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"seeing that stud bulls are properly looked after are purely a district concern.
"This Department has laid down general principles but local conditions vary
"and the subject should be very interesting to rural members. Inilocalities.
"where bulls are appreciated and used intelligently the young stock show
"signs of great improvement since selected bulls have been more liberally
"supplied. With the rise of prices of bullocks cattle breeding on intelligent
"lines requires to be fostered by local interest." Local committees in other
words would be best entrusted with this: duty.
164. In the United Provinces the same lack of funds for advancing Veteri-
nary work stands in the way of much improvement being effected in the supply
of bulls and although some of the district boards are now becoming alive to
the necessity of doing something towards improving the class of cattle in their
districts and bulls are wanted, they cannot afford to buy them. No doubt the
forthcoming conference will help to put matters on a more satisfactory footing
in this respect. Most of the bulls are at present the property of Court of
Wards estates where interest is being shown in the question of cattle im-
provement.
165. In the Central Provinces a great deal of attention has been given to
the subject especially in the eastern part of the province where the cattle are
extremely poor and badly cared for. A special report has been made to the
Hon'ble the Chief Commissioner. As the question is of the utmost importance
from an agricultural point of view, it is hoped that the. enquiry may result in
some improvement in the present deplorable condition of the working cattle
of the province.
166. In Bengal there have been many demands for bulls from various
public bodies and private persons but only ten could be distributed. The
question of providing strong, well made, low sized desi bulls for the
improvement of stock is receiving attention and provision has been made in
next year's budget for the purchase of young bull calves. The want of bulls
in most parts of the province, especially in Muzaffarpur, Champaran, Dur-
bhanga, Purnea and Shahabad, where good cattle are reared is very keenly
felt; wherever the farm bred bulls have been sent the ryots have appreciated
them. Arrangements are being made by this Department to purchase some
Delhi buffaloes for the Hathwa Raj with a view to improving the milking
capacity of the local breed.
167. In Eastern Bengal and Assam a good type of Brahmini bull has been
obtained for Dacca, Bakarganj. Rangpur, Cachar and Sylhet. Two Patna
bulls have been bought for the Khasi and Jaintia Hills.
168 In Madras eight Nellore bulls were purchased at the Ongole fair,
bulls of this breed are now distributed to the districts of Tinnevelly, Madura,
Madras, Guntur and Vizagapatam. This breed commands a ready sale
to purchasers from foreign countries and this year breeders disposed of
no less than 472 head to purchasers from the Philliphines, Java and
Brazil at high prices. It is estimated that Rs. 60,000 changed hands
on this deal alone. It is hoped that every encouragement may be given
to breeders in this tract and that the foolishness of selling the best of
their cows may be forcibly impressed on them. The ready market and good
prices obtained should stimulate cattle breeding in the Nellore district but local
prices will of course rise in sympathy.
169. In the North-West Frontier Province 4 bulls were purchased, 2
Dhanni bulls for Peshawar.
170. In Bombay there are no bulls belonging to Government but the Ahmed-
abad district board has 8, Kaira 5, Surat 1, West Khandesh 1, and Ahmednagar 1.
In addition to this, under the wise system introduced by Mr. Orr and continued
by his successor Mr. McNeill, 87 bulls have been procured by this Department
for the use of the people of the district. The system has proved very success-
ful. The dearth of good stock bulls is becoming keenly felt in some districts
and in a great number of cases inferior animals are being used. It is important