NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
19
The fodder situation in the tract was again difficult
for cattle rearing. The sales of cattle at unremunerative
prices were much heavier than in normal years owing to the
dearth of fodder. Notwithstanding the difficulties, however,
the interest now being taken by the average Dhanni cattle
breeder is very much greater than formerly as the result of
the very ready sale for Dhanni bullocks of a good type to
zamindars in the Central Punjab districts. The work of the
scheme has very definitely raised the standard of the Dhanni
bullocks now available for sale from the tract.
II.—EQUINES.
Number of stallions. —
Table VIII.
37. At the close of the year under report there were
60 horse and pony stallions in the
non-selected districts of the Province,
as compared with 64 at the close of the
previous year. The number of donkey stallions was 81
against 82 last year.
During the year under report the following additions
and castings were made amongst horse and donkey stal-
lions :—
Additions .. .. ..
Castings .. .. ..
Horses.
3
7
Donkeys.
3
4
At the close of the year the sanctioned scale of the non-
selected districts (76 horses and 86 donkeys) was short by
16 horses and 5 donkey stallions. Steps are being taken to
make good the deficiency as soon as possible according as
suitable stallions are available.
Services of stallions.—
Table VIII.
38. The total number of mares covered by horse and
donkey stallions during the year under
report was 3,600 and 3,473 as compared
with 3,587 and 3,076, respectively, during
the previous year.
There is quite an appreciable reduction in many districts
in the number of pony mares now being maintained for
breeding 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.
20
III.—GOAT AND SHEEP BREEDING.
Merino Rams and Ewes.
39. During the year under report 73 cross-bred merino
rams were issued from the Government
Cattle
Farm, Hissar, to breeders
as compared with 8 rams during the
previous year. These were issued to the following dis-
tricts :—
Rohtak .. .. ..
Kangra .. .. ..
Gnrdaspur .. .. ..
2
70
1
The indifference of the average of 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 order to stimulate sheep breeding industry in Kangra
district, Government provided a sum of Rs. 1,000 in the year
1928-29 for the supply of 100 three-fourth bred merino rams
and ewes from the Government Cattle Farm, Hissar. The
first batch landed in the district in March 1929 and the sheep
have since been distributed amongst sheep owners and other
zamindars interested in sheep-breeding. A similar sum has
again been provided by Government in the budget for the
current year. The local staff of the Civil Veterinary Depart-
ment is endeavouring to persuade owners of sheep to show
more care in the selection of breeding rams and ewes.
It is hoped that with the help of Government this Depart-
ment will be in a position to devise means for the improvement
of the sheep-breeding industry in 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.
Sheep breeding work is progressing satisfactorily in the
districts of Attock and Shahpur. The indigenous type of
sheep bred here has improved tremendously in these districts
of late years. No merino rams were introduced during the
year under report as experiments with the merino rams
have not been successful owing to heat and want of sufficient
21
grazing. They have too delicate a constitution unless kept
under ideal conditions.
A number of Damani rams was introduced into the
Mianwali district from the North-West Frontier Province
chiefly into the "Thal" ilaqa, they however did not stand the
adverse conditions there and a number of them died.
Sheep breeding, to a certain extent, is also carried on
in the Canal Colony areas of Multan Revenue Division but
the work there is chiefly in the hands of uneducated low
caste nomadic classes.
Propaganda work was done in certain other districts
of the Province as a result of which several applications for
the supply of sheep were received from bona fide sheep-bree-
ders of Amritsar, Lahore and Dera Ghazi Khan districts.
IV.—BUFFALO
BREEDING.
40. The attitude of local bodies towards the improve-
ment of buffalo breeding has so far been regrettably apathetic
The number of buffalo bulls kept by these bodies in the Pro-
vince is extremely small and is inadequate to meet the re-
quirements of even a small village.
The district boards are moved through the officers
of this Department to consider this most important problem
seriously and it is hoped that with their co-operation we
will be in a position to show a perceptible improvement in
this industry in the near future.
V.—FAIRS AND SHOWS.
Fairs and Shows.—
Table IX.
41. The statistical information regarding cattle fairs
and shows under this Department is
given in Table IX. These were held
in 22 districts of the Province. As
usual, all fairs were attended by the officers of the Department.
The total number of fairs held during the year under report
was 98 against 94 in the previous year.
VI.—MISCLLNEOUS.
Co-operative Societies.
42. At the close of the year under report the number
of Co-operative Societies in the Province
showed an increase of 11 Cattle Breeding
Societies. The Department welcomes the steady increase
22
in the 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 members
of Co-operative Societies the economics of cattle-breeding
as at present practised in the majority of our Indian villages.
VII.—ESTABLISHMENT.
Numerical strength.—
Table VI.
43. At the close of the previous year the sanctioned
cadre of the subordinate veterinary
staff was 344 (28 Veterinary Inspectors,
20 Veterinary Assistant Surgeons and
296 Veterinary Assistants). The following additional staff
was sanctioned during the year under report :—
Veterinary Assistant Surgeons .. ..
Veterinary Assistant, 1st grade .. ..
Veterinary Assistants, 2nd grade .. ..
Veterinary Assistants, 3rd Grade .. ..
Total ..
8
1
4
4
17
Thus, at the close of the year, the sanctioned cadre
of the subordinate veterinary staff was :—
Veterinary Inspectors .. ..
Veterinary Assistant Surgeons ..
Veterinary Assistants, 1st grade ..
Veterinary Assistants, 2nd grade ..
Veterinary Assistants, 3rd grade ..
Total ..
19 (decrease due to
the elimination of
9 posts).
28
60
122
123
352
VIII.—EXPENDITUERE.
Expenditure.—Table X.
44. Details of expenditure under different heads are
shown in this Table. During the year
under report, the total expenditure
amounted to Rs. 24,60,562 as compared with Rs. 22,44,867
in the previous year.
23
Of the total expenditure, a sum of Rs. 13,92,167 was
contributed by Government and Rs. 10,68,395 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 concerned.
IX.—GENERAL REMARKS.
45. During the year under report, Rs. 1,500 were
sanctioned by Government for the grant of rewards to Pat-
waris and Lambardars showing promptness in reporting
cattle diseases 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.
On the recommendations of this Department, Commis-
sioners and Deputy Commissioners' Sanads were awarded
to various persons in the Province who had rendered special
help to the Department during the year.
Consequent upon the separation of the Veterinary
Department from the Department of Agriculture with effect
from April 1st, 1928, the clerical work of the headquarters
office at Lahore has during the subsequent months undergone
the necessary re-organisation in accordance with the recom-
mendations made by an experienced officer of the Civil Secre-
tariat who was placed on special duty for this purpose at the
instance of Government.
The relief afforded to the Director and his Superinten-
dents in the conduct of the work of the Department by direct
communication with Government has been most marked.
There is every hope that the improved status of the Depart-
ment in the eyes of Government will not alone inspire keen-
ness in the staff but will add very materially to its general
efficiency in serving the needs of agriculturists in the Province.
In giving effect to these changes in the Department's
organisation the Director wishes to place on record his
appreciation of the able assistance given by his Head Clerk,
24
Lala Ram Rattan and the Accountant, B. Bhola Ram, both
of whom have laboured zealously to expedite the work of
the Department during this period of transition. Their
example has had a very excellent effect on the other members
of the clerical staff who have also had to undertake much
additional work before the necessary increase in establishment-
had been sanctioned by Government.
The Director wishes to record his appreciation of the
good work done by all the Deputy Superintendents. The
names of Khan Sahib M. Talib Khan and Khwaja Ghulam
Hassan deserve special mention for their untiring zeal and
energy shown during the year in furthering the cause of the
Department.
The Director's thanks are also due to Messrs. Garewal
and Egan for the efficient manner in which they managed
their resp ective circles in spite of the many changes which
took place during the year on account of the separation of
the Department from the Department of Agriculture.
The assistance given by District Officers to the officers
of all grades of this Department is gratefully acknowledged.
W. TAYLOR,
Offg. Director, Veterinary
Services, Punjab.
25
Annual Report of the Government Cattle Farm,
Hissar, for the year 1928-29.
I.—STAFF
The Farm was in charge of Mr. R. Branford from 1st
April 1928 to 30th June 1928 and he also held charge of the
Office of Live Stock Expert to Government, Punjab. Being
a born farmer, a unique veterinarian, a very good stock
breeder with an excellent knowledge of Farm working,
Mr. Branford's retirement is a great loss to the Veterinary
Department. Since then I have been in charge of the Farm.
II.—VISITORS.
The Farm was honoured with visits of the following
distinguished visitors during the year :—
(1) Hon'ble Sir Jogendra Singh, Minister for Agricul-
ture.
(2) Hon'ble Malik Firoz Khan, Noon, Minister for
Local Self-Government.
(3) Doctor Elek of Austria.
(4) H. G. Baluch, Esquire, Secretary. Cattle Breeding
Committee, Sindh.
III.—LIVE STOCK
Table XII in the Appendix of this Report shows the
changes in stock during the year the number of births,
purchases, deaths, etc. The following table shows the number
of animals issued :—
Class of animals.
Cows .. ..
Bulls .. ..
Heifers ..
Service Bullocks . .
Donkey Colts
Arab Colts ..
Mules .. ..
Rams .. ..
Ewes ..
To
PUNJAB
Upto Farm
standard.
..
326
..
17
3
3
..
53
20
Not upto
Farm
standard.
19
..
59
..
..
..
1
..
..
TO OTHERS.
Upto Farm
standard.
..
2
..
10*
6 (a)
..
35 (b)
20
..
Not upto
Farm
standard.
1
1
4
..
..
..
7 (b)
..
..
REMARKS.
*To Military Department.
(a) 3 to Military Department.
(b) To Military Department.
A.—CATTLE BREEDING
1. One thousand, one hundred and ninety calves were
born during the year as against 1,274 in. the previous year.
The demand for the Farm bred stud bulls was again
keen. We supplied 324 bulls to districts in the Punjab
26
as against an indent for 510. Enquiries for cattle are
constantly being received from other provinces and states.
The great majority of them have to be refused as the Punjab
zamindars are given preference.
The cope with the repeated demand of the district
boards in the Hariana Tract all the best white cows of Rohtak
type numbering about 400 were selected out of the main herd
and put with bulls of the same colour and type. This should
produce the kind of young bulls that they require. Efforts-
are also being made to purchase the best of the locally bred
Hariana cows for breeding male stock of the type which is
preferred by the Zamindars of the Rohtak and Gurgaon
Districts. The breeders from the North Punjab prefer the
grey and more massive type of animals, arrangements have
been made to breed the type they require.
Improvements to Dairy.—Standard cows yielding over
2,000 lbs. of milk and at the same time rearing a calf in a
lactation period have been put into a separate herd with
bulls having a definite milk pedigree behind them. Their
female calves are taken up after weaning and gentled, so
that when they calve down they will go straight into the dairy
lines. Other heifers which appear likely to make good
milkers are also handled and trained in a separate bara
(enclosure) set apart for this purpose. They are eventually
transferred to the Dairy section provided they have justified
the promise held out in the beginning.
Necessary arrangements have been made to increase
grazing paddocks for the Dairy cows. The Assistant Super-
intendent (Stock) has carried out some most useful feeding
experiments to increase the output of milk, with considerable
success, as shown below :—
Number of cow.
458-4|8 .. ..
190-2,22 .. ..
201-2/22
11-H.P.-28
.. ..
3-1/20
Milk yield
in last
lactation.
6,373
323 days
4,000
296 days
Not recorded
Ditto
Ditto
Milk yield
in this
lactation.
8,134
305 days
5,910
189 days
4,879
270 days
5,955
236 days
1,269
70 days
REMARKS.
Still giving 14 lbs. milk
daily.
Still giving 8 lbs. milk
daily.
Still giving 22 lbs. a
day.
27
One of our best cows has yielded 8,134 lbs. in 305 days
(4th lactation)—the maximum yield being 39 lbs. in a day.
2. Goat Breeding.—Goat Breeding was added to
the activities of the Farm with the object to grade up the
indigenous breed by breeding from selected stock. Two
male goats and 55 female goats with 4 kids were purchased
from Gurdaspur, Gujrat, Gujranwala and Wazirabad in
August 1928. They are a very fine lot, of a big type.
The milk yields of a few of them are given below:—
Number of Goar.
9
27
47
51
Maximum milk yield
in a day.
Lbs.
7
7
8
7
REMARKS.
Still in milk.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Goat No. 9 gave 680 lbs. and reared her kid in this lacta-
tion and still she is giving 2 lbs. a day.
3. Sheep Breeding.—With a view to improve the indi-
genous breed of sheep 3 rams and 48 ewes were purchased
from Bikaner. They are a very good lot and are doing well.
It has always been my view that sheep breeding is a
paying concern, if conducted on proper lines. This is sup-
ported by the fact that I receive constant enquires regarding
sheep.
Sometimes the demand for our female lambs exceeds
our output. The Kangra. District Board promises to take
100 sheep every year, and deserves special commendation.
4. Donley Breeding.—With the object of producing
fresh blood in the stud two Mona Depot-bred jacks were
received in exchange for the two farm-bred colts sent to the
Army Remount Department. They are both very good
animals and should do much to improve the stud.
The donkey stallions issued from the Farm are of excel-
lent type but complaints are still being received that they are
slow coverers. Personally I think the fault lies with the
ignorant syces, as no jack is issued from this Farm until he
has covered several mares. I agree with Mr. Branford
that a school for training syces should be opened at the Farm.
28
5. Arab Breeding.—One new Arab stallion "Saad
Salaam" was purchased from Bombay to replace the old
stallion "Redflower" who has been transferred to Mianwali
District.
6. Mule Breeding has been discontinued. (A few
mares have been retained to train the young jacks, which
may get in foal occasionally).
B.—CONTAGIOUS DISEASES.
The chief contagious diseases claimed their usual victims
but they were comparatively fewer owing to drier conditions.
Black Quarter.—There were 17 casualties as against
.58 last year. There was only one small outbreak. Most
of the fatal cases were sporadic. Re-inoculation, on any
large scale was, therefore, not called for.
Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia.—There
were 18 deaths as
against 20 last year. The usual routine of vaccinating all
calves at 2 months old was adhered to, and with marked encou-
raging results. There was only one outbreak and was confined
to Chhaoni only. It was soon brought under control by the
prompt and efficient measures taken by the Assistant Super-
intendent (Stock). These included change of grazing ground,
segregation and repeated inoculations with Hæmorrhagic
Septicæmia Serum.
Rinderpest.—(Two casualties as against four last year).
The outbreak was of a mild nature and was confined to some
of the weak and emaciated male stock at Chhaoni. Most,
of the cases recovered by judicious feeding and careful
nursing.
Foot and Mouth Disease.—(Five deaths as against 9
last year). There were several outbreaks as usual, on different
parts of the Farm. Most of these passed through the whole
herd pretty rapidly, but the male stock at Chhaoni suffered
very badly especially from the foot lesions. It is thought
that the serious outbreak was due to the excessive cold
experienced in January 1929, which left them in a poor
condition.
Equine Abortion.—The modified method of vaccination
suggested by the Director, Imperial Institute of Veterinary
Research, Muktesar, is being tried but the disease continues
to cause losses.
Contagious Aphtha.—Losses in lambs were heavy even
though complete segregation was enforced early, and the
lambs were hand fed and nursed with great care.
29
C.—HOSPITALS.
The Farm Hospital has now been put in-charge of a
Veterinary Assistant Surgeon and was well looked after
under the special supervision of the Assistant Superintendent
(Stock).
The average number of cases treated daily was 126
as against 143 during the last year. Three thousand and
five hundred animals were inoculated against various con-
tagious diseases.
IV.—FODDER.
The total receipts of fodder were 135,004 maunds
from direct cultivation, 9,607 maunds from tenants and
18,571 maunds from the Bir.
2. Fodder Reserve.—The Fodder Reserve on the 31st
March 1929, amounted to 193,681 maunds (one maund =
82 lbs.) which is the largest Reserve yet stored.
3. Weather.—The rainfall from the 1st April 1928 to
31st March 1929 amounted to 15.61 inches against an Annual
average of 14.00 inches. The monsoon rainfall was abnormal,
as it practically all fell in August, there was 3.00 inches in
July but this was split into light scattered showers that were
practically useless. August was the best month with 7.22
inches but this all fell in about a week. It was followed with
scanty falls of less than an inch each month till January
so that the Anjan grass (the local indigenous grass on which
the cattle depend and from which the best hay is made)
did not mature. No rain fell in the months of February and
March 1929. The end of January 1929 brought a severe
frost. On the 31st of that month the thermometer recorded
a Minimum temperature of 25 : 0°. This severe frost did
a lot of damage to the early sown oat crop, and spoiled what
little grazing was left in the Bir.
4. Irrigation.—Canal water was generally sufficient
in all channels except the Dabra Minor from April to Decem-
ber. In January, February and March, water was distinctly
poor and it was as much as we could do to keep the oats
alive. The tenants suffered as their land is given only on the
understanding that they get water when the Farm demand
is satisfied, consequently their crops were bad and there are
many claims for remission of rent. The continual complaint
of scarcity of water in the Dabra Minor has been a feature
of the annual report for years. No irrigation can be done
30
from this channel unless the gauge is maintained at not
less than 12 inches. From October to the end of December
the gauge only shewed 12 inches on 12 separate days instead
of thirty. Hardly any oats would have been sown on the
Chhaoni Farm had it not been for a timely shower of rain
amounting to § inch on the 29th/30th November. The oats
was sown barani in the hope of getting sufficient canal water
later to mature it. This hope was doomed to disappoint-
ment; only enough water was received to keep alive the
first few acres of early sowings, and the barani oats had to
be cut as very poor oat hay, to save anything from it at all.
The Superintending Engineer, Western Jumna Canals,
went very thoroughly into the matter and has caused outlets
above the Farm which were drawing more water than the
proper share to be remodelled. This has improved the
supply in the Dabra Minor, and will probably end the long-
standing complaint about the inefficiency of this Minor so
far as the Farm is concerned.
5. Cultivation.—The
sharp frost mentioned above
did serious damage to the early sown oat crop, much of
the seed being shrivelled to an extent that may be
found to have seriously affected the outturn when threshing
operations are over. The cold spell also checked the growth
of Berseem and Lucerne considerably and several times
there was a scarcity of green fodder owing to the setback
these crops received. Sunflower did not receive such a
severe check and filled in a serious gap in the supply of green
Lucerne and Berseem.
The Assistant Superintendent
(Fodder) has been experimenting with Sunflower for the past
three years, with results satisfactory enough to contemplate
growing it on a larger scale next year.
The imported English Oats were received very late, but
grew into a fine-standing green crop, and would have made
splendid oat-hay, but as I wished to acclimatise the seed
for sowing next year it was allowed to mature.
The majority of the oat crop at Chhaoni had to be
hurriedly made into oat-hay to save it from total loss, owing
to the failure of the water in the Dabra Minor as mentioned
under head 'Irrigation'.
There was no serious disease in the cultivation during
the year. Smut in oats, which was stamped out by Messrs.
Branford and Read four years ago, did not re-appear in the
Farm oats, but appeared in an experimental plot of "Smut-