12
REPORT ON THE GOVERNMENT CATTLE FARM, HISSAR.
A.—REVIEW OF THE CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT.
THE year under report has been remarkable mainly in that for the
3rd year in succession there has been a partial failure in the rains. In conse-
quence the barani crop failed and only 2,793 maunds of hay could be collect-
ed. Years of this kind make very trying work owing to the necessity of
stall feeding such a large number of animals. In spite of famine conditions
the cattle have been kept in good health owing to the excellent system of
rotation crops.
The number of bulls issued to the districts is larger than in any
previous year. They are a good lot, and it would be extremely difficult to get
the number and the quality from any other source. Breeders from Brazil
again came to purchase, which shows that they consider the farm cattle
are worth importing. Considering the number of mixed breeds of cattle
taken over by the civil veterinary department, it is very creditable to see
the fine and shapely stock after 14 years' careful work.
The superintendent fears that owing to the scarcity of fodder a large
number of heifers will be stunted and have to be cast. There is no occasion
to cast for this reason only, as given good years their produce will grow to
their normal size.
A new hospital with veterinary assistant's quarters is urgently
required.
Mr. Branford deserves credit for his work during a trying year.
B.—REPORT BY MR. E. BRANDFORD, SUPERINTENDENT, CATTLE FARM,
HISSAR.
1. For the year under report the farm was under my charge except
for the three months from June 27th to September 28th when Captain Morris,
farm overseer, officiated as superintendent, as I was on privilege leave.
2. His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor of the Punjab, while at Hissar
on the 25th February 1914, inspected the home farm and part of the stable
cultivation. Types of each kind of stock bred on the farm were shown to
His Honour.
3. The year under report has been remarkable, in that for the 3rd season
in succession the tahsil of Hissar and specially the area including the farm
suffered from partial failure of the rains. Between the 17th May and 13th
July a certain amount of rain fell, sufficient to provide grazing for the stock
for about half the year, but from 13th July to March 31st there was no useful
fall of rain at all. In consequence the barani crop failed: it was only possible
to make 2,793 maunds of hay, and the irrigated crop was not a bumper one.
The extraordinary rain in May was sufficient to bring up grass for
grazing in the northern half of the Bir, but stall-feeding on a large scale was
necessary from the beginning of the year till the end of May, and began again
in February, as all the reserve fodder except the amount saved in the current
year had been exhausted. Under similar circumstances in 1911-12 and 1912-13
it was necessary for me to supplement the fodder grown on the farm by pur-
chase of the extra quantity required to keep the animals alive till the next
rains.
Insufficient rain as well as causing the direct increase in expenditure,
entailed by the purchase of fodder and the high price of gram, has still more
serious effects which are felt more or less indirectly, in that under conditions of