NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
46
Buildings of Veterinary
Hospitals.
28. Standard plans of hospitals have been prepared
to meet local requirements. In accord-
ance with the present policy of this
Department, requests for the opening of
new hospitals must be supported by offers of help from local
subscribers.
Simla Veterinary Hos-
pital.
29. The receipts and expenditure of the Simla Veteri-
nary Hospital during the year under
report were Rs. 10,329 and Rs. 6,650,
respectively, against Rs. 11,138 and
Rs. 7,880, respectively, during the previous year.
The surplus of income over the expenditure, which has
been credited into the Government Treasury by the Munici-
pality, was Rs. 3,679 against Rs. 3,258 or Rs. 421 more than
last year.
The minimum amount that is required to be paid to
Government annually (according to the terms of transfer of
the institution) on account of pay and allowances of the
Veterinary Assistant and interest on the initial cost (capital
outlay) of the hospital plus that on the additional expen-
diture on buildings at 4½ per cent. is Rs. 3,459 per annum.
The net profit to Government was therefore Rs. 220 against
a loss of Rs. 201 last year.
The suggestion of raising hospital fees in order to cover
the increased cost of maintenance and make it at least self-
supporting has not been accepted by the Simla Municipal
Committee.
Certain economies in the expenditure of this hospital
were recommended by the Chief Superintendent and sanc-
tioned by the Punjab Government. Their introduction has
caused a satisfactory reduction in the hospital charges, which
is evident from the figures quoted above.
Breeding Operations.
I.—BOVINES.
Stud bulls.—Table VII.
30. At the close of the year under report there were
1,958 stud bulls at work in the various
districts of the
Province against
1,774 last year. There were 431 additions and 217
casualties during the year. Indents for 284 Hissar bulls
were sent to the Government Cattle Farm, Hissar, during
47
the year under report, which were complied with in full by
that institution.
Details of the bulls shown in column 3 of table VII are
as follows :—
Hissar bred bulls from Government Cattle Farm,
Hissar .. ... ... ...
Hissar bred bulls from the Cattle Farms in Mont-
gomery District ... ... ...
Returned from the Government Cattle Farm,
Hissar, after rearing, to Gurgaon and Rohtak
Districts ...
...
...
Dajal breed ... ... ...
Bhagnari breed ... ... ...
Dhanni breed ... ... ...
Yak bulls purchased by Kangra District for
Lahul ... ... ...
Local breed purchased by Gujrat District Board...
Strayed bulls recovered during the year ...
Obtained from private persons with the approval
of the Department ... ... ...
Purchased from the Dairy Farm Cavalry No. 19,
Delhi Cantonment ... ... ...
284
7
34
5
2
73
2
1
17
5
1
431
A pretty general improvement is noticeable in the
interest shown by District Boards for the improvement of
cattle breeding.
The District Boards in the Hariana and Dhanni tracts
have now begun to fully realise the economic possibilities
of developing the cattle-breeding resources of their districts
to meet the demand for high class bullocks throughout the
Province.
As noted, however, in our last year's annual report
the District Boards are an extremely precarious source of
funds for carrying out any sustained effort at cattle im-
provement.
It is hoped that the more careful rationing of
District Board funds and particularly the revised bud-
getting procedure foreshadowed in the Punjab Adminis-
tration Report, 1923-24, will produce a more equitable
48
share of the available funds towards the work of this
Department.
The successful outcome of cattle-breeding work in the
Province depends to a large extent on a steady supply of
funds being available, to make it possible to secure contin-
uity in the supply of good bulls over a period of years,
even to the extent of a limited number of villages in any
particular district.
It will be noted that there were 247 casualties out of a
total strength of 1,774 bulls at the beginning of the year—
these represent a certain number of bulls which have died—
some that have passed their prime or were otherwise
unsuitable for retention on our strength.
Only when our financial arrangements are such, that
we can guarantee for a period of years to replace without
delay all bulls that have passed their prime or are other-
wise unsuitable and to make good all losses, can we hope to
make any decided progress in cattle improvement.
The Department attaches the very greatest importance
to the early development of the Hariana and Dhanni tracts
as cattle-breeding centres, where for economic reasons the
rearing of cattle can prove most remunerative to breeders.
The most serious difficulty which has to be faced there is
the uncertainty of the fodder supply owing to the constantly
recurring famines.
In good years the number of cattle kept exceeds the
normal carrying capacity of these areas, so that the coming
of a famine year finds the cattle breeder with insufficient
fodder reserves, forcing him to sell off his surplus cattle at
very reduced prices.
Either the tracts must be made self-supporting, which
will necessitate the keeping of a reduced number of cattle
in good years or Government should come to the assistance
of these cattle breeders to enable them to lock up their
savings in fodder reserves. It is suggested that small
parcels of land in the Colony areas may be ear-marked for
this purpose conditional on their maintaining a number of
approved cattle and sufficient fodder reserves in their
villages.
The experience hitherto gained in trying to popularise
fodder conservation in the Dhanni tract has clearly shown
49
that, owing to the precarious state of the cattle-breeding
industry there as the result of bad years, the small cattle
breeder is not sufficiently sound financially to be able to
lock up any of his savings in fodder reserves—living a hand-
to-mouth existence which is not conducive to any sustained
effort in cattle improvement.
Hariana cattle-breeding
scheme.
31. Rupees two thousand were given as a Govern-
ment grant to the District Boards of
Rohtak and Gurgaon on the promise
of an equal amount being allotted by
these Boards towards the work of the scheme.
I am glad to be able to note that this amount has been
doubled for the current year which has been readily accept-
ed on the same terms by the District Boards.
It is hoped that the Hissar District Board will be
included in future for a similar grant, as they have consist-
ently supported any measures suggested for cattle improve-
ment in that district.
The Gurgaon district has more than fulfilled our expec-
tations in the enthusiasm with which it has taken up the
proposals made under the scheme. One hundred and ten
bulls were supplied to this district during the year from
the Hissar Farm making a total of 394 approved bulls for
stud purposes in that district. Also 24 heifers were supplied
to co-operative cattle-breeding societies in that district and
arrangements are in progress for steadily increasing their
number.
The Rohtak District Board has come to appreciate the
facilities which the Hissar Farm offers of being able to
secure well-bred bulls and heifers for cattle improvement in
their district. Rupees three thousand were spent in the
purchase of 12 stud bulls and Rs. 1,000 in the purchase of
heifers at the Hissar Farm during the year.
It is imperative that the staff of this Department
working in the Hariana tract should be strengthened as
quickly as possible in order to deal efficiently with the very
marked expansion of our work. Separate proposals are being
submitted for the opening of additional veterinary hospitals
in order to cater specially for the veterinary requirements of
these important cattle-breeding districts.
50
Dhanni
cattle-breeding
scheme.
32. The work now embraces part of the four North
Punjab districts, Attock, Jhelum,
Rawalpindi and Mianwali.
The fodder situation generally throughout the Dhanni
tract has favoured the continued progress of the work done
under the Dhanni Cattle scheme during the year. The total
number of bulls enrolled at the end of the year was 108, an
increase of 17 bulls since last year, of which 14 have been
entered on the subsidy system.
Twelve thousand two hundred and nineteen cows
were covered during the year by approved bulls, an increase
of 5,062 as compared with the previous year.
Covering results for the year ending April 1924 have
averaged about 64 per cent. which represents a very satis-
factory increase in the number of well-bred young stock
born in the tract for that year.
More supervising staff is necessary to deal with the
very marked expansion in the work of the scheme.
I am glad to note that Government is contemplating
more liberal annual grants towards the scheme which has
hitherto given such very encouraging results. It is hoped
that the importance of increased supervision will not be
overlooked.
With a view to enlisting public interest in the work
of the scheme a Dhanni Cattle Breeding Association has been
started in Rawalpindi, Attock and Jhelum Districts, all of
which have held regular meetings during the year and
collected certain funds which they intend to apply in the
revival of the Dhanni breed. The Rawalpindi Association
has applied for registration to the Registrar, Co-operative
Societies, it is hoped that the others will do so in the near
future.
Cattle-breeding
grauts.
33. The experience gained in the working of these
grants has very clearly demonstrated the
almost irresistible craving for making
money quickly at the expense of their
cattle by certain of the grantees. The commercial dis-
abilities from which the cattle breeding industry in this
country suffers, are put forward as reasons for neglecting
to shoulder their responsibilities, which they undertook
when selected by Government for cattle breeding grants.
51
There is little doubt that the management of a breeding
farm on modern lines exacts very close supervision over
the many details connected with animal management, of
which the grantees have had little previous experience.
For some time our efforts have been directed to-
wards inducing the grantees to employ responsible staff on
their farms as a means of overcoming this difficulty.
As anticipated the Montgomery cattle grants have
made more progress than the Hissar cattle grants. The
Jahangirabad farm especially is being steadily developed,
the cream sent daily to the Military Dairy Farm, Lahore
Cantonment, amounting to about Rs. 1,800 monthly which
helps towards the internal economy of the Farm.
Milk records are being kept on all farms including
the Hissar cattle grants where the initial difficulties are
being gradually surmounted. At the Qadirabad Farm
very promising milk yields have been obtained from
Hissar cows.
This experience tends to confirm our belief that a
breed, which under natural conditions on the ordinary
grazing areas can rear such sturdy young stock, in times
of famine can so successfully fend for itself where other
breeds fail, there can be little doubt of the possibilities of
developing it into the dual-purpose breed of the future. A
serious effort in this direction will need the expenditure
of money over a long period of years in the necessary
organisation required on the Hissar Farm, from where
the major supply of stud bulls is now made to the dis-
tricts.
The scheme of small cattle grants for Montgomery
cows started near Shergarh in the Montgo ery District
is making quite marked progress under the influence
of Pir Muhammad Hussain Shah, M. L. C. Montgomery
bulls from the small selected herd at Hissar have been
supplied, of which some very promising youngsters were
seen on my last inspection. A high standard of cows is
being insisted on, whilst arrangements are in progress with
the Co-operative Department for the starting of milk re-
cording societies amongst the grantees.
Buffalo breeding.
34. Every effort is being made to encourage
the keeping of well-bred male buffaloes
52
for stud purposes. As a general rule owners show more
care in the selection of the bull buffalo for the mating of
their buffalo cows than they do in the case of cattle.
The castration of inferior bulls, towards which the
Department is paying special attention, is helping very
considerably to reduce the number of ill-bred stock in
the districts.
Considering the anxiety expressed in various quarters
regarding the improvement in the supply of milk and ghee
in urban areas, there has been a very poor response by
municipalities to the appeal made by this Department, to
provide proper facilities for the thousands of excellent
milch cows and buffaloes which are now being covered by
scrub bulls.
II.—EQUINES.
Number of
stallions.—
Table VIII.
35. At the close of the year under report there were
65 horse and pony stallions in non-
selected districts of the Province as
compared with 62 at the close of the
previous year. The number of donkey stallions was 76
against the same number last year. This shows that the
Province is still short of 6 horse and 4 donkey stallions
from the present sanctioned scale. Steps are being taken
to make good this shortage according as funds are avail-
able.
The transfer of the Palwal and Ballabgarh Tahsils
of the Gurgaon District from the Civil Veterinary De-
partment to the Army Remount Department, sanctioned
during the previous year has not been given effect to in tolo
as the charge of the stables at Ballabgarh has not yet
been taken over by the Army Remouut Department.
This Department which is responsible for horse breed-
ing in non-selected districts only is consistently advocating
the encouragement of the indigenous breeds of ponies as
eminently suitable for local requirements.
Services of stallions,—
Table VIII.
36. The total number of mares covered by horse and
donkey stallions during the year under
report was 4,036 and 3,396 as compared
with 3,747 and 3,240 respectively
during the previous year.
53
III.—GOAT AND SHEEP BREEDING.
37. During the year under report 20 cross-bred merino
rams and 16 ewes were issued from the Government
Cattle Farm, Hissar, to breeders in certain districts of the
Province as compared with 64 rams and 82 ewes during
the previous year.
Experience hitherto gained shows that the best re-
sults are obtainable only by issuing rams and ewes to
sheep breeding societies, over which the necessary super-
vision can be maintained.
IV.—FAIRS AND SHOWS.
Fairs and Shows,—Table
IX.
38. The statistical information regarding cattle fairs
and shows under this Department is
given in Table IX. These were held
in 20 districts of the Province only.
The following statement shows the number of fairs and
Shows attended by the Officers of this Department:—
Attending Officers.
Chief Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department,
Punjab.
Deputy Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department,
Central Punjab.
Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, North
Punjab.
Deputy Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department,
North Punjab.
Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, South
Punjab.
Deputy Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department,
South Punjab.
Cattle Fairs
or Shows.
4
10
3
6
10
5
The remaining fairs and shows were as usual either
attended by the Veterinary Inspectors of this Department
or abandoned on account of the prevalence of disease, etc.
V—MISCELLANEOUS.
Co-operative
Societies.
39. Following is a list of Co-operative Societies which
existed in the Province at the close of the
year under report. This list is furnished by
54
the Co-operative Department :—
Cattle Insurance.
Rohtak District
Jullundur District
Gurgaon District
...
...
...
...
...
...
Total
...
...
...
...
4
1
3
8
Cattle breeding.
Rohtak District
Gujrat District
Jhelum District
Shahpur District
Lyallpur District
Mianwali District
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Total
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
2
10
3
6
9
1
31
Cattle purchase.
Gujrat District
Shahpur District
Multan District
...
...
...
...
...
...
Total
...
...
...
...
1
2
2
5
Sheep breeding.
Jhelum District
Attock District
Jhang District
...
...
...
...
...
...
Total
...
...
...
...
1
2
1
4
During the year under report 26 cattle insurance
societies were cancelled.
One cattle breeding society was cancelled and 10 others
were registered during the year.
Three sheep breeding societies were cancelled during
the year under report of which two in the Shahpur District
ceased to exist on account of flooding of the available pas-
tures. One society in the Jhelum District was cancelled on
account of unsatisfactory working.
55
The idea of cattle insurance as noted by the Registrar,
Co-operative Societies, in his last Annual Report is too ad-
vanced for the stage which the Co-operative movement has
at present reached.
On the other hand the Department regards the increase
of cattle breeding societies as full of possibilities for the
solution of our difficulties in the work of cattle improve-
ment. They provide the necessary organisation through
which we can hope to secure continuity of effort in improv-
ing the indigenous breeds of the Province.
We welcome the time when cattle breeding societies
will be more general throughout the district, when the onus
of reporting an outbreak of disease from the village will be
borne by the society, when the inferior bulls of the village
are collected for castration and the societies are helping our
staff in carrying out effective measures for dealing with dis-
ease.
Establishment.
Numerical strength,
—Table VI.
40. At the close of the previous year the sanctioned
cadre of the subordinate veterinary staff was
240 (27 Veterinary Inspectors and 213 Veteri-
nary Assistants).
During the year under
report 7 Additional Veterinary Assistants were sanctioned by
Government thus raising the cadre to 247 (27 Veterinary
Inspectors and 220 Veterinary Assistants.
The detail of the subordinates working in the Province
at the close of the year under report is given below :—
Veterinary Inspectors ...
Veterinary Assistants, 1st grade ...
Veterinary Assistants, 2nd grade ...
Veterinary Assistants, 3rd grade ...
...
...
...
...
27
44
88
88
Administrative approval of Government to the enter-
tainment of the following additional staff in 1925-26 was also
conveyed during the year under report :—
7
1
2
3
Veterinary Assistant Surgeons.
Veterinary Assistant, 1st grade,
Veterinary Assistants, 2nd grade.
Veterinary Assistants, 3rd grade.
The necessary steps are being taken to appoint the
additional staff as soon as possible.
56
Expenditure.
Expenditure,—Table X.
41. The expenditure of the Department is given in
Table X. The Provincial figures are
as usual supplied by the Accountant-
General, Punjab. These figures are liable to modification
till the accounts for the year 1924-25 are finally closed.
The local figures are obtained from the various local
bodies of the Province.
General remarks.
42. As a further trial Government has included in the
budget for 1925-26 a sum of Rs. 1,000 only for the grant
of rewards to patwaris and lambardars as a stimulus for
prompt reporting of contagious diseases. The inefficiency
of the reporting agency is one of the greatest difficulties
which this Department has to contend with in its campaign
against contagious diseases.
A larger network of veterinary hospitals spread over
the Province, from which our staff can readily tour about
in their respective circles and keep closer touch with patwa-
ris, will ensure more prompt reporting and facilitate early
measures being taken against disease.
43. The rapid expansion of the Department during
recent years has caused an enormous increase in clerical
work. The introduction of improved methods of accounts
keeping is also another important factor in throwing addi-
tional work on the already overburdened clerks of this
department. In fact the present clerical staff of the depart-
ment is quite insufficient to cope with the abnormal increase
in work.
The present staff (with the exception of one clerk for
the office of Chief Superintendent) was sanctioned in 1906-07
when the total number of Veterinary Inspectors and Veteri-
nary Assistants sanctioned for the Department was 117 only.
The present cadre of the subordinate veterinary staff is 260
(27 Veterinary Inspectors, 7 Veterinary Assistant Surgeons
and 226 Veterinary Assistants). This means an increase of
over 100 per cent. in the subordinate veterinary staff, which
for obvious reasons necessitates a certain increase also in the
clerical staff of the headquarter offices.
57
Necessary proposals in this connection are being pre-
pared and will be submitted shortly.
The subordinate staff both clerical and veterinary have
with very few exceptions worked conscientiously during
the year.
I have especially to record my satisfaction of the field
work done by the following inspecting staff :—
Deputy Superintendent
Ditto
Ditto
Veterinary Inspector
Ditto
Ditto
Ditto
Ditto
Ditto
Ditto
Ditto
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
M. Talib Khan.
P. Janki Nath.
Kh. Ghulam Hasan.
M. Barkat Ali.
S. Talib Hussain.
S. Sham Singh.
M. Karim-ud-Din.
M. Jan Muhammad.
M.
Muhammad
Ibrahim.
M. Muhammad Taqi.
M. Talib Ali.
My thanks are due to Major Sikes, Messrs. Garewal
and Brett for the very able assistance they have rendered
in their respective circles in conducting the work of the
Department during the year.
The assistance received from District Officers is grate-
fully acknowledged.
T. F. QUIRKE, M.R.C.V.S., I.V.S.,
The 27th July 1925.
Chief Superintendent, Civil
Veterinary Department, Punjab.
58
Annual Report of the Government Cattle Farm, Hissar,
for the year 1924-25
THE Farm was in the charge of Mr. T. J. Egan from
April 1st to November 28th. Mr. Egan officiating as Super-
intendent in addition to his own duties.
The Farm was in my charge from November 28th to
the end of the year. Mr. Egan reverting to his post of
Assistant Superintendent, which he held till March 24th
when he was transferred to Rawalpindi as Superintendent,
Civil Veterinary Department, North Punjab and North-
West Frontier Province.
2. Total rainfall during the year was 11.65". That is
about 2 inches less than average. In addition to being
below normal, intervals between falls were too long, and
the growth of grass was checked by long intervals of
drought.
Grazing was good up to the middle of the cold weather,
but it was never possible to start hay making as a serious
enterprise. Only 2,487 maunds (maund =82lbs.) were saved
as against 62,392 maunds in the previous year.
3. Canal supplies were good, except on the Dabra
Minor on which branch the Farm supply seems to have
been permanently reduced.
The Kharif harvest on the Farm served by the Dabra
Minor was a failure, being less than 50 per cent. of a normal
crop.
Fodder in reserve at the end of the year amounted to
1,34,278 maunds as against 1,34,730 maunds on 31st
March 1924.
So inspite of the rains being on the whole unfavourable
only a very small in road was made into our fodder re-
serve.
4. Table XII shows the changes in Farm Live Stock
during the year.
59
The following animals were sold : —
(a) Cattle—
Cows
Heifers
Heifers
Heifers
Male Produce
Male Produce
Bulls ...
Bulls ...
Bulls ...
Bulls ...
Bullocks
Bullocks
Bullocks
Bullocks
Bullocks
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
ab.
...
...
...
...
...
4 to Perak.
59 to Sardar
Mehla Singh
(Grantee Farm).
23 to District Board, Gurgaon.
34 to Agricultural Department,
United Provinces, Muttra.
8 to the British Cotton Growing
Association, Limited, Khane-
wal.
21 to Agricultural Department,
United Provinces, Muttra.
10
Ditto.
1 to Perak.
1 to Jail Department.
284 to District Boards in the Punj-
27 to Military Department.
10 to Dairy Farms Department.
2 to Canal Department.
7 to the British Cotton Growing
Association, Limited, Khane-
wal.
4 to Miscellaneous buyers.
(b) Donkeys—
Donkey Colts
Dorkey Colts
Donkey Colts
Donkey Colts
Donkey Colts
...
...
...
...
...
6 to the District Boards in the
Punjab.
2 to Indian States.
6 to the Army Remount De-
partment.
1 to District Board, Delhi.
1 to the Stock Breeding Associa-
tion, Multan, for Donkey
breeding.
(c) Mules—
Mules
... 19 to the Military
Department
(issued direct to
Regi-
ments).
(d) Sheep—
Ewes
Female Lambs
Male Lambs
Male Lambs
...
...
...
... 3
2 to breeders in the Punjab.
14
ditto.
20
ditto.
to Live Stock Expert to the
Government of the Bombay
Presidency, Poona.
One male lamb was presented to the Lahore Zoo.
F