the general condition of cows and young stock was
with difficulty maintained which will undoubtedly affect the
covering results of our stud bulls for the next year. The
department feels anxious regarding the permanence of its
cattle improvement work in this tract, the fodder supply of
which is still so insecure due to a very uncertain rainfall.
Since the Dhanni cattle breeding scheme was started in 1918-
19 there have been many serious setbacks on account of fodder
scarcity, the effects of which might have been more serious
only for the almost uncanny way in which the local zamin-
dars can manage to keep their well-bred cattle alive through
famine periods. The Dhanni tract is now becoming so im-
portant a source of supply for plough bullocks of a superior
type, in demand for the North and many of the Cential Punjab
districts, that the greater development of the fodder re-
sources of the Dhanni tract would deserve special attention
and if possible some scheme of fodder conservation against
famine put into operation even on a small scale.
The Department is anxious to make clear its policy with
regard to the subsidising of female stock as a means of im-
proving cattle breeding within the tract. With the limited
funds at its disposal since the scheme was started, it was
regarded as more productive to utilise these small sums of
money on the m intenance of as many approved stud bulls
as possible and to apply the major portion of the small grant
of rupees one thousand earmarked for prize distribution in
the four districts of the tract to owners of cows entered in
the Dhanni herd book. The Department will naturally
welcome an opportunity to encourage by means of subsidies
to cows the more careful rearing of female stock, the neglect
of which it regards as the most serious defect in the system
of cattle management as practised by the Dhanni cattle
breeder. The increased grants which are now being made
both by Government and the district boards towards the
work of the scheme will, it is hoped, make it possible for
special provision to be made for the encouragement of female
stock.
20
The system of holding small one-day cattle shows with
distribution of prizes at different centres in the course of
the Deputy Commissioner's or the Superintendent's tours is
having a very beneficial effect in stimulating interest amongst
the small breeders. In spite of the fodder shortage of the
past year, there was a vast improvement noticeable in the con-
dition of the female stock exhibited at these shows in com-
parison with former years.
PART II.—EQUINES.
Number of stallions.—
Table VIII.
34. 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 66 at the close of the previous year. The
number of donkey stallions was 82 against 81 last year.
During the year under report the following additions-
and castings were made amongst horse and donkey stal-
lions :—
Additions .. .. .. ..
Castings .. .. .. ..
Horses.
5
7
Donkeys.
11
10
The sanctioned scale of stallions of Gurgaon, Mianwal
and Hissar was revised during the year under report as
under :—
Gurgaon.—Two additional district board horses.
Hissar.—One additional Provincial donkey.
Mianwali.—One horse and one donkey (additional
district board).
At the close of the year the sanctioned scale of the
non-selected districts (75 horses and 85 donkeys) was Short
by 11 horse and 3 donkey stallions. Steps are being taken to
make good this deficiency as soon as possible according as
suitable stallions are available.
Services of stallions.—
Table VIII.
35. The total number of mares covered by horse and
donkey stallions during the year under
report was 3,587 and 3,076, as com-
pared with 3,603 and 3,377, respectively,
during the previous year.
There is quite an appreciable reduction in many districts
in the number of pony mares now being maintained for breed-
21
ing purposes. The Department will, as circumstances permit,
maintain stallion power under the sanctioned strength and in
due course decide whether a permanent reduction can be
made.
PART III.—GOAT AND SHEEP BREEDING.
Merino Rams and Ewes.
36. During the year under report 8 cross-bred merino
rams were issued from the Government
Cattle Farm, Hissar, to breeders, as com-
pared with 61 rams during the previous year. These were
issued to the following districts :—
Ferozepore .. ..
Gujrat .. ..
Montgomery .. ..
3
4
1
The indifference of the average sheep owner is reflected
in the reports received from time to time regarding the merino
rams and ewes already distributed. The general complaint
is that the merino is not as hardy as the local sheep and needs
too close attention, also that he is less able to withstand
disease.
In view of the unsatisfactory financial position of the
Kangra district board, monetary help from Government has
been sought towards the sale at concession rates of 100 three-
quarter-bred merino rams and ewes from the Hissar Farm to
this district. It is hoped that with the help of Government
this Department will be in a position to devise means for the
improvement of the sheep-breeding industry in the Kangra
and Kulu Valleys. The direction which these efforts will
take will be firstly, the grading up of the local sheep by more
careful selection of breeding ewes and rams, and secondly, the
crossing of selected local ewes with merino rams which it is
hoped to run in separate flocks from which the country rams
will be entirely excluded.
During the year under report 26 Damani rams were pur-
chased from Dera Ismail Khan and located in the " Thal " of
the Mianwali district. They have been distributed amongst
the flocks of local sheep and the local rams excluded. These
Damani rams have a great reputation for their milking
qualities, are all white in colour and are expected to exert
an appreciable influence in improving the local sheep.
22
PART IV.—FAIRS AND SHOWS.
Fairs and Shows.—
Table IX.
37. The statistical information regarding Cattle Fairs and
Shows under this Department is given in
Table IX. These were held in 25 dis-
tricts of the Province. As usual, all fairs were attended by
the officers of the Department.
PART V.—MISCELLANEOUS.
Co-operative Societies.
38. At the close of the year under report the number of
Co-operative Societies in the Province
showed an increase of 29 Cattle Breeding
Societies. The Department welcomes the steady increase in
he number of Co-operative Cattle Breeding Societies and is
making every effort to meet their requirements. It does
not, however, attach so much importance to the opening of
societies as it does to the help which the staff of the
Co-operative Department can give in discussing with mem-
bers of Co-operative Societies the economics of cattle breed-
ing as at present practised in the majority of our Indian
villages.
The Department is somewhat disappointed that the
various Co-operative Societies, the membership of which
according to the annual report for the period ending 31st
July 1927 aggregated 470,000, the majority being zamin-
dars, have yet been so little influenced in matters so closely
affecting their interest, as early reporting of disease, provision
of stud bulls, castration of inferior stock, reduction in the
number of misfit animals in villages, and the adoption of
simple protective measures against the introduction of
contagious disease.
PART VI.—ESTABLISHMENT.
Numerical strength.—
Table VI.
39. At the close of the previous year the sanctioned cadre
of the subordinate veterinary staff was
307 (28 Veterinary Inspectors, 17 Veteri-
nary Assistant Surgeons and 262 Veteri-
nary Assistants). The following additional staff was sanc-
tioned during the year under report:—
Veterinary Assistant Surgeons .. ..
Veterinary Assistants, 1st grade.. ..
Veterinary Assistants, 2nd grade .. ..
Veterinary Assistants, 3rd grade .. ..
Total ..
3
8
14
12
37
23
Thus at the close of the year the sanctioned cadre of the
subordinate veterinary staff was 344:—
Veterinary Inspectors .. ..
Veterinary Assistant Surgeons .. ..
Veterinary Assistants, 1st grade .. ..
Veterinary Assistants, 2nd grade .. ..
Veterinary Assistants, 3rd grade .. ..
Total ..
28
20
59
118
119
344
PART VII.—EXPENDITURE.
Expenditure.—Table X.
40. Details of expenditure under different heads are
shown in this Table. During the year
under report the total expenditure
amounted to Rs. 22,44,867 as compared with Rs. 18,30,371
in the previous year.
Of the total expenditure a sum of Rs. 11,44,915 was
contributed by Government and Rs. 10,99,952 by Local
Bodies.
The figures shown under " Provincial " were supplied
by the Accountant-General, Punjab, as usual whilst those
under " Local " were obtained from the local bodies con-
cerned.
PART VIII.—GENERAL REMARKS.
41. During the year under report Rs. 1,500 were sanc-
tioned by Government, for the grant of rewards to patwaris
and lambardars showing promptness in reporting cattle dis-
eases to the Veterinary Assistant in charge of the nearest
dispensary. Now that this system of rewards has been
introduced, it is hoped that notice will be taken of defaulters
by District Officers concerned.
The Department can
expect very little progress in disease control until the village
officials accept some responsibility for disease gaining
entrance into their village and also for its eradication. The
fatalistic attitude adopted at present by which God is held
entirely responsible for the introduction of disease is not
likely to be helpful in combating diseases of a contagious
nature.
42. On the recommendations of the officers of this
Department, Commissioners' and Deputy Commissioners'
sanads were awarded to various persons in the Province who
had rendered special help to the Department during the
year.
43. The very marked increase in the clerical work of
the Department, as a result of the expansion which has taken
place in accordance with the five years programme of develop-
ment, is a cause of some anxiety to the Chief Superintendent
and the Officers working under him. Proposals have been
made in April 1927 to free the Superintendents for more
active touring work, by the appointment of responsible
clerical staff in each office and a decision is anxiously awaited.
Meanwhile the clerical staff are carrying on under diffi-
culties and credit is due to the head clerks of the Superin-
tendents' offices at Lahore, Ferozepore and Rawalpindi
who have willingly responded. Particularly I would mention
Lala Ram Rattan, head clerk of the office at Lahore, and the
accountant B. Bhola Ram for their attention to duty in face
of the extra responsibility thrown upon them as the result
of the expansion in the Department.
The Chief Superintendent records his special apprecia-
tion of the work done by Deputy Superintendents Khan Sahib
M. Talib Khan and Khwaja Ghulam Hassan in connection
with the tour of the Demonstration train during the cold
weather months.
For the satisfactory progress in the work of the Depart-
ment he wishes to thank Messrs. Garewal and Egan for the
zeal and energy shown in improving the work of their
circles.
The assistance so willingly given by District Officers to
the Department during the year is gratefully acknowledged.
T. F. QUIRKE,
Chief Superintendent,
Civil Veterinary Department, Punjab.
25
Annual Report of the Government Cattle Farm,
Hissar, for the year 1927-28.
I.—STAFF.
The Farm was under my charge for the whole year.
In addition I held charge of the Office of Assistant Superin-
tendent from 1st April 1927 to 6th February 1928, and of the
Office of Live Stock Expert to the Punjab Government
throughout the year.
Mr. W. S. Read was promoted from the post of the
Deputy Superintendent (Fodder) to Assistant Superintendent
(Fodder) with effect from 21st December 1927.
Mr. P. N. Nanda, M.R.C.V.S., Officer Under Training,
was appointed Assistant Superintendent (Stock) in place of
Mr. Egan from 7th February 1928.
Chaudhri Baldeo Singh, late Veterinary Inspector,
Co-operative Department, was appointed Deputy Superin-
tendent (Fodder) from 14th March 1928.
Sardar Santokh Singh, B.A., D.I.P., R.U.R., Econ.
(Oxon), B.Sc. (Agri.), N.D.D., appointed to the Department
with a view to eventual charge of the Nili Bar Farms, joined
the farm for training on 16th January 1928.
S. Mumtaz Hussain, B.Sc. (Agri.) appointed Deputy
Superintendent, Nili Bar Farms, joined the farm for training
on 21st February 1928.
Sardar Hukam Singh, now Manager of the Bahadur-
nagar Cattle Farm (grantee), received training on the farm
from 4th January 1928 to 9th March 1928.
The Bir Staff was augmented by the appointment
of Jemadar Jiwan Singh, late of 6th Jat Infantry Regiment,
as Head Bir Darogha from 11th February 1928.
II.—VISITORS.
The farm was honoured with visits in August from the
Hon'ble Sir Geoffrey deMontmorency, K.C.I.E., K.C.V.O.,
C.B.E., I.C.S., Finance Member, and in November from the
Hon'ble Sardar Jogendra Singh, Minister for Agriculture.
III.—WEATHER. IRRIGATION. LABOUR.
The rainfall from 1st April 1927 to 31st March 1928
amounted to 17.06" against an annual average of 14".
Monsoon rainfall was, however, not more than normal, and
was almost confined to the month of July. 12.78" fell
between 1st July 1927 and 1st October 1927, of which 10.56"
fell in July. September was the driest month in the year.
26
Bir grasses although normal in bulk, were dried up and
withered 6 weeks earlier than usual. Grazing was sufficient
for practically the whole year, and an average amount of
hay was saved. Winter rainfall was unusually heavy, and
although good for Rabi crops, is usually detrimental to grazing.
The Bir grasses do not grow well in the cold weather, and rain
accentuates the activities of white ants against dry standing
grass.
Canal supplies were the best known to living memory
in this district, all canals ran nearly full supply for nearly
30 days each month, instead of the usual 10 days or less.
The supply of labour was normal. The usual difficulties
being experienced at harvest time, but the incidence of
malaria was less than usual.
IV.—FODDER IN RESERVE.
On 31st March 1928 fodder in reserve amounted to Mds-
179,955 (82 lbs. to the maund) as against Mds. 155,496 on
1st April 1927.
Under the expansion schemes sanctioned, the head of
cattle on the farm is increasing, being 5,249 on 31st March
1928 as against 4,883 on 1st April 1927. In spite of this we
were able to increase our reserves of fodder.
V.—LIVE STOCK.
Table XII in the appendix of this report shows the changes
in stock during the year—the number of animals sold, number
of births, etc.
The following table shows the number of animals issued
for breeding or draught purposes :—
Class of animals.
Cows .. ..
Bulls .. ..
Female produce ..
Service Bullocks ..
Donkey Colts ..
Arab Colts ..
Male Lambs ..
Mules .. ..
To
Punjab.
3
436
(a)
100
(b)
31
10
2
8
..
To other
provinces
and
Indian
States.
3
25
.. (c)
5
..
36
(d)
27
REMARKS.
(a) to Grantee Farms.
(b) Agricultural Department ..
Irrigation Department
..
Jail Department
..
Remount Depot
..
(c) 2 supplied to Army Remount
Depot.
14
6
3
8
(d) To Army Remount Department.
Annual supply.
27
Four hundred and thirty-nine stud bulls were issued—a
record number of 428 to Punjab District Boards. The total
number of bulls and male calves issued from this farm in the
last 3 years is 1,252. I think the farm is certainly contribut-
ing its quota to the improvement of Indian Cattle.
During the year I have had to refuse very many applica-
tions from Indian States and private breeders outside the
Province for stud bulls and cows. A sign of the times, how-
ever, may be noted in that for the first time so far as farm
records show no S. T. bullocks were issued to the Army De-
partment. I do not, however, entertain any fear that the
bullock will give way to mechanical traction in India just yet.
Demand for bullocks this year has been very keen and includes
enquiries from the Army Department.
Our policy of paying increased attention to the milking
qualities of our cows continues to show encouraging progress.
The best yield recorded during the year was over 6,000 lbs.
(5 per cent. butter fat) milk in 323 days from Cow No. 458-4/8.
This cow is nine years old, and is again in milk, giving about
33 lbs. daily.
Three years ago as an experiment I started handling a
small proportion of heifers from birth up, in contrast to our
usual economical custom of not handling at all. One of the
first heifers taken up calved on January 28th. Her calf died
next day, and a few days later she had a severe attack of
Mammitis. In spite of these handicaps this heifer yielded over
1,100 lbs. of milk, before she was 3 years old. She was calved
on 23rd May 1925.
During the year 1 received many enquiries from zamin-
dars and others interested in Sheep Breeding, and I believe
there is a tendency to take more interest in Sheep. The
number of stud rams issued by the farm, however, shows a
decrease. Only 44 were issued, only 8 of these were sold to
remain in the Punjab. Thirty-six were sold to Indian States
and breeders in other provinces. I fear that the sheep breeder
in the Province (as a rule the actual sheep keepers are very
ignorant) cannot give the extra care and attention necessary
to keep the cross bred Merino ram alive. I am strongly
in favour of starting a flock of pure country sheep, with
a special view to supply rams to the more ignorant type
of sheep breeder in the Province. We could soon be in a
position to issue rams capable of getting stock with improved
28
carcases, and whole coloured. I do not think it should be
long before we could breed a pure country bred ram capable
also of improving the quality of the wool.
To cope with the increased demand for farm bred bulls
Government have approved of proposals to increase the herd
of breeding cows to 3,000 head and arrangements are being
made for improved supplies of water to farm tail outlets
from the Sirsa Branch.
VI.—CONTAGIOUS DISEASE.
As is usually the case on this farm, " Blackquarter "
was the most serious. This disease was a constant source
of worry, loss and annoyance throughout the year, and
combined with an unusual incidence of " Hæmorrhagic
Septicæmia " and an outbreak of " Rinderpest " kept the
staff very busy. Animals were constantly being inoculated,
re-inoculated, and segregated, processes all tending to hinder
the normal growth and development of young stock, and
very wearing to the veterinary staff.
Casualities from Blackquarter amounted to 58 as against
30 last year, and this in spite of constant inoculation and
re-inoculation with Blackquarter " Aggressin " the new
preventive vaccine against this disease, issued by the Imperial
Institute of Veterinary Research, Muktesar. Science seems
to make no headway against this disease. The new vaccines
do not appear so far as farm statistics show to be one wit
more effective than the original Muktesar Blacklegoids
evolved 20 years ago, or than the old Parke Davis Vaccine
used here before that.
Hœmorrhagic Septicœmia (20 casualities as against 35
last year) was the next more serious disease. The wet cold
weather was especially favourable to the incidence of this
disease, and the farm staff were much occupied keeping it in
check for some months. As regards this disease, I have
nothing but praise for the Muktesar preventive. The
vaccine issued by the Institute has continued on this farm, as
proved by statistics, to confer a high degree of immunity.
It is now the farm practice to inoculate all calves with
this vaccine when about 2 months old. Nearly all the above
20 deaths were in animals which had either (owing to a
mistake) not been inoculated at all, or occurred 2 years after
vaccination.