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It is pleasant to observe in the report that losses caused by contagious
abortion is decreasing. This is no doubt due to careful management.
Foot and mouth disease is one which cannot be kept out of the Farm
as there are so many public roads which go through it.
It is gratifying to note that no fresh cases of Surra, Piroplosmosis,
Strangles and Coccidiosis occurred. This again shows the care taken in dealing
with outbreaks of contagious diseases on the Farm.
The number of bulls supplied (192) to District Boards and the Oat Hay
Farm is less than last year, when (206) were issued, but this was owing to one
District Board owing to the fodder famine not taking any bulls.
The Farm supplied the full number of jacks required by the A. R. D.
Punjab and North-West Frontier Province District Boards which is 8 more
than last year. The supply of jacks from the Hissar Farm is a considerable
help to the Military Department and District Boards concerned, because if they
were not bred in Hissar they would have to be obtained from Europe or America
at double the cost.
The sheep breeding continues to do well.
The Arab breeding will, it is hoped, be a success. I purchased 5 new
mares and a stallion at the end of the year, but they did not arrive until the
beginning of April.
1 visited the Farm six times to advise and assist in the work as Mr.
Branford was on leave and also to see the stock issued to A. R. D. and District
Boards.
Great credit is due to Mr. Branford and Captain Morris for their work
during the year.
B.—Report by Mr. R Branford, Superintendent, Government Cattle Farm, Hissar.
1.Captain Morris, Deputy Superintendent, officiated as Superinten-
dent of the Farm from 29th June 1918 to January 9th, 1919. For the
remainder of the year it was under my charge.
2.The monsoon of 1918 was in marked contrast with that of the
previous year. The total rainfall in 1918 was 7.85" as against 41.26'' in 1917
and an average of 14"
3.The rainfall although so small was favourably distributed as far as
the Bir grasses were concerned. Most of it fell during 10 days in August and
was in sufficient quantity to produce some grass for grazing. In fact grazing
was good up to January 1919 and sufficient up to the end of February. At the
close of the year stall feeding of stock on a considerable scale had to be begun.
4. Fodder in reserve at the close of the year amounted to 85,109 Maunds
as against 98,865 Maunds (Maund=82 lbs.) on the 1st April 1918. That is
to say, that fodder consumed on the Farm exceeded fodder saved by 13,756
Maunds. This was due to the following facts:—
(a) Light rains did not produce enough grass for hay making.
(b) The irrigated kharif crop was light, owing to poor rains, poor canal
supply in autumn, and damage by insects on germination ; and as usual Jowar
was attacked by the borer worm.
(c) Apart from stall feeding to compensate for lack of grazing, consump-
tion of fodder was in excess of any previous year owing to increased sales of
stock, which have to be stall fed for varying periods before despatch. Cattle
purchased for Brazil in February 1918 owing to shipping difficulties could not
be despatched till February 1919, and had to be stall fed most of the time.
(d) At the close of the year stall feeding of animals which in good years
subsist on grazing alone had to be begun.
5. Demand for Farm stock continues to increase, receipts during the
year amounted to Rs. 1,84,787—a record for the Farm.
E