NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
2
that should a satisfactory method of tattooing be
evolved, the task of the cattle-thief may be rendered con-
siderably more difficult. In spite of economic depres-
sion the sales of stock for breeding purposes increased
in almost all sections during the year. out of the 91
dairy cows, whose lactation was recorded during the
year, only 27 produced less than 2,000 lbs. of milk; while
3 produced 4,000 one 5,000 and one 6,000. The Arab
horse-breeding section has been closed down. There has
been a certain amount of contagious abortion more par-
ticularly among goats, and an investigation into the
outbreak is in progress in collaboration with the staff
of the Veterinary College, Lahore. The expansion
scheme, which was undertaken some years ago, is now
complete in all important details with the result that
the farm is now for the first time self-supporting in
grain as well as in fodder. This result has been achieved
twelve months earlier than was expected. In future the
farm may be in a position to grow some paying crops
and derive revenue therefrom in order to reduce the
gap between income and expenditure Towards the
end of the year at the request of the Legislative Council
a committee was set up to investigate the affairs of the
farm from the economic point of view. Their report is
now under consideration. There can be no doubt that
this farm is doing most valuable work for the pro-
vince.
3. During the year the post of Live Stock Officer
was placed in abeyance as a measure of retrenchment
and the superintendence of breeding operations reverted
to Divisional Superintendents. District breeding work
can be considered under three heads:—
(1) grantee cattle farms;
(2) cattle breeding in special tracts;
(3) general breeding work in districts.
The grantee farms are all in the Lower Bari Doab
Colony and appear on the whole to be working satis-
factorily, though some are better than others. The
proprietor of the Jahangirabad Farm deserves credit
for undertaking a small buffalo herd at his own charges
in addition to the herd of Sahiwal cattle he is bound
to maintain under his conditions. On the two cattle
farms in the Khanewal tahsil which are devoted to the
Sahiwal breed, cows yielding over 4,000 lbs. of milk in
3
a lactation are common, and unsatisfactory cows are
steadily being eliminated. The Director, Veterinary
Services, reports that constant supervision is necessary
to prevent the grantees relaxing into slipshod methods
of breeding, which would defeat the objects of the
grants altogether.
The two most important special tracts in which
cattle breeding is being encouraged are the Hariana and
the Dhanni. In Hissar, Rohtak and Gurgaon efforts
are being made to establish an improved stock of
Hariana cattle and similar steps are being taken for the
Dhanni breed in the districts of Attock, Rawalpindi,
Jhelum, Shahpur and Mianwali. In both these tracts
the work is at present handicapped by shortage of funds
in the coffers of the district boards concerned. In order
to timulate these activities one-day cattle shows with
distribution of small prizes would be useful, but for these
money is required. Progress is also being made with
cattle breeding schemes in the Montgomery district, the
Malwa tract, the Lahore district and in Kangra. The
proposal to found cattle farms in the Nili Bar has not
been proceeded with owing to the prevailing stringency.
The land earmarked for the purpose is on temporary
cultivation at present. A proposal to set up a buffalo
breeding farm in part of this land under private manage-
ment is under consideration of Government.
4. Operations on grantee farms and in special
tracts cannot influence the province as a whole unless
the example afforded by them affects cattle breeding
methods in the province as a whole. The ordinary
work of the veterinary officer in every district of the
province should include a practical interest in the
breeding of horses, cattle, buffaloes, camels, sheep and
goats. The Civil Veterinary Department is largely
relieved of their responsibility for horse-breeding by the
extensive operations in that direction carried on by the
Army Remount Department in selected districts. But
there are still 70 horse and pony stallions and 87 donkey
stallions supervised by the department. The number
of district board stud bulls in the various districts
rose from 3,520 to 3,857. The system of issue of stud
bulls from the Cattle Farm at Hissar is one of the items
which were referred to the committee mentioned in
paragraph 2 above, and their recommendations will
have the careful consideration of Government. At pre-
4
sent district boards seem disinclined to find the money
required to pay the very moderate prices assessed on
these bulls, and Government is faced ith the necessity
of feeding larger numbers of bulls on the farm than true
economy would c ntemplate. The districts want bulls
and plenty of bulls are available. It is merely a ques-
tion of finding a suitable solution. Up to date buffalo
breeding has not received the attention which it de-
serves. A fine example has been set during the year
by Guru Partap Singh of Bheri Sahib who has offered
to give annually free of cost all mature male stock bred
at his farm and declared fit for breeding purposes by
the department to the District Board, Ludhiana, for the
improvement of the local breed of buffaloes. Camel
breeding is being encouraged in the Fazilka and Mukt-
sar Tahsils of Ferozepore district; but sufficient money
is not available at present. The supply of three quarter
merino sheep from the Hissar Cattle Farm to the
Kangra district continues. The department is keeping
in close touch with the shepherds at Fazilka, which is
one of the most important wool markets in the Punjab.
5. Every effort is being made to grapple with the
important question of the prevention of contagious dis-
eases. A conference was recently held at Dharamsala
with a view to find methods of concerted action to pre-
vent the spread of contagious diseases between the
Mandi, Bilaspur and Suket States and the neighbouring
districts of the Punjab. The total reported mortality
from contagious diseases in the year rose from 17,628 to
24.220.
Among cattle hæmorrhagic septicæmia was
responsible for about 47 per cent. of the total mortality.
Rinderpest, which occurred particularly in Lahore,
Gujranwala and Sheikhupura districts, was next in
importance. At the various surra stations in the pro-
vince 2,641 horses and camels were created during the
year as compared with 1,925 in the previous year. This dis-
ease is restricted mostly to the districts of Sheikhupura,
Gujranwala, Sialkot, Rohtak and Karnal. The depart-
ment undertakes anti rinderpest inoculations and inocul-
ations and preventive vaccinations against hæmrorrhagic
septicæmia.
6. Towards the end of the year a committee investi-
gated the affairs of the Punjab Veterinary College; and
were satisfied that on the whole the college was econo-
5
mically administered. Some minor economies, which
are expected to result in the saving of Rs. 3,881 annual-
ly, have been introduced. Apart from the teaching
work for which this college has always been held in
high esteem valuable research work is constantly being
carried on; while useful demonstrations and propagenda
with lectures on veterinary science are arranged for at
all important horse and cattle fairs in the province.
Financial stringency has unfortunately materially affect-
ed the prospects of diplomates. There is at present no
outlet for them except into the ranks of the Veterinary
Department and these ranks are not at the moment
expanding. It is to be hoped that municipal commit-
tees and district boards will realise the value of this
material for meat and milk inspection, hackney carriage
inspection and other such work. Similarly, diplomates
of the Lahore Veterinary College are very well fitted to
serve as inspectors under the Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals. The meat and milk inspection
course at the Veterinary College is probably as thorough
as any available elsewhere and it is hoped that local
bodies when making fresh appointments to such posts
will appreciate the fact.
Mr. Quirke held the post of Director, Veterinary
Services, throughout the year and the thanks of the
Ministry are due to him and to his officers for the satis-
factory way in which their duties were performed. The
Ministry also wishes to be associated in the acknowledg-
ments of specially good work recorded by the Director in
the last paragraph of his report.
By order of the Punjab Government (Ministry of
Agriculture),
H. CALVERT,
Financial Commissioner and
Secretary to Government,
Punjab, Development Department.
JOGENDRA SINGH,
Minister for Agriculture.
294 FC—243—10-1-33—SGPP Lahore.
Annual Report of the Civil Veterinary Depart-
ment, Punjab, for the year 1931-32,
BY
Mr. W. Taylor, M.R.C.V.S., D.V.H., I.V.S., Offg. Director,
Veterinary Services, Punjab.
Director, Veterinary Sci
vices, Punjab.
CHAPTER I.—General Administration.
1. Mr. T. P. Quirke, I.V.S., remained in charge of the
Department throughout the year.
2. He carried out inspection tours of several districts
in the Province and attended many of the important cattle
fairs, in order to supervise the special propaganda work,
which was being conducted by the staff of the Department.
He inspected on different occasions the Government
Cattle Farm, Hissar, in addition to the various grantee
farms situated in the Lower Bari Doab Canal Colony. He also
visited the Delhi Province, and the North-West Frontier
Province, on inspection duty. He toured in the Hariana,
Dhanni and Malwa Cattle Breeding tracts, to see personally
the progress of the departmental schemes in these areas.
3. He acted as an external examiner of the Punjab
Veterinary College, Lahore, for the L. V. P. Final Examin-
ation held in May 1931.
4. The Director attended the meetings of the Punjab
Retrenchment Committee held at Simla in July 1931, when
he was examined in respect of possible retrenchment in the
Department.
B
CHAPTER II-Live Stock.
A.—BREEDING OPERATIONS.
1.—GOVERNMENT CATTLE FARM, HISSAR.
5. Mr. L. W. Smith held charge of the Farm as Superin-
tendent throughout- the year, except the period from 29th
June 1931 to 6th October 1931, and from 26th January
1932 to 6th February 1932, when he was on leave. Mr.
W. S. Read, Assistant Superintendent (Fodder), officiated
for him during the above periods.
Visitors to the Farm during the year under report
included —
(1) The Honourable Sardar Sir Jogendra Singh, Kt.,
Minister for Agriculture, Punjab.
(2) Lieut.-Colonel Ruston.
(3) Mr. R. A. Butler, M.C., member of the Round
Table Conference Franchise Committee.
Climatic conditions.
6. Annual rainfall was 17.35" compared with 21.72"
in the previous year, and against an
annual average of 14.00".
The monsoon broke late in Hissar, and, from the culti-
vator's point of view, it was unevenly distributed. After
the 30th October rains ceased completely and winter rains
were very meagre, the little which fell was distributed
in such minute quantities that it was useless, with the result
that most of the barani crops were a complete failure.
From a grazier's stand-point, the rain was well distribut-
ed in the months of July, August and September, and suffi-
cient grass was available in the Bir for grazing until the end
of the year, with the result that stall feeding was unnecessary,
except for equines, working bullocks and dairy cows.
Live Stock Section.
7. During the year under report the issue of live stock
for breeding purposes to Punjab zamin-
dars and district boards included 376
bulls, 6 donkey stallions, 1 Arab stallion, 138 rams and male.
2
8
ambs, 46 ewes and female lambs and 28 male goats.
These figures show that, in spite of agricultural depression,
the sales for breeding purposes have increased in almost
all sections, as compared with the figures for the previous
year.
Cattle-breeding Section.
8. One thousand, four hundred and thirty-six calves
were born during he year compared
with 1,115 in the previous year. The
method of grazing of stock early in the morning, as com-
menced last year, proved such a success that the practice
has been continued again this year.
The bulls purchased from Rohtak District for use on the
Farm have produced excellent stock. The District Board
has again been approached to continue this method of
exchange with the Superintendent of the Farm.
Since January 1932, all calves born on the Farm have
been weighed in order to determine the average weight at
birth. Upto 31st March 1932, 379 calves were weighed.
The maximum weight observed was 72 lbs. and minimum
40 lbs.
The average weight of newly born calves in the main
herd is 57 lbs.
It is proposed to experiment on animals which are other-
wise normal, but do not come, or are late in coming, into
season, with the urine of pregnant animals which according
to recent research possesses the necessary hormones for the
stimulation of fertility.
Dairy Section.
9. The Section has milk recorded 623 cows since its in-
ception. During the year under report
91 dairy cows completed their lactation
and are classified as below:—
1,000 lbs per lactation
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
„
„
„
„
„
„
„
„
„
„
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
Total
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
27
45
14
3
1
1
91
B2
4
The owing follstatement shows the milk yield of some of
the cows of this special herd:—
Cow No.
253
3/13
253
3/18
211
2/22
169
2/25
316
3/26
4 H. H. 30
6 H. P. 29
426
4/27
70
1/27
420
4/27
Total milk
yield in
lbs.
2,660
5,355
3,717
3,689
6,909
3,094
3,073
2,919
2,548
4,739
Days in milk.
184
303
194
230
300
261
244
233
230
305
Maximum
daily yield in
lbs.
22
27
35
22
36
17
18
23
18
24
REMARKS.
11th lactation.
7th
„
6th „
2nd
„
2nd „
1st „
1st „
1st „
1st „
1st
„
Handling and quietening of promising cows, and es-
pecially of first calvers, is still in progress. The section has
devised three different methods of handling which are now
under trial.
During the year under report a new type of ghee boiler
was introduced into the Dairy Section with good results.
Feeding Experiments.
10. The group system of feeding which was started in
1930 is still practised.
The following chart explains the system:—
Milk yielders from
1 lb. — 4 lbs. .. ..
4 lbs.— 8 „. .. ..
8 „ 12 „. .. ..
12 „ —16 „. .. ..
16 „ —20 „. .. ..
Group No.
1
2
3
4
5
Mixture ration.
2 lbs.
4 „
6 „
8 „
10 „
Sheep-breeding Section.
11. The Kangra District continued to take practically
all the young Hissar Dales fit for issue.
The Bikaniri flock shows steady improve-
5
ment. There are now some excellent stud rams, which have
been bred on the Farm. Local breeders appear to realize
the usefulness of this desert sheep.
Goat-breeding Section.
12. The goat breeding was seriously retarded by an
outbreak of disease caused by Br.
melitensis and Br. abortus. All the
goats underwent biological tests, as a result of which the
reactors, and the goats which had aborted, were disposed of.
The zamindars appear to appreciate the usefulness of our
male stock, as 28 were issued for breeding purposes during
the year to the following districts:—
Hissar .. .. .. ..
Ambala .. .. .. ..
Ferozepore .. .. .. ..
Amritsar .. .. .. ..
Kamal .. .. .. ..
Total ..
3
2
12
10
1
28
Donkey-breeding Section.
13. With the exception of 8 cases of abortion amongst
the donkey mares, the stud is in a
flourishing condition. Two jacks im-
ported from Mona and one from America have produced very
good stock. As a measure of economy, the question of
amalgamating the Farm stud with that of Mona was referred
to Government, but on account of financial considerations,
and in the interests of the Province, the scheme did not ma-
terialise.
Arab-breeding Section.
14. It has been decided by the Punjab Government to
close down this section gradually. The
old Arab mares were sold by auction,
and all young stock transferred for use as hacks, for the out-
door staff.
Contagions diseases.
15. There was no outbreak of Rinderpest this year.
In future, it is proposed to carry out
Serum Simultaneous inoculations for
the control of this disease. The mortality among stock was
85 resulting from the following diseases:—
Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia .. ..
Black Quarter .. ..
Other contagious diseases in Bovines .. ..
Contagious diseases in other animals .. ..
Total ..
17
63
1
4
85
6
Contagious Abortion.
16. (a) Cattle.—The presence of the Br. abortus
has been confirmed in cases of abortion
in cows which occurred during the year.
Necessary steps in respect of the control of this disease are
being taken.
(b) Donkeys.—Fifty-five donkey mares were vaccinated
monthly from the date of covering to the date of foaling.
Out of this number 8 aborted, compared with 67 vaccinated
and 5 abortions in the previous year. The conclusion to be
drawn from these two results appears to be that the vaccine
is of doubtful value.
(c) Goats.—Abortion in goats was again prominent
during the year under report and investigation of these out-
breaks is in progress in collaboration with the Punjab Veteri-
nary College, Lahore.
Hospital Section.
17. A brief summary of the work done at the Farm
Hospital is as follows:—
Year under
report.
Daily average number of animals
treated ..
Inoculations performed
Castrations performed
Post-mortem examinations
..
..
..
..
50
4,881*
127
381
Previous
year.
63
1,907
40
383
*Includes inocula-
tions
against
abortion
in
equines.
Fourteen animals were tested with the "Double Intra-
dermal" Tuberculin test and two with the subcutaneous test,
two animals reacted positively, while two were suspicious,
the remainder proving negative.
Nine cases of Johne's disease amongst the animals
of the farm were suspected, five proved positive and the re-
maining four negative.
Six cases of Foot and Mouth disease were injected with
fresh serum prepared from recovered cases, but the results
were not encouraging.
After suitable preparat on, all the equines on the farm
were subjected to treatment with carbon disulphide, for the
control of internal parasites. The results were encouraging.
In order to eradicate warble infestation on the Farm,
the following dressings were used on 2,769 animals:—
(1) Tobacco and lime.
(2) Cooper Warble fly powder.
(3) Cooper Warble cattle wash.
The results with all the three dressings were satisfactory.
7
Fodder Section.
18. The following table shows the out put of grain and
fodder from the cultivation of the
Bir :—
Grain (seed) .. .. ..
Dry Fodder .. .. ..
Green Fodder (ensilage grass bur). ..
Total .. ..
Direct cul-
tivation.
Mds.
9,509
173,578
183,087
Tenants.
Mds.
2,277
4,408
6,685
Total.
Mds.
11,786
177,986
189,772
The produce was 17,007 maunds in excess of that of the
previous year, in spite of the fact that Rabi 1931 was a
small one, owing to poor water supply.
Fodder Reserve.
19. The fodder reserve on 31st March 1932, was 257,213
maunds compared with 190,664 maunds
in the previous year. Although the
threshing of Rabi 1932 is not yet complete, it is possible to
forecast that the Farm this year will be, for the first time,
self-supporting in grain as well as in fodder. This is nearly
12 months earlier than was estimated when the expansion
scheme was started. The Farm is, therefore, now in a
position to grow some paying crops for revenue purposes in
order to reduce the gap between income and expenditure
which will automatically reduce the cost of production of
stud bulls.
Supplies of canal water were satisfactory throughout
the period of Rabi sowing, and the Farm was able to sow a
record Rabi acreage. After this, however, the water supply
failed, the quantity received for maturing Rabi crops was
very poor, and so reduced the anticipated yields of grain and
fodder.
Expansion.
20. The work under this scheme, excepting minor con-
solidation work, is now completed, and
even during the transition period of the
past four years, encouraging results have been achieved. The
system of rectangulation has resulted in the saving of water,
and the speeding up of irrigation, it has been responsible for
placing the Farm on a self-supporting basis with regard to
grain and fodder, and putting it in a very favourable position
to grow other revenue-producing crops.
8
Experiments on fodder
crops.
21. Experiments were continued with Sun-flower, Salt-
bush, Irungu cholam, Gowara. A seed
rate experiment for oats was also carried
out. The results are being tabulated.
The Bir.
22. Grazing in the Bir was exhausted in April 1931 and
stall feeding had to be resorted to,
until the arrival of the monsoon, which
was rather late, but some very good grasses came up, and
whatever anjan was available was of very good quality.
Hay making was in progress from the 24th August 1931
until the 25th January 1932, and 43,476 maunds of good hay
and ensilage, mostly anjan, were made. Also 11 maunds and
17 seers of anjan grass seed were collected. On account of
the lateness of the rains, a lot of good green anjan was avail-
able after the silo pits had been filled, so an experiment
in the stack method of ensilage was carried out. This had
not been previously undertaken on the Farm.
The results of this experiment are most encouraging,
for when the stacks were opened, some five months after
making, the ensilage was consumed with avidity by the
cattle. All issues from the stack are being made by weight
so that the Farm can arrive at the loss by shrinkage, etc., with
regard to this form of ensilage. Only 2,728 maunds of Palla
was made this year. The crop was a poor one owing to the
late rains, and the sudden cessation of the monsoon followed
by a long dry spell at the time of seeding.
General.
23. (a) Investigations of certain diseases are in progress
and their results are being keenly
watched.
(b) During the year under report an implement shed 50
long, of a cheap Pusa pattern, was erected at Mundianwala.
Owing to lack of funds it was found necessary to keep several
urgent projects in abeyance.
(c) Publications.—During the year under report the
History of the Farm was written by the Assistant Superin-
tendent, Fodder. It is an interesting publication which will
give to the public a better understanding of the reasons for
the maintenance of the Farm, and, it is hoped, lead to a greater
interest in its work.
(d) As usual, advice was also given to several gentlemen
regarding sheep and cattle breeding.
9
(e) Valuable tattooing investigational work was further
extended. A batch of heifers varying in age from 9 months
to 2 years was tattooed for identification purposes.
A second batch of cows and bullocks of all ages was
also tattooed with various inks in March 1930.
The numbers tattooed contained from 2 to 4 digits.
All these animals have been treated as the rest of the herd,
without any preferential treatment. Observations have been
recorded from time to time. The results achieved are en-
couraging, and hold out definitely a hopeful future.
2.—GRANTEE CATTLE FARMS.
24. There are 6 Grantee Farms in the Lower Bari Doab
Canal Colony, including a Dairy grant of 485 acres near
Montgomery, under the supervision of this Department.
The table below gives details of the number of stock on these
farms at the end of the year under report :—
Name of Farm.
1. Bahadurnagar
Farm.
2. Qadirabad Farm
3. Fazalabad Farm
4. Jahangirabad
Farm.
5. Allah Dad Farm
6. Montgomery Dairy
Farm.
Area
in
acres.
REQUIRED
STRENGTH OF
HERD.
Cows .
Bul l s.
DETAILS OF STOCK AT THE CLOSE
OF
THE
YEAR.
Cows .
Herd bul l s.
Young stock.
Male.
Hissar Breed Farms.
3,131
1,000
3,140
400
125
400
6
3
6
399
121
368
6
4
6
Montgomery or Sahiwal Breed Farm.
4,226
3,800
485
Buffaloes
100
175
150
8
4
506
173
Dairy Farm.
3
..
119
35
9
4
3
3
272
101
190
359
126
6
1
Female.
315
87
217
364
158
97
25
Bulls
issued
during the
year.
59
..
26
46
19
..
..
Of these, the Jahangirabad Farm shows greatest promise,
because of the grantee's readiness to develop his farm on