10
Stud bulls—Table VIII.
42. At the close of the year there were 637 stud bulls at work in
the province against 544 last year. There were 154 ad-
ditions. 139 were supplied by the government cattle
farm on indents to 18 districts, and the remaining 15 were purchased by
the department for district boards.
43. Cattle owners in a very large number of cases take very little care
of their young stock. It is a common thing to see a youngster tied up with
so short a rope that it is only able to stand up and lie down. This is a very
severe hindrance to the development of the calf. The results are narrow
chest, feet deformities and digestive troubles from lack of exercise. Lectures
have been given also on these points.
The people are very backward in their knowledge of the selection of
animals for breeding, and they do not like to dispose of a bad cow, lest it should
go to a butcher, and they do not do so unless absolutely compelled through lack
of fodder. The chief superintendent is of the opinion that the upkeep of
these wretched animals is a twofold loss to a village, because firstly they
produce wretched stock, and secondly they eat up fodder which should be kept
for better animals. This matter is being very tactfully dealt with, and in a
short time it is hoped that things will improve.
44. A common impression amongst the people is that the calf should
not get any of the colestrum of the cow, which they take care to drink them-
selves. This action is against a natural law, as the first secretion acts as a
purgative and cleans out the stomach and intestines. On account of the
bacha not getting its mother's first milk it is a common thing to see hide-
bound constipated youngsters with fœces adhering to the anus and under the
tail, which soon become maggot infected. The chief superintendent has ob-
served these facts when visiting villages, and he himself has not only
lectured but has issued orders to veterinary inspectors and veterinary assist-
ants to point out these matters.
Lantern demonstrations have been started, photos of good and inferior
stock have been exhibited, and all matters pertaining to breeding have been
pointed out.
45. The number of castrations performed during the year shows
clearly the advance made by the department in its endeavours to improve
cattle breeding. It has been pointed out to the people how undesirable
bulls do harm, and how young stock abuse themselves and get debilitated
and in consequence do not grow into fine bullocks. When these animals get
so debilitated they require extra food and are therefore an extra expense.
It is by pointing out these important things to the people that the depart-
ment has been able to do the good it has done.
The cruel method of crushing the testicles will also be stopped. The
method gives such pain that an animal will not eat for several days, and in
consequence becomes very debilitated and requires extra nursing and feeding-
up. This so called operation is as a rule imperfectly done, and leaves the
animal with the desire to cover, so that it annoys the cows and often causes
abortion. The chief superintendent has observed several animals of this
kind preventing a bull from covering.
If an owner has a miserable or immature bull running with his cows,
the result is that he gets miserable youngsters. He then is compelled to
purchase a bullock for working purposes from Roras for Rs. 150 to Rs. 200,
and never considers the money he is wasting by keeping a miserable cow
and calf.
The department is also helping in the matter of improving the breed
of buffaloes.