IsPr

T

CTU. ^

CATTLE AND DAIRYING

IN THE

PUNJAB.

1910.

PEINTBD AT THB " CIVIL AND MILITARY GAZETTE " PMS&
BY SAMUEL T. WESTON.

1910,

CATTLE AND DAIRYING

IN THE

PUNJAB.

1910.

:iLa bor e:

PRINTED AT THE " CIVIL AND MILITARY GAZETTE " PRESS
BY SAMUEL T. WBSTON.

1910,

HENRY MORSE STEPHEN.

INDEX.

Subject.

Page.

Introductory ...

Present conditions of cattle breeding in the Punjab
Demand for draught cattle
Supply of draught cattle ...

General breeding arrangements
Breeding and exporting tracts ;..
(t) Hariana

(it) Potwar Dhanni tract ... ...

(tit) The Western breeding centres
Intermediate tracts
Importing tracts ... «.

Male buffaloes
Hill cattle ...
Milch cattle

(») Cows

(u) Buffaloes
Grazing grounds ... ...

Fodder supply
The Cattle Trade

(t) Traders

(w) Cattle fairs ...
Dairying

(i) Milk supply ... ... ...

(it) The trade in ghi

3
4
5
6

ib.
8
10
12
13
15
ib,
ib.
ib.
19
20
23
30
ib.
34
35
ib.
37

Pa*a.

Subject.

Page.

XVI

Prices and profits of stock breeding

39

xvn

The meat trade

42 -

XVIII

Trade in hides and bones

44

XIX

Sheep and goats

45

XX

Assistance from Government and Local Bodies

48

(0 The Hissar Cattle Farm ...

ib.

(u) District Board bulls. Their distribution and main-
tenance

49

(m) District Board Cattle Fairs

52

(tv) Takkavi

ib.

(v) The Civil Veterinary Department ...

53

ZXI

Suggestions for action by Government and Local Bodies ...

ib.

(t) Development of Civil Veterinary Department »..

ib.

(u) District Board bulls

£5

(I'M) Improvement of village breeding

*6

(iv) Improvement and preservation of breeds <of milflh
cattle
(v) Buffalo breeding

57
58

.'

(vi) Assistance from large landowners ...

ib.

(««) Improvement of the milk supply ... ...

59

(tfui) Co-operative dairying

61

(tz) Improvement in breeds of sheep and goats ~.

62

(») Cattle and sheep fairs

ib.

xxn

Summary ... ... ... ... .t.

ib.

XXIII

Conclusion ...

66

I.— INTRODUCTORY.

In August 1909 the Punjab Government decided that a report
should be prepared dealing with the cattle trade of the province
with special reference to the profits of cattle-breeding, and the
Director of Agriculture was asked to obtain information on the
subject from District officers. The Director of Agriculture issued
a circular,* drawing attention to the principal points to be dealt
with by the District officers in their enquiries. The present report
is based on the replies to this circular. In order to obtain an
idea of the subject from the stand point of the province as a whole
the officer deputed to write the report visited the principal fairs
and breeding centres of the Punjab during the last three months
of the cold weather and had the opportunity of talking over the
subject with District officers, the officers of the Civil Veterinary
Department and the principal landowners and zamindars. At the
end of the cold weather an informal conference was convened
by the Director of Agriculture, consisting of Major Walker, Chief
Superintendent of the Civil Veterinary Department, Major Farmer
of the Hissar Cattle Farm, Mr. Woodley of the Civil Veterinary
Department and the writer at which a short note of the principal
conclusions arrived at was discussed.

So far as the Punjab is concerned the interest taken in
this important matter is by no means of recent growth. The re-
ports of the Assistant to the Inspector-General, Civil Veterinary
Department, from 1895 to 1898, by Captains Pease and Gunn form
a fairly complete survey of cattle-breeding in the Punjab at that
time, and contain many suggestions and anticipations which have
received too little attention. Captain Pease's " Note on Indigenous
Breeds of Cattle in the Punjab " is a valuable record of typical
stock to be found in the province, but his treatment of the subject
is primarily technical, and questions such as the encouragement of
village breeding, and the preservation of fodder in times of scarcity
are only incidentally discussed. A survey of cattle breeding in
each district is now being undertaken by the Civil Veterinary
Department. But as the time of these officers is fully occupied by
their ordinary duties the progress of the survey is likely to be
slow.

In the quinquennial cattle census t which has been taken since
1899, the province possesses a store of information as to the num-
bers and distribution of its cattle. But mere figures in this case

* See Appendix No. 2.
t See Appendix No. 1.

2

are misleading, unless supplemented by some estimate of the
quality and breed of the cattle enumerated, and some enquiry into
the relation of demand and supply. In the present report an
attempt has been made to focus the outstanding features of the
. subject, the extent to which the extraordinary spread of cultiva-
' tion has diminished the sources of supply, the necessity of preserv-
ing and improving the remaining breeding centres, the develop-
ment of Government assistance, and the results which may be ex-
pected from co-operative effort.

II.— PRESENT CONDITIONS OF CATTLE-BREEDING IN

THE PUNJAB.

The last twenty years have been for the Punjab years of un-
exampled development. The great canal colonies have been
brought into existence, irrigation from the older canals has ex-
panded, while the pressure of population has brought under the

; plough large areas of unirrigated land. The cultivated area of the
Punjab (excluding the districts transferred to the North-West
Frontier Province) has grown from 35,000 square miles in 1890 to
44,000 square miles in the present year, and the percentage of
this area receiving irrigation has increased from 30 to 41 , The

' number of wells haa risen from 240,000 to 280,000 in the last
twenty years. Between 1891 and 1901 the population rose from
18| to over 23 millions.

This rapid development called for a corresponding increase in
the number of bullocks required to work the ploughs and wells,
. and in the milch cattle which provide the dairy requirements of
the population. But hardly had this new demand declared itself
than the province was faced by a period of ten years' famine and
scarcity. The unirrigated tracts, which are the chief sources of
the cattle supply and were being heavily drawn upon to meet the
calls of expanding cultivation, suffered severely from the drought.
The stock decreased while there was no slackening of the demand.
Expanding cultivation meant diminished grazing grounds, and the
requirements of the growing population in the matter of dairy
produce were supplied with increasing difficulty. That the demand
for draught animals has been met is an undoubted fact, other-
wise we should hear of wells abandoned and land uncultivated.
But the strain of the transition period has been very great and
has affected the conditions of cattle-breeding and the cattle trade
throughout the province.

The most obvious result has been the great enhancement of the
price of draught cattle and of dairy produce. In 1896 and 1899

under stress of scarcity the zammdar of Hariana was compelled to
sell off his young stock at unusually cheap rates, and the Lyallpur
colonist, in this as in other respects, profited considerably by mis-
fortunes of the south-eastern districts. But the surplus store was
soon depleted, and the demand continued to grow till prices were
forced to their present level. Another consequence of the keen
demand has been the exploitation of every available source of
supply, and the increasing popularity of the male buffalo as a
draught animal affords daily evidence of changed conditions.
Whether the general quality of the cattle has deteriorated is a
moot point. Bullocks probably as fine as any ever produced in the
country can still be bought and are bought daily. But the price
is prohibitive for all except the wealthy zamindar of the central
canal districts and the colonies. The quality of the average
bullock is probably lower than it was 20 years ago. But there is
no doubt that the general working capacity is far greater. The
inefficient tend to disappear under the stress of modern conditions.
There is less grazing and less fodder for the aged and infirm
animal, whose disposal has been facilitated by the development of
the cattle trade on strict commercial lines. How completely
business-like this trade has become under the pressure of new
economic forces will be apparent when we consider in detail tne
sources of supply and the means by which the demands of the
province are satisfied.

III.— DEMAND FOR DRAUGHT CATTLE.

' According to the returns in the Crop and Season Report for
1908-09, the number of ploughs in the province was 2,169,085
and the sown area 29,298^297 acres, which gives 13J acres as the
average area worked by each plough. The area assigned to each
plough varies of course, largely from district to district according
as the cultivation depends on wells, canals or rainfall. Jullundur,
for instance, with its numerous wells requires more bullocks in
proportion to its cultivation than an unirrigated district like
Hissar, or canal- irrigated tracts like the new colonie^.

But that the average of 13^ acres is hardly correct is shown
by the fact that in Lyallpur, where the strain on the bullocks is
perhaps heavier than in any other canal-irrigated district, the
landlord when leasing his land estimates that one yoke of bullocks
will plough half a square or 1 4 acres. The provincial average
may be put at 15 acres per plough, and no doubt a large number
of the ploughs recorded are not in use. If then we assume 15 acres
as the average plough unit, the number of working ploughs will
be 1,953,217, for which 3,906,434 oxen are required. The

number of bullocks and bulls in the province according to the
enumeration of 1908-09 was 4,247,494. Allowing for one per
cent, being bulls, the number of bullocks may be taken as
4,200,000. But we have also to allow for inefficient animals,
for those working at the wells, and for a considerable number used
for cartage and other draught work. On the other hand the male
buffalo is coming more and more into use in the Punjab for work

/ in ploughs, well wheels and carts and the number of draught
animals may be increased by a good proportion of the male
buffaloes, which iu 1908-09 numbered 624,965. In the Rawalpindi
Division the cow and the female buffalo are frequently used as
i draught animals and as there are no complaints of land left
uncultivated and wells unworked for want of cattle, the Dumber
of animals required for draught purposes may be considered
sufficient. But the demand is only met by utilising every available
1 draught animal of the bovine species. Some idea of the extent
to which every source of supply is exploited may be gathered
from the fact that zamindars from the Gurdaspur district visit

I the cattle fairs of Banana in order to buy the stunted cattle of
the Bagri villages bordering on Bikanir, which are despised by
every zamindar who can afford a better class of animal, while at
the last Amritsar fair in their efforts to tap new sources of supply
some Fakirs of the Hoshiarpur district had imported cattle from

v the Karauli State (Rajputana).

IV.— SUPPLY OF DRAUGHT CATTLE.

In certain parts of the Punjab, notably the unhealthy riverain
tracts, cattle breeding has always been attended with difficulty,
and it has been necessary to supplement the local stock by importa-

\ tion. But before the spread of canal irrigation, the rest of the
country was selF-supporting. Each of the divisions of the province
maintained a distinctive breed. The Delhi territory was famous

/ for the Hariana breed, the Manjha and Malwa tracts each produced
a separate type of animal, the Bar and Kachhi cattle were to be
found in the deserts north of the Ravi, while the northern Punjab
had developed characteristic varieties such as those of Dhani,
Potwar and Talagang. The cultivation of the western districts
being confined to the comparatively unhealthy tracts near the
great rivers developed no indigenous breed of any note, except
that of Dajal in the Dera Ghazi Khan district. The supply
of good cattle was kept up, as it is now, by importation from
Sindh.

The development of the great canal system has changed the

face of the province but in no respect has it produced more marked

/ results than in the breeding of cattle. When canal irrigation

begins the increase of moisture renders the climate less healthy.
Breeding becomes less and less successful. Even where, as in the
lower reaches of the Sirhind Canal and in parts of the colonies, -
climatic conditions are still not unfavourable, the contraction of
grazing grounds makes the zamindar less and less inclined to be
at the trouble and expense of breeding his own plough cattle, and
cultivators who have to stall-feed their animals learn that it does
not pay to keep more than are sufficient for their own requirement. ^_
As improved communications have gone hand-in-hand with ex-
panding irrigation, the cultivator finds it easier to buy his cattle
than to breed a type suitable to his requirements. The local type
is replaced by imported animals, and the distinctive breed
disappears. Thus Captain Pease found that very few pure bred
specimens existed of the cattle formerly characteristic of the
Nardak and Ban gar tracts in the Karnal district. In that locality —
well irrigation from a deep water level carried on by means of
powerful bullocks has been abandoned in favour of canal irrigation.
In the early days of the canal the Bangar country was swamped
and became unhealthy for men and beast. The local breeds
gradually disappeared, and their place is now taken by importations
from the Hariana tracts of Rohtak and Hissar. Major Walker
in his recent survey of cattle in the Amritsar District states that
the Manjha breed described by Captain Pease is now almost
extinct as a separate type. Similar forces are at work in the case
of the Malwa breed. In the Bar tracts before the advent of the
canal little cultivation was done, and the Bar herds though famous
for their milch cattle never produced draught cattle of any
importance.

The sources of the cattle supply are now practically confined
to the Hariana tracts in the south of the province, the Potwar,
Dhani and Talagang tracts of the Rawalpindi, Jhelum and Attock
districts in the North-West, and the country near Dajal in Dera
Ghazi Khan. Certain tracts such as the Ferozepore district, the
Phulkian States and the Colonies are still to some extent self-
supporting. The rest of the province though producing and
exporting (chiefly to the United Provinces) a number of inferior
animals, relies for its best draught cattle on importations from the
remaining breeding centres.

V.— GENERAL BREEDING ARRANGEMENTS.

Most villages in the central and southern districts of the
province have one or more bulls, occasionally provided by Govern-
ment but more often let loose as a religious duty by well-to-
do banias or zamindars. Wealthy Hindus usually provide yearlings,
too often of inferior quality. But village communities, if sufficient-

6

]y strong and united, buy bulls for the use of the village and

j exercise great care in their selection. They generally procure a

two year old bull calf costing from Rs, 60 to Rs. 125, the price being

often reduced in consideration of the use to which the bull is to be

put. No special arrangements are made for the feeding of these

animals. They generally follow the village herds and graze with

J them, and are allowed to bull the cows promiscuously. This

practice gives satisfactory results provided the bulls are of good

• quality. Unfortunately for the progeny, thesa sires if not actually

inferior at the outset, are left with the herd even when enfeebled

by age, or suffering from disease. The people are usually too

apathetic or powerless in the face of religious prejudice to arrange

for the removal of inferior or worn out sires. No arrangements

are made for keeping young male stock separate from the cows,

and the feeble offspring of immature bulls is too often in evidence.

In the north-western and western districts the methods of
breeding are somewhat different. Bulls are occasionally found
either belonging to Government or dedicated by Hindus common

•I to the whole village. But usually they are owned by private
individuals, and in parts of Ohakwal and at Dajal fees are charged
for services. There is no doubt that this is the only sound system
of cattle-breeding. But, as the Deputy Commissioner of Jhelum
. remarks, the people are notoriously factious, and the comparatively
few owners of bulls will only allow them to serve their friends'
cows. The bulls, and indeed all cattle, are stall fed to a much
greater extent than in the central and southern districts, but they
are given plenty of exercise, generally under supervision. Great
care is taken, especially in the western districts, to keep the male

'\ stock apart from the cows and heifers.

.... Buffalo bulls are the property of individuals and are chosen
with great care. Fees, usually one rupee, are charged for their
service.

VI.— BREEDING AND EXPORTING TRACTS.
(i). HAEIANA.

The districts of Hissar and Rohtak, and Gurgaon, together

/\ with the adjoining territory of the Phulkian States, and of Bikanir,

\r and Jaipur, may b3 considered as constituting the Hariana tract,

Of this country Captain Pease writes : "The whole of Hariana

produces a number of cattle greatly in excess of requirements,

and must be looked upon as a store from which are supplied many

of the districts in the Punjab and North-Western Provinces, in

which cattle-breeding has been completely pushed out by extensive

cultivation,"

This well known fact hardly requires demonstration, but it is
interesting to observe the confirmation it receives from the returns
of stock sold at the seasonal fairs, for which the tract is noted, J
and from the recent cattle census of the Province. Every animal
attending the fair is bred locally, and every Central Punjab district
draws on Hariana for bullocks. A large majority of those record-
ed as sold in the tract itself find their way almost immediately
into the hands of traders from other districts, or are taken by local
dealers to Lyallpur to meet the demands of new cultivation in the
colonies. The sales to districts of the United Provinces are scarce-
ly less numerous. Having regard to the admitted excellence of
the Hariana breed the importance of this tract as a store-house of
cattle for the rest of the Punjab cannot be over-estimated* The
whole population of Hariana is vitally interested in the mainten-
ance of this store and the matter is of no less importance to the
districts drawing their supplies from this source.

The physical features of Hariana constitute an ideal breeding
ground. The climate is dry, and though at times extremely hot,
is generally healthy. The dry sandy soil contains an amount of
lime essential to bone formation in young stock. The rainfall is
scanty, but a few monsoon showers produce a plentiful crop of
excellent grasses both in the cultivated fields and on the sandy
hillocks, whicn are a marked feature of the more arid tracts. In
the dry seasons the scarcity of fodder, inasmuch as it forces the
animals to roam far in search of their needs, ensures a sufficiency
of exercise, while the fodder itself, though deficient in quantity, /
is always rich in nitrogenous principles.

The cattle are generally kept in enclosures formed of dried
thorny Jhar bushes (zizyphus nummularia) inside the village.
The herds consisting of cows, young stock, and bullocks not
actually working, are driven out to graze every morning and
return at night.

Cows usually have their first calf at about 4 years, most of
the calves being born in the latter months of the cold weather.
The calves are usually allowed half the milk for 4 months and are
then gradually weaned and sent out with the herd to graze. Bull
calves which remain unsold, if not selected as bulls, are castrated
between two and three years of age. To supplement the grazing
to which the herds are driven every day, stall-feeding is given, „
especially in the rainy season before the grass springs up. The
staple fodders are jowar-chari, chaffed or thrown down in
bundles ; pala or the leaves of the Jhar (zizyphus nummularia) ;
wheat and gram, bhusa. gram, Tchal or oilcake in the hot season,
and binaultf (cotton seed) in the cold. Cows in milk and working
bullocks get more than dry cows and bullocks not in work.

8

The indigenous breed is by no means uniform in size or
quality. The typical characteristics are thus described by Major
Walker, Chief Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department.

"The cattle of the Hariana tract vary considerably in size, but they
are similar in general characteristics.

Typical animals vary from 54 to 60 inches in height and they are com-
pact, active and powerful.

In colour the cattle of this breed are almost invariably grey, the neck
and shoulders being of a darker grey in some cases.

The bulls are generally black or blue, grey over the neck and shoulders.
The skin is usually black in colour and rather thick in comparison with
English cattle.

The head is light and the face elongated ; the ears are long and
inclined to be pendulous. Very large and pendulous ears are disliked by
the people. The horns are fine and rather short ; they are carried horizon-
tally when short, and when longer curve upwards and inwards. They are
usually black in colour.

The neck is of medium length, and the hump large especially in bulls.
The body is light on longish clean legs ; the tail is short and thin ; the feet
small, hard and well shaped.

The dewlap is large and pendulous; the sheath in the males is short
and close.

The cows are of course lighter in build, The udder is capacious and
well formed and extends well forward with the milk veins well developed ;
teats from one and a half to two inches in length, equal in thickness, and
hanging perpendicularly. A good milch cow gives from 8 to 12 seers
daily in its native country, but the yield falls off when the cow is exported."

The country lying between the Salt Range and the Sohan
(ii) The Pothwar- River is to the north-western districts of the Pun-
/ Dhanni tract. jab what the Hariana tract is to the south. The

climate is healthy and the cultivation depends entirely on rainfall.
There is little grazing in the true sense of the term, for excepting
the rocky ridges and the ravines which intersect the country, every
acre is under cultivation. But the people are good cattle masters,
and take a pride in their animals, which they are careful to exer-
cise so far as space is available. Communications are still difficult,
and this fact has tended to preserve two or more distinct va-
rieties. The general type is thus described —

The Dhanni breed of cattle, also known as Jothwar and Nukra
is confined to a comparatively small area in the Jhelum, Attock and
Rawalpindi districts, the chief breeding centres being Chakwal and
Talagang. The animals are uniform and differ considerably from
the other breeds of the Punjab.

In height the bulls vary from 50 to 56 inches, they are com-
pact and very active.

The colour varies considerably. Animals with parti-coloured!
or mottled black and white coats predominate. White cattle often
show black patches in the skin.

The head is short but wide, eyes small, muffle wide and coarse,
ears pendulous but short.. Horns vary in size, being either
short and stumpy or fairly long, growing upwards and curving
inwards.

The head is carried on a powerful short thick neck which
terminates in a well developed hump. The dewlap is well defined,
and often extends as far back as the sheath. The sheath is very
small, back straight and long with sloping quarters ; the body
heavy, ribs well rounded and deep girth ; tail well set on, long «nd
thin with fine hair which terminates in a tuft reaching to the
heels ; legs short, forearm and thigh powerful but light below the
knee and hock ; hoofs small and close.

The bullock closely resembles the bull, owing to the late
period at which the latter is castrated. This is generally done
from 3 to 4 years. He is a very willing worker, chiefly used for
making " bands ", ploughing and working at the wells. Bull calves
are well cared for.

The cow is small and poorly developed, colour white, grey or
mottled; head and face finer than in the male ; horns fairly long
and upright ; legs weak and calf -kneed.

The most distinctive and in many respects the best variety £
is the Talagang breed. The characteristic features of these animals
are their fine delicate skin and the circular markings which show
beneath it. They are found in Talngang, the centre of the
Awankari, the tract inhabited by the Awan whose own fine stature
is evidence of the admirable climate. The Chakwal or Dhanni
variety, found in the neighbourhood of Chakwal, is a less pure
breed* but is no less hardy and sought after. Breeding is also
carried on near Jatli in the Potwar tract of the Qujar Khan j
tehsil and to a certain extent in the Fatten- jang tehsil of the
Attock District.

Owing to the lack of grazing alluded to above, all cattle, and
especially the bulls, are stall fed. Bull-calves are given as much
of the cow's milk as they require for four or five months. '''hey
then get boiled gram _Qr_- molA according to the season. They
are given wheat and gram cut green^ln the rabi and chari and
wot/* in the kharif, in addition to any grazing which may be

10

available. —Heifer calves are neglected and underfed. The bulls
are put to the work of terracing and embanking the slopes and
ravines by which the area of cultivation is extended. If not sold
before the age of 4 they are castrated, and owing to the risk
attending the operation an owner will often ask and sometimes
obtain a higher price for the animal as a bullock than as a bull.

This source of supply, owing to its inaccessibility has only
been drawn upon in comparatively recent years. But the breed
is now well-known and the bulls are in demand for tracts where

• the heavier Hariana animal is unsuited to the small indigenous
stock. Thus the riverain tracts of the Ajnala tehsil, and the
Gurdaspur and Ferozepore districts are now importing Talagang-
Potwar bulls, and large numbers of bulls and bullocks are disposed
of yearly at the Gulu 8hah fair in Sialkot and at the Amritsar

I fairs for use in the districts of the Central Punjab. They have
also been largely imported by settlers from the northern districts
into the Jhelum and Lyallpur colonies, and find a ready sale at
the Lyallpur fairs. The good prices obtained are inducing the
Awans to sell off their locally bred cattle and replace them by
the inferior animals brought by traders from down country
fairs, and there is evidently a danger of the breed deteriorating

i under stress of the increasing demand.

In the Western Punjab the only breeding centres of any
"»»•») The Western value lying within the boundaries of the province
breeding centres. are the two southern tahsils of the Dera Ghazi
I Khan district, including the Eohjan country, the territories of the
Mazari Chiefs. In reality these two tahsils form the northern
limit of the great breeding tracts of Balochistan and the Sukkur
District. Just as the north-west of the Punjab is supplied from
the Dhanni-Potwar tracts, and the south from Hariana, so the
best cattle of the western districts, Multan, Muzaffargarh and the
Derajat are imported from the Sukkur and Balochistan country
on the west bank of Indus, which may thus be classed as the
third source of supply. The most noted western breeding centre
actually within the boundaries of the Punjab is the neighbourhood
^ of Dajal in the Jampur tehsil, but the breed of this tract is
merely an offshoot of the famous Bhagnari breed, found in
the Bhag tehsil near Sibbi, and owes its ^origin to a number of
Bhagnari bulls specially imported into Dajal about 80 years ago.

The characteristics of the Bhagnari cattle are given in Captain
Pease's " Breeds of Punjab Cattle. "

" These cattle are by far the best bred for draught purposes
I have yet seen in the Punjab. They are above medium stature

ii

about 14 hands at the shoulder, very handsome, possessing fine
silky coats and thin skins, the colour of the skins invariably
black and of the hair covering them white or grey, generally
black about the shoulders and neck, the rest of the body being
white. Some are much darker than others in colour, but generally
white predominates. They are easy to distinguish from other .
Punjab breeds, possessing well-marked differences. The first
point which strikes us is the head, which is very bovine in
appearance, that is to say, the frontal and parietal region is
very broad and massive, the frontals specially are broad and the
horn cores are set on very wide apart ; the horns themselves being
short, stumpy, of great girth, and terminating in a broadish
point. Their direction is in almost all cases outwards and
upwards. The forehead arches very considerably, and is broad,
dipping again at a level with the superior commissure of the eyes.
It again curves slightly forwards just above the mufHe. The
muffle is small, the jaw light; the eye large and mild, the ear
of medium size. The head is carried fairly erect, but in some
cases is slightly below the line of the back. The neck is very
short comparatively. The dewlap well developed as is the
hump. The chest is good, broad and deep, the shoulder good,
sloping and fairly light; the limbs strong and of medium
length. The line of the back is fairly straight, dipping very
slightly immediately behind the hump and rising again very
slightly to the croup, which is of good conformation in these
animals. The girth and belly measurements are good, and the
loins broad and powerful. These animals, although appearing
to be rather long in barrel, are exceedingly well ribbed up. The
tail is long and very tapering. The sheath large and more or
less triangular ". This description applies equally to the Dajal
cattle.

A very hardy type of bullocks is bred in the Kachi or
riverain tract of the Rohjan illaqa and the Mirpur tahsil of the
Sukkur district near Massuwah Channel taking out from the
Indus. These animals are strong and sturdy but much smaller
and more clumsy in appearance than those of the Bhagnari breed.
They are much sought after for work on the wells of the riverain
tracts Multan, Muzaffargarh and the Derajat, and are imported
as far east as Sialkot, Gujranwala and Amritsar. They are ex-
tremely hardy, and will thrive on any kind of fodder.

In these western breeding grounds the young bulls are care-
fully kept apart from the cows, and there is little of the immature
breeding which is so much to be regretted in the central and
southern Punjab districts. The bulls which are privately owned,
?we kept at stud and the cows are brought to them. The bulls

begin to serve at three years of age and are generally castrated
at 5 or 6 years. The cow has a first calf usually at the age of
3 years and the calf is allowed as much milk as it can take
during the first six months.

Jjxjjhe Bhag tract a certain amount of grazing is available
in the rains] The principal grass (known locally as gum) is some-
what like china, in appearance and is very nutritious. It
appears with the winter rains, and Gundhil grass also grows very
densely. But the chief cattle food both in the Bhag tract and
near Dajal i*.jowar9 of which a very fine quality is grown in
this part of the country, containing an unusually large amount
of sugar.

- Thfl Massuwah cattle are not stall fed to the same extent
as those from the Bhag and Dajal tracts. They graze during
the cay on the river banks. From July to October they get
green j<>war, and from January to March pease and methi mixed
with bhoosa. In the evening they are generally given chopped
jowar and oil -cake.

VIL— TBE INTERMEDIATE TRACTS.

Certain parts of the province may be considered as occupying
an intermediate position between the tracts where climatic con-
ditions are entirely favourable to cattle-breeding and where a
profitable export trade is in existence and those less favoured
di>tricts in which the farmer is forced to import a class of animals
superior to that produced locally. Such intermediate tracts pro-
ducing and rearing for export, and also importing, are the
/ territories of the Phulkian States lying between the Ghaggar and
the Sutlej, the southern part of the Ferozepore district, and the
Lyallpur district. The Phulkian States and part of the Feroze-
pore district, corresponding roughly to the tract known as the
Malwa, are naturally well suited for breeding, and the Malwa
breed is still recognised as a distinct type. But owing to the
j introduction of canal irrigation and the contraction of grazing
1 grounds, cattle-breeding in the Malwa is becoming less important
than cattle-rearing. A judicious restriction of canal water has
prevented the climate from deteriorating, and the Jat Sikhs, who
are the most important inhabitants of the Malwa, have not been
Blow to recognise the advantages which their country possesses,
lying as it does between the breeding grounds of Hariana and
the highly cultivated districts of the Central Punjab. The pros-
perous and enterprising Jat goes to the cattle fairs of Hariaoa,
and even further afield, buys up cattle of the best type, two or three
years of age, and returns with them to his home. The sandy
soil and healthy climate of the Malwa together with the

US

abundant fodder supply provided by canal irrigation constitute
an ideal rearing ground. The cattle bought at the southern
fairs are soon ready for the plough. They are yoked for some
two years and then brought to the fairs at Jaitu and other
centres. There they are sold to traders for a price at least as
great as they were originally bought for, and pass away from
the Malwa to the Central Punjab districts and beyond, In this
way the Malwa Jat obtains a succession of the "very best plough
cattle for little more than the cost of their keep. At the same time
practically all draught cattle are sold before they become unser-
viceable, and the religious prejudices of the Sikhs are thus not
offended by kine slaughter within their territory,

In the Lyallpur district the enormous demand for draught
plough cattle is met to a certain extent by , local breeding^ The
cattle census of 1909 shows that the young stock of this district
are more numerous than in any other district of the Punjab. At
present the animals are of very fair quality, and though greatly
inferior to the high class bullock imported from Hissar or Chakwal,
the local product fetches good prices in the district and is even
exported. Owing to the great demand, the number of locally bred
cattle may possibly be maintained, but quality will certainly deterio-
rate under the unfavourable climatic influence of canal irrigation.
Fodder is abundant and the possibilities of cattle-breeding are not
neglected, but the district does not enjoy the same advantages as
the Malwa in the matter of climate and space for grazing. Mr.
deMontmorency writing of Lyallpur as an exporting district says :
" It appears to me that more young stock are sold to buyers out of
the district at the fair than is warranted by the future needs of the
district."

The Deputy Commissioner of Jhang reports that the Kachi
cattle described by Mr. Broadway in Chapter IX of Captain Pease's
"Breeds of Indian Cattle" are still found in the Shorkot tehsil of
that district. They are evidently a useful type, but have not been
exported to any large extent, and no attention appears to have
been paid to the development of the breed.

VIII— THE IMPORTING TRACTS.

The remaining districts of the Province may be described as
importing tracts. In these districts, it is true, cattle are produced,
often in considerable numbers, but from a variety of reasons the
stock is below the standard required for agricultural or draught
purposes. The zamindar prefers to buy good cattle from elsewhere
and in these days of high prices for agricultural produce is not
deterred by the large increase in the cost* The Settlement Officer

14

of Ludhiana writes : " The district bullock is quite a useful animal
but neither so efficient nor so much valued as the imported stock.
The extent of importation is determined simply by the money
available, Jf a zamindar can afford it he will always use
Hissar bullocks. Jf he is really well off he will make a hobby
of good foreign stock. As all tehsils are very prosperous, the
import trade is large." These remarks are of general application
to all the districts of the Central Punjab. Other reasons for
importation in these districts have already been touched on.
With the spread of cultivation and the development of the Canal
< System the Man jha breed of the Lahore and Amritsar districts

has disappeared as a distinct type. The Karnal and Delhi
districts have suffered in a similar manner. In the densely
populated submontane tracts of Sialkot, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur
and Ambala conditions have never been favourable to cattle-
breeding. The Hoshiarpur report notes that in the Dasuya tahsil
of Hoshiarpnr the death rate of cattle is heavy owing to the
climate and the hard work in the rice fields, and the charsa wells
of Jullundur require a more powerful bullock than is produced
/ locally. In the Bar tracts of Montgomery, Gujranwala and Gujrat
the local breed, though famous for its milch cattle, was never of a
type to supply the demands of canal-irrigated cultivation even if
the numbers had been sufficient. The colonists of Lyallpur had
therefore no option but to import their cattle from their old
districts. The addition to the Bar cattle was briefly of the Desi
(or Central Punjab mixed breed) with a good sprinkling of Hissar
and some Dhanni cattle. In the Jhelum colony the importations
are chiefly of the Dhanni breed. The western districts — Multan,
Muzaffargarh and the Derajat — have always imported the strong
Sindhi bullocks to supplement the local stock of undersized
animals bred in the riverain tracts.

It might have been supposed that the Shahpur and Mianwali
districts would have been favourable to a local breed. But though
the number of cattle is sufficient for local requirements and few
are imported, the quality of the stock is inferior. The Khushab
tehsil, however, exports to a certain extent and with increased
attention better results could be achieved,

Of the Jhelum colony the Colonization Officer writes : " There
is practically no export. The only cattle that are bred for sale
are bred by the Janglis but they are of poor class and are not
exported but sold locally. Tear by year breeding for sale is
likely to decrease as facilities for grazing are very small and the
present breeding is only due to the Janglis, who formerly lived
chiefly by cattle, having not yet reduced their herds to the require-
ments of a canal-irrigated country."

15

IX.— MALE BUFFALOES.

The different breeds of buffaloes will be described later in
dealing with milch cattle. As regards male buffaloes used as
draught animals, it is sufficient to note that they are being every
year pressed into service in greater numbers. Except in the
Delhi Division, male buffaloes have for years been emplojed as the
motive power for Persian- wheels. But whereas formerly it was
exceptional to find a male buffalo yoked to the plough or used in a
cart, it is now an extremely common sight in the Central Punjab.
No particular breed of buffalo seems to be preferred for draught
purposes, nor is any particular attention paid to their rearing.
They are sluggish but strong and hardy, and compared with the
bullock extremely cheap.

X.-HILL CATTLE.

In the hill tracts of the Punjab which may be taken as includ-
ing the Simla Hill?, the Una tahsil of Hoshiarpur, the Pathankofc
tahsil of Gurdaspnr, Kangra and Kulu, and the Murree tahsil of
Rawalpindi, cattle of a small type are required. The supply is
kept up mainly by local breeding ; the diminutive cattle of the
Pathankot tahsil, for instance, appear to be a purely local breed.
But cattle from Mandi and Suket and also from the neighbouring
tracts of Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur are imported into Kangra and
the Una tahsil, and the Murree tahsil imports from Hazara and
also from Jammu and Poonch. In the latter case the trade is
hampered by toll fees and export dues. In Kulu the importation
of cattle is confined to the Arains settled in Bajaura and the neigh-
bourhood by Colonel Rennick and other large proprietors. Most of
these men come from the Bhal tract in Suket and Mandi, and buy
their cattle in the Bhal tract and not in Kulu.

Attempts have been made to introduce Hissar bulls into
Kangra, but it is obvious that they are unsuited to hill tracts, and
bulls of the Dhanni breed are much preferred. The Assistant
Commissioner in Kulu reports that the results of attempts to cross
the Kulu cows with Kerry, English and Panjabi bulls are bad
beyond description. He also notes that in Spiti and the upper
parts of Lahoul yaks are interbred with ordinary cattle on the most
scientific principles.

XI.— MILCH CATTLE.
(1). Cows,

The demand for milch cattle is practically impossible to
estimate. Leaving aside the dairy requirements for civil stations
and cantonments, for which special arrangements are made, the

16

^ demand is chiefly for ghi and, milk. Trade returns show that,
roughly speaking, the province is self-supporting as regards its
supply of ghi, but the universal complaints of inferior cow's milk
in urban areas where the consumption is greatest, give rise to am
apprehension that either the stock of milch cows is insufficient) on
that the quantity of milk they give might be largely improved.
According to the Crop and Season Eeport for 1908-09 the present,
number of cows has not yet reached the number ascertained inj
1894, while there are at present moment more cow buffaloes in the
Province than in any previous enumeration. An examination of
the district figures shows that in all the districts where breeding
is important such as Hissar, Rohtak and Jhelum the number of
cows enumerated in 1908-09 shows a most satisfactory increase
over the figures for 1904. On the other hand in the districts of
Lahore, Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Gujranwala, where breeding is of
little account and draught cattle are imported, the number of cows
has largely decreased, their place being taken as milch cattle by
buffaloes. A decrease in the number of cows seems inevitable as
breeding becomes of minor importance. In highly cultivated
districts cows are valuable chiefly as milkers, and for dairy pu>i?-
/ poses the buffalo is more profitable than the cow. The tendency
. therefore is for the number of buffaloes to increase. The buffalo,
though undoubtedly a finer animal when bred and reared in,
natural grazing grounds, nevertheless takes kindly to stall feeding,
and as there is no likelihood of any diminution in the profit from
dairy produce, while the male buffalo is becoming increasingly in
demand for draught purposes, there is every probability thai
the next census will show an even larger increase in the stock of
buffaloes.

Practically every cultivator in the Province keeps one or more
cows according to his means and the facilities for grazing at his
disposal. But except in certain localities, these animals are not
noted for their milking qualities and are chiefly regarded as
breeders, their milk being an incidental profit.

The two best known breeds of milch-cows are the Hansi
Na Hissar and Sahiwal (Montgomery) breeds. The Hansi cows are
merely, the cows of the excellent Hariana breed already described,
which besides being fine breeders also possess great milk-giving
qualities. The cows of the Hariana breed and good milk-cows of
the ordinary Desi type are seldom brought to a fair or sold at all
except in times of drought. Small numbers are, however, procured
by military dairy farms or by private dairy farms of the United
Provinces and Bombay.

17

The Sahiwal cows are not noted for the excellence of stock
produced, but are exceptionally good milkers. The following -
description of the Montgomery cow may be quoted from Major
Pease's book ou the " Breeds of Indian Cattle, Punjab " :— -

" The head is long ; forehead rather narrow ; ears small-sized ; the face
long and fine ; the head is large ; neck short and light. There is present,
and well developed the peculiar fold of skin under the abdomen in a position
corresponding to the sheath of the male which is called by the natives
" lola " but which is not by any means peculiar to this breed alone. The
dewlap is not very large, but is vrell developed ; the limbs are light. The
milk escutcheon is very good. The back is slightly dipped and longish, and
rises generally an inch or so at the croup ; tail sweeping the ground and
not very thick. Sheath in the male well developed and tufted with hair.
The limbs are symmetrical, and the general outline is good. The bullocks are
active and good workers, the cows are good milkers, yielding from 7 to 12
seers per diem, or even more in some instances. They are usually milked x
twice during the day."

Before the colonization of the great Bar tracts, the herds of
this valuable breed were very numerous. But the spread of canal
irrigation has reduced the grazing area available, and the yearly
decline in a number of good Sahiwal cows is one of the worst fea- .
tures of the present state of cattle-breeding in the Punjab. The
drain on the remaining stock increases yearly and losses are
never replaced. Besides the large numbers of Montgomery cows
which are bought whenever possible for down country districts,
the Gujars of the Central Punjab districts are prepared to pay
large prices for good animals, and at every Amritsar fair large
numbers are disposed of. The city Gujar, provided he can ex-
tract a large amount of milk from the cow, is utterly careless of
the progeny, and the calf stunted of milk seldom comes to matur- .
ity. The change, which has been brought about in the Bar
tract by the substitution of settled cultivation for nomad graz-
ing, and the stages by which the buffalo has taken the place of
the milch cows of the Sahiwal and Kachi breeds are well de-
scribed by Mr. de Montmorency in the Lyallpur report : —

" Prior to the opening of the Chenab Canal the Chenab Colony area
known as the Bar was a large desert with a scanty rainfall lying partly in
the Jhang and partly in the Montgomery and Gujranwala districts. The
lower-lying portions of the Bar had depressions, into which the water
from the higher surrounding hard desert used to flow after rain and lie
for some time. Round these depressions nomad graziers known as the Jang-
lis used to gather with very large herds of cows, young cattle and goats. -
After even a little rain the Bar which was covered with the roots of vari-
ous grasses, such as Chimber, Lunak, Dhumen, Pilwahu, Keo and Kawi,
used to throw up a fine head of grass. The scrub which covered the Bar
retained round its roots a certain amount of moisture, and even after the
grass had been eaten down in the open a good supply remained round the

18

bolls and coppices of the Karil, Jand and Van. Thus the nomad grazier
was able to weather out almost the whole 12 months in the Bar in a good
season. In years of very scanty rainfall the nomad graziers would exhaust
the pastures of the Bar, and have to take refuge in the Belas or riverain
tracts of the Chenab, Ravi, Sutlej and Beas. They used on such occasions
to wander up as far north as Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur, and as far south
as Bahawalpar. It is probable that in such years the loss of cattle was
very great. The Janglis only kept cows and bulls and young stock.
Very few young male stock ever came to maturity. They were generally
(as they are still in the Montgomery district) starved of milk in their early
years and either sold, exchanged or eaten when they began to grow big ;
the real Jangli had very few buffaloes as he was unable to keep them
in the arid climate of the Bar. The buffaloes were almost entirely kept
by his neighbours the Hitharis or riverain proprietors of the Ohenab and
Ravi.

It is estimated that at the commencement of colonization there were
about 55,000 Janglis who supported themselves solely by living on milk
and by the proceeds of the sale of ghi, hides, horns and young cattle in
the Bar. Unfortunately it is impossible to separate the Bar tracts in
the tirni papers or cattle enumerations of the Gujranwala, Jhang and
Montgomery districts, so we cannot form even a rough estimate of the
number of cattle possessed by the Janglis when the Canal came. The
Janglis state that the bulk of the animals which they had were cows and
young stock of the Montgomery or Kachi (Ohenab) breeds, a few cows and
bullocks of Hissar, Dhan, Desi and Sind breed which had been passed on
to them by thieves in other districts, a large number of goats of what are
known as the Bahawalpur and Shahpur breeds and a few buffaloes.

Into this area the colonist was introduced and the Jangli himself re-
ceived land to cultivate. No grazing areas were reserved in yeoman and
capitalist chaks. In peasant chake, which form the bulk of the colony area,
20 per cent, grazing area was reserved in 250 villages, and in the remain-
ing villages in the colony 10 per cent. The better low -lying area was
snapped up in every chak for cultivation and only the higher and less fer-
tile land left for grazing with the result that the grazing area in most
villages only affords real grazing in the months of Sawan and Bhadon and
not at other times of the year. By the end of 1906 (last special census)
the population of the colony had risen to 857,829 souls and out of the Bar
area 1,829,850 acres had been allotted for cultivation. The colonists as a
rule brought with them one or two yokes of plough bullocks per family and
a cow or buffalo for milk. Tenants brought much the same and village
menials brought a fev7 poor milch or plough cattle and some sheep and
goats. For the first few years of colonization owing to the lack of than as
and the large bands of unsettled Janglis wandering about the Bar who
were expert thieves, people did not care to bring good cattle to the Bar
as they were speedily stolen. As the Janglis got settled they had to get
rid of their extra stock and sold very large numbers of cows and young
stock to the immigrant colonists. The Jangli finding he had plenty of
green fodder on his grant in turn began to purchase buffaloes, which he
esteemed on account of his milk diet, from the Niti (Sutlej) and Chenab.
This stage is therefore marked by unloading by Janglis of their Mont-
gomery and Kachi stock of cows and young bullocks to immigrant grantees

19

and the substitution in Jangli chaks of female buffaloes fop cows. The
immigrant grantee for his part adding to his stock of "laveri mal " (milch
cattle) by purchases of cows from Janglis and buffaloes from the Ravi and
Chenab riverains."

The decrease in the Montgomery breed of milch cattle has
received much attention at the hands of the Civil Veterinary
Department, and the Deputy Commissioner of Montgomery in his
report has made some suggestions for the preservation of these
valuable animals. These proposals and others which had been
brought to notice will be discussed later on in dealing with the
extent to which Government assistance in the matter of cattle-
breeding can be developed or improved.

(II). — MILCH BUFFALOES.

The value of the buffalo is becoming yearly more appreciated
by the Punjab cultivator, and, as this animal thrives when stall fed
better than the cow, it is inevitable that the increase of buffaloes
should proceed pari passu with the spread of cultivation and the
shrinking of grazing grounds.

Before the spread of canal irrigation buffaloes were confined
almost entirely to the tracts bordering on the great rivers of the
Punjab and in low-lying flooded regions such as the Naili of the
Sarusti and Ghaggar streams. Bach tract produced a distinctive
type, the Ravi buffalo being, the a as it still is, the best
known variety. At present the Kundi buffaloes (so called from
their small spiral horns), characterised by a comparatively fine skin
and great compactness are considered the favourite breed. They
are to be met with in the canal-irrigated villages of Rohtak and
Hansi, and the tradition is that this breed owes its origin to import-
ation from the Ravi Bet. Many of these fine animals are export-
ed yearly for dairy farms to the United Provinces, Calcutta and
Bombay and even to Java. The Jamna Khadar, the Ghaggar and
the Naili tracts of Karnal, Patiala and Hissar produce vast numbers
of buffaloes, often of great size but of inferior quality compared with
the Kundi type, These regions are visited every year by zamin-
dars from the Phulkian States and the Central Punjab, who buy
up young stock for their own use and also for sale at the Amritsar
and Jaitu fairs, whence large numbers are exported by road and rail
to the north of the Punjab. The Sutlej and Ravi Bets also produce
and export buffaloes to a large extent through the medium of the
Amritsar and Jullundur fairs.

As has been shown Lyallpur colony now contains buffaloes in
vast quantities. But as Mr. de Montmorency remarks, it remains
to be seen whether the homebred and stall fed buffaloes will continue'
to maintain the standard of animals bred in the river belas^ with
their larger roaming grounds and con stunt changes of food.

do

.— GRAZING GROUNDS.

Success in cattle-breeding depends very largely on the area
available for the animals to wander in. The question of grazing
grounds is therefore closely allied with the problem of improving the
breeding arrangements of the province. The average area of land
available for grazing and not yet cultivated calculated for each head
of cattle including buffaloes but not including sheep and goats
varies from a quarter of an acre or less in Gurdaspur, Amritsar and
other Central "Punjab districts to nearly eighteen acres in Mianwali.
Omitting the hill tracts of Rawalpindi, only nine districts and these
in the west of the province show an average of more than 1^- acres

- for each head of cattle. This calculation assumes that waste land
owned by Government is thrown open for grazing, but this addi-
tion to the village grazing grounds is only important in the western
districts. Such arithmetical calculations, however, must be qualified
by a consideration of the advantage enjoyed by tracts where the
cultivation is largely barani in the extra grazing available in the
frequent fallows. Thus, Rohtak with only half an acre af uncultiva-
ted grazing land is better off than Lahore wnere the average is more
than three quarters of an acre, and Jhelum has more advantages than
Delhi though the average area of grazing is almost indentical in
both districts. The plains of Hariana provide ample space for the

* necessary exercising of the cattle Ipred in that tract. Nor does the
spread of unirrigated cultivation destroy the natural advantages of
these grazing grounds, for even in a good year the fallows are exten-
sive, and the grasses they contain though sparse, are extremely
nutritious. The Dhanni breed possesses no less an advantage in the
unirrigated lands and broken unculturable ground of the Jhelum,
Attoek and Rawalpindi districts, and the conditions of the Sind and
Biluchistan breeding grounds are not dissimilar. But where close
cultivation, and especially canal-irrigated cultivation, has almost
annihilated the waste, the indigenous breed deteriorates in quality
until it finally disappears as a distinct type. The space so neces-

i sary for exercise is wanting. Valuable crops are always on the
ground, and the cattle are driven along dusty lanes to the com-
mon grazing ground, seldom extensive and continually encroached
on by the plough. Such are the conditions prevailing at the
present day in the canal-irrigated tracts of the province and in

/ districts such as Hoshiarpur and Sialkot where the comparative
ease wii»h which well-irrigation can be. carried on and the
fertility of the soil have placed practically every available acre
under the plough. The number of animals bred under these
conditions must be comparatively small and the quality increasingly
inferior.

21

Grazing grounds in the hills are everywhere reported to be
insufficient. During the cold weather the Gaddis and Gujars of
the Chamba State bring their cattle down to the Pathankot tahsil
to graze. In Murree the cattle often have to subsist on leaves.

District officers were asked to report whether with the ruling
high prices there was any probabilty of grazing grounds being
so extended as to admit of an improvement in the number and
quality of the animals bred by agriculturists in their own vil-
lages. Leaving aside the breeding or exporting tracts the ques-
tion for the highly cultivated or importing tracts resolves itself
into a conflict between the respective profits of cultivation and
grazing, the economic aspect of which has been discussed at
length by Mr. Moreland in his note on the cattle supply of the
United Provinces. His conclusions apply equally to the Punjab,
and are borne out by the reports of District officers in the import-
ing tracts. The Settlement Officer of Gurdaspur remarks, " so
long as the prices of agricultural produce continue high, the
zamindars, whilst keeping a large stock of milch cattle will reduce
their male and young stock so as to leave as much land as pos-
sible available for the raising of the more valuable non-fodder
crops. Under these circumstances home-breeding is not likely to
extend, nor are special efforts to this end likely to meet with any
measure of success, as there is DO scope for the extension of grazing
areas without throwing out of cultivation valuable agricultural
land." Any improvement in home-breeding by small land-holders
involves, as Mr. Moreland points out, the provision of enclosed,
meadows or crofts, and at present the high profits of cultivation
forbid any hope that either the individual agriculturist or the
village community will deliberately turn down cultivated land
to grazing in order to breed more bullocks. The small cultivator
cannot afford to forego the immediate profit from increased culti-
vation in the doubtful hope of breeding his bullocks cheaper than
he can buy them. In any case he is hampered by the conditions „
of land tenure in the Punjab where holdings are made up of small
fields often at long distances from each other precluding the
possibility of reserving any pasture worth the name. The difficulty
which is experienced in preventing encroachments on the common
grazing land of the village even when protected by a clause in the
administration paper drawn up at settlement is a commonplace
of district administration.

While, therefore, the District officers of highly developed
districts agree that at present there is little prospect of the self-
cultivating proprietor substituting grazing for cultivation or of

any marked improvement in the number of cattle bred in those

«

22

districts, there are some indications that the increase in the cost
of cattle and the scarcity of grazing is causing a change in pre-
sent conditions. Thus, the Settlement Officer of Ludhiana reports
that in the uplands of that district within recent years the
people have set themselves to breed more than the actual stock
required in their villages. The exodus to the colonies ten years ago
drained away a good many cattle, and there is always a demand
by the colonist for cattle from the home district. The Settlement
Officer of Delhi found that the value of grazing land has increased
to such an extent that even well-irrigated land in a village not far
from the city had been turned into pasture. In the Karnal tahsil
some three years ago a stong Jat community abandoned the cul-
tivation of a fully irrigated estate owned by them preferring to
keep it as a grazing reserve. It is not uncommon to find the owner
of a grazing reserve surrounded by high cultivation abstaining
from cultivation in order to reap the benefit of grazing fees from
the neighbouring villages. The Presbyterian Mission of Lud-
hiana have adopted this course in a large part of their Bir in the
Kaithal tahsil with considerable profit.

The importing districts of the province contain only a small
proportion of the 5 million acres of culturable waste land owned
by Government, and of the 12J million acres of such land privately
owned. About four-fifths of the Government waste and about
two-thirds of the privately owned waste consists of the Bar lands
of Montgomery, Jhang and Lyallpur and Multan and the Thai of
Mianwali, Muzaffargarh and Dera Ghazi Khan *. The waste lands
of the Bar in a few years will be diminished still further by the
spread of irrigated cultivation. Before land is actually distri-
buted it may well be considered whether extensive provision
should not be made for grazing land either with a view to
preserving the breeds of the Sahiwal and Kachi cattle which
are already seriously diminished, or in order to facilitate cattle-
breeding or cattle-rearing among the settlers who will be introduced.
The Deputy Commissioner of Montgomery thus describes the
future of cattle-breeding in that district : —

" Cattle are bred all over the district, bat in the higly cultivated
Dip alp ur tahsil much fewer are bred than in the other three tahsils in
each of which there are large expanses of waste land. It is in these three
tahsils that large herds of cattle are chiefly found. Cattle-breeding was
before the introduction of the canals the staple industry of the district. The
Muhammadan tribes who are the ancient inhabitants of the district
naturally do more cattle-breeding than the Sikh colonists as they have
greater access to grazing grounds, and less taste for agriculture. All these
tribes may be in some sense regarded as professional graziers and their

• These figures are for 19064)7.

28

Btatns varies from that of the big zamindars whose herds are numbered by
the hundred to the small owner of two or three. The big zamindars own
extensive herds of cattle, but do not as a rule exploit their produce commer-
cially. Their cattle are to them chiefly a means of maintaining their dignity
and supporting their dependents. This they are enabled to do, by the great
extent of grazing available. But as the Ganji Bar comes under colonization
this will cease to be possible, and these large herds will cease to exist ; on the
other hand the influx of colonists will keep up cattle for their own use and
the numbers of these stall-fed animals will probably be not less than those
found at present. Unless the people take to laying down permanent pasture
the result will be to substitute stall-fed for pasturing cattle."

With reference to the provision of permanent pasture the
Deputy Commissioner writes : —

" A very interesting experiment in this connection has been made by
Chaudhri Jehangir Khan. He informs me that with 2 or 3 waterings 50 acres
of permanent pasture keep 80 cattle for 4 or 5 months, a larger num-
ber than would be kept by fodder crops on the same area, the expense
both for water and fodder being much less. If this is found generally to be
the case, I believe that permanent pasture will solve the grazing problem.
But for permanent pasture to be worked land must be given out in
sufficiently large blocks ; a peasant farmer cannot afford to keep half his
holding under grass. "

This system is not unknown in Multan where zamindars are
accustomed to irrigate small pieces of land from May to Septem-
ber. Such grazing grounds are known as posals. Mr. de Montmo-
rency considers that the grazing areas in the Lyallpur Colony
grants are too small, and urges that in the new Montgomery
Colony every Crown chak should have at least 20 per cent, of the
area reserved as grazing ground (charagati). The Deputy Com-
missioner of Gujrat makes similar recommendations with regard to
the Bar lands in his district wbich are to be irrigated under the
irrigation scheme known as the Triple Project.

Arrangements for fairly extensive grazing grounds combined
with a system of permanent canal- irrigated pasture would go far
towards the preservation of existing breeds, and may even result in
the successful development of home-breeding on an extensive scale
in the new colonies. This aspect of tbe colonization problem calls
for even more attention than it has received in the past. Its
importance must become yearly greater with the increasing
difficulty of supplying the growing demand for cattle.

XIII.-FODDER SUPPLY.

Against the disappearance of valuable breeds which too often
results from the incrense in irrigated cultivation may be set tbe
greater security of the fodder supply. If good animal? cannot be

24

bred in a highly irrigated tract the imported stock can at least be
provided with excellent fodder even in the worst years, or in an
emergency can be fed by supplies imported from an adjoining
district. The working bullock in the " importing " districts is of
course excellently fed, and is seen as a rule in far better condition
than the working cattle in breeding tracts. The general conclusion
of the district officers is, as might be expected, that the fodder
supply is sufficient in the highly cultivated districts or importing
tracts even in times of scarcity.

It is unfortunately otherwise in the breeding centres and
especially in the all-important Hariana tract. A glance at the
figures of the cattle enumerations held in the Hissar district
during recent years show the fluctuations to which the stock of
cattle in Hariana is liable.

Bulls, and
bullocks.

COWB.

Male bus-
aloes.

Cow buffaloes.

Young stock.

1894

137,483

181,483

6,806

90,841

1,45,089

1899

111,062

111,452

8,119

63,500

1,61,038

1904

85,182

78,908

4,853

58,989

1,32,296

1909

161,161

132,988

T.375

85,650

1,97,577

The cause of these fluctuations is obvious. From 1896 to
1903 the district was in the grip of famine and scarcity, hardly
relaxed in the good harvests of 1897 and 1 901. Supplies of fodder
ran so low that the zamindar was unable to keep his cows and
young stock, and the district from being a store-house of cattle
was driven to rely as best it could on scanty profits from agri-
culture. In the Hariana districts comparatively few cattle are
required for the vast areas which can be ploughed in favourable
rains, and the extent to which the stock available for the supply
of other districts was depleted is at once apparent.

In normal years such as 1894, 1907, 1908 and 1909 the autumn
sales at the Hissar fairs were as follows : —

BHIWANI.

IIlSSAR.

SlRSA.

Bulls and
bullocks.

Cows.

Bulls and
bullocks.

Cows.

Bulls and
bullocks.

Cows.

1894

1,012

339

3,771

64

5,203

114

1907 „.

4,546

1,070

Rs. 150—100

Rs. 22

Rs. 55

Rs. 23

1908

1,439

321

4,735

53

5,901

65

Rs. 185-50

Rs. 22

Rs. 200—70

Rs. 21

Rs. 57

26

1909

6,200

61

Rs. 150-60

Rs. 27

But in 1896-1898, and 1901 as soon as the zamindar
realized that the rains had failed and there was no prospect
of his being able to keep his cows and young stock, the
autumn fairs were thronged, and excellent animals were quickly
disposed of at low prices, as is shown by the following
returns of stock sales for these years : —

Bhiwani

Eissar

flfir*a.

YBARS.

Bulls and bullocks.

Cows.

Bulls and
bullocks.

Cows.

Bulls and
bullokcs.

Cows.

1896 ...

Fair closed on
famine

acount of

6,800

170

5,901

64

1899 ...

15,254

11,303

22,842

1,314

9,747

47

.

Es. 100-25

Rs. 10

Rs. 77—16

Rs. 8

Rs. 23

Rs. 18

1901 ...

8,447

936

18,846

120

86

306

Rs. 13—040

Rs.22

Rs. 113—40

Rs. 15

Rs.42

R8. 30

26

The number of bullocks disposed of in these years was nearly
five times as many as in normal times and the average price was
less than half what would ordinarily have been obtained. The
Deputy Commissioner of Rohtak writes : " Since the famine of
1877-78 besides many years of scarcity there have been 3 famines,
and although the returns of cattle sold at the fairs are somewhat
misleading owing to a custom prevailing in the rain land villages
of selling the oxen after one crop has gro'wn up, and buying afresh
for the sowings of the next crop so as to avoid the intervening
expense of upkeep, a comparison of the transactions of famine with
normal years shows the drain on the resources of the district.
Thus the sales of oxen and cows in the famine years 1899-1900 were
roughly 16,500 above those of the previous year, and in 1905-06
ten thousand in excess of the years before."

In his Settlement Report of the Sirsa District Mr. (now Sir
James) Wilson remarks : " Cattle-breeding in such a country is a very
" speculative business, and the peasants seem to find it more profit-
" able in the long run to allow their cattle to multiply up to the
€l number which can be supported by the year's fodder until the
*' usual season for a new growth of grass, and to take their chance
" of the rains failing. If the rains come as usual, the speculation
" is a success, and the cattle are safe for another year ;
" if they fail, the speculator loses his profits and some portion
"of his capital but one or two good seasons soon make it up to
" him again. It is not improbable that improvements in the
" methods of storing fodder would be utilised by the Sirsa peasant
" not so much in guarding against the consequences of drought as
" in multiplying his stock still further, and taking his chance of the
" rains as before; and this is perhaps in the circumstances the most
" profitable way of conducting this trade as a cattle-breeder;"

These remarks written in 1882, apply equally to all dis-
tricts in the Hariana tract. But since then the state of the
Hariana cattle trade has become yearly more important to
Northern India, and it is yearly becoming more important to guard
against these sudden losses of stock.

It is not too much to ascribe the greater proportion of the
rise in price of cattle, of which every district complains, to the
depletion of the Hariana store-house during the period from 1896
to 1903. The past few years have been favourable to the Hissar
district and the number of cattle in all classes is again approach-
ing the level of 1894. That the store should ever have been
depleted, must be a matter for universal regret.

The loss of live-stock is a commonplace of the too numerous
famine reports. Its prevention has hardly received due consider-
ation. Famine and its results are apt to be considered as con-
cerning Hariana alone, whereas the disaster affects the whole
Province. Nor is it sufficiently realized in how short a time
the mischief is done. After the zamindar has abandoned his
last hope of rain only a month elapses before cattle are sold in
thousands at the autumn fairs, and irremediable loss caused to
the whole of Northern India. The remoteness of these districts
has hitherto prevented any general attempt to provide reserves
of fodder, and so preserve the more valuable stock. But as the
country is opened out by the yearly expansion of railways the great
difficulties of such an undertaking are appreciably lessened, and in
any case the issues are too great to be neglected. The last Famine
Commission, primarily considered the preservation of cattle during
actual famine conditions, but their final *recommendation was that
the whole question of fodder supply in its preventive aspect should
be thoroughly examined. A few of their general conclusions may
be quoted.

(1) It is better in the long run and cheaper to bring fodder
to the cattle than to take the cattle to the fodder (para. 211),

(2) The demand for fodder should be proclaimed at a very
early date.

(3) Enquiries should be made in years in which there is
no pressure, with a view to supplementing the fodder supply on
emergency.

(4) There is this pre-eminent advantage in the growth and
importation of fodder that it enables the people to retain the cattle
in the villages. Not only does this avoid the dangers that always
attend a change of environment, but it is directly economical inas-
much as a far smaller amount of imported fodder will suffice
per head for cattle kept at home, where people can supplement
the imported ration by petty reserves and pickings.

No definite proposals have ever been put forward for dealing
with this problem, but it is clear that extraordinary efforts should
be made to give every possible assistance to the Hariana-
breeding grounds in ordinary times, and to prevent the loss of
valuable cattle in times of scarcity. Bearing in mind tbe loss
which occurs in transferring animals from one tract to another,
the conclusion cannot be avoided that if the cattle are to be pre-
served at all, they must be preserved in their native villages.

The first essential point is to secure information as to the
villages where special attention is paid to the breeding of cattle.

*Para, 219 of the Famine Report, 1901. ^

28

In ordinary seasons these are the villages which should receive
assistance from Government. This1 aid may take the form of
specially selected balls from the Hissar Farm in considerable num-
bers, or of a grant to provide first class animals from elsewhere.
The Hissar Farm is constantly auctioning stock which, though un-
suitable for the requirements of the Farm, is nevertheless often
greatly above the average of the ordinary village herd. The
scheduled villages should receive special consideration in this
respect.

In times of famine these villages would again receive priority
of attention. The information collected in ordinary seasons would
place the authorities in a position to estimate how much was likely
to be disposed of at the autumn fairs. It is obvious that in time
of famine a large number of old and useless animals must disappear,
and from an economic point of view, this is a positive advantage.
But the preservation of really good stock is an object which how-
ever difficult of attainment needs to be impressed on the people,
and no assistance given by Government in this direction can be
considered wasted.

The problem of cattle preservation has two aspects : —

(1) The storage of fodder in ordinary years to provide

against scarcity.

(2) The importation of fodder at cheap rates when scarcity

has actually declared itself.

A good season in the Hariana districts produces jowar, bajra,
pulses and grass in such quantities that, were the stuff properly
stacked and preserved, nothing short of a two years' famine of the
worst type could reduce the fodder supply below the requirements
of all the cattle worth preserving. Unfortunately the grass is
neglected altogether, and the jowar and bajra even when carefully
cut and collected and not allowed to stand in the field, is only
^ stacked in exceptional cases. Most of the fodder is sold, chiefly
for the Delhi market, and any stacks remaining in the villages
will be found to belong to local banias who are prepared to hold
till the opportunity of reaping famine prices presents itself. It is
easy to accuse the zamindar of laziness in neglecting valuable
supplies of grass year by year. But the grass is useless, unless
cut at the proper time, which unfortunately coincides with the
autumn harvest and the annual epidemic of fever. The zamindar
has no leisure himself and labour is . at a premium. The
difficulty of stacking grass on a large scale seems almost
insurmountable. , The charge of thrift! OP sness in dealing with
jnwar and bajra fodder has more justification. The zamindar

not only enjoys the proceeds of his fodder sales in good
years, but counts on Government for assistance in time of
drought. But unless he receives substantial inducement to do
otherwise, it is useless to hope for improvement- The District
authorities of Hissar have under consideration a scheme by which
in good years bajra &nd.joivar stalks should be bought up by the
District Board and stacked at diffierent centres, .each centre being
made to serve from 1 5 to 20 villages. It is estimated that pro-
perly stacked straw could last about 5 years. In case of scarcity
this fodder should be sold to zamindars at cost price, plus interest
at 12 per cent,, and a sum to cover District Board expenditure. If
no such occasion arose the old stock could be sold locally or exported
to Delhi, new fodder being bought to replace it. The loss, it is
estimated would not be great. The Settlement Officer thinks
that a plan of this kind might be tried experimentally. The
Deputy Commissioner considers that the District Board must be
given material assistance both in men and money if such a scheme
is to be carried out.

The importation of fodder at cheap rates in time of actual
scarcity was attended by considerable success during the fodder
famine of 1905-1906. The only unsatisfactory feature of the
action taken was that it came too late. But vigilant supervision
would result in enquiries being made soon enough to ensure fodder
being railed down when most required, v/0., at the end of Septem-
ber when the zamindar needs assurance that his bullocks can be
provided for.

The information obtained as to villages where cattle-
breeding is important would enable the distribution of the imported
fodder to be made with comparitive certainty that the expense
incurred by Government bore some relation to the assistance
afforded to the people. The Deputy Commissioner of Gurgaon
points out that importation of fodder must be accompanied by
grant of iaJcavi to purchase it, care being taken that takavi is only
given for the preservation of valuable animals.

It is obvious that the amount of work entitled by these mea-
sures, both in ordinary years and in times of famine could not possibly
be undertaken by the ordinary district staff, and to work schemes
of the kind techninal knowledge is required. The Deputy Com-
missioner of Hissar believes that the stock is deteriorating owing
to ignorance or neglect of proper methods of breeding and to
constant exportations of the best animals. Arrangements are wanted
for arresting that deterioration and for rendering unnecessary the
forced sales of live-stock caused by spells of drought. If such
arrangements are to be a succes? an officer %f the Civil Veter-

inary Department is required to devote all his time to their
supervision. If stationed at Hissar he would have the great
advantage of the proper methods of breeding which the Govern-
ment Cattle Farm affords and of the advice which the Superin-
tendent wiil be able to give him.

The difficulties of fodder supply do not seem to be so acute
in the Dhanni tract. But here too more assistance from the Civil
Veterinary Department is required. The subject of the expan-
sion of the Civil Veterinary Department will be developed later.

XIV.— THE CATTLE TRADE.

(1) Traders.

From the description already given of the demand for cattle
and the sources from which this demand is met, it has been
seen that the trade follows certain definite courses. From
Hariana in the south, from the Dhanni tract in the north, and
from Sindh in the west there is a constant influx of cattle into the
centre of the Punjab. Another current of trade, chiefly in young
stock, sets from the southern districts towards the United Provinces,
while another, less pleasing to contemplate, conveys a constant
stream of old and worn out cattle northward along the Grand
Trunk Road towards Rawalpindi and Peshawar.

A horde of traders, all known under the generic name of
Boparis, are busy throughout the year catering for the needs
of the farmer in the fully cultivated districts. The best cattle
of the Hariana Nagaur tract are marked down and bought from
the breeders, partly in the villages, and partly at the autumn and
spring fairs, for which this part of the country is famous. Other
bands of traders are engaged in similar work in the Dhanni tract
and Sindh, while the Pathan traders from the Chach are to be
found at every large fair, relieving the zamindar of his superfluous
and worn out stock and transporting them tp wards the frontier.

The term * Bopari ' includes a number of castes each engaged
in a well defined class of business.

The moat important of these are the Aroras of Shahpur andMian-
wali. They are very well organized and financed by their own com-
munity, and their transactions run into many thousands of rupees.
They deal only in the best type of stock, which they procure for
their old clients in the central Punjab, and their connections in the
Lyallpur and Jhelum colonies. These Aroras arrive at the great
fairs in the breeding districts in the north and south of the Punjab
with a drove of young stock 3 or 4 years of age, selected from the
surrounding districts and stake out an enclosure which, they gradual-
ly fill with purcbaslfc in the fair for which, of course, they pay in cash.
They move about in bands of 10 or 20, and exercise great precaution

31

in safeguarding the money in their possession. When visiting
fairs in the Native States they are very well treated by the authorities,
who make special arrangements to guard the animals from theft,
and often detail a sahukar with whom they can bank their money.
Having completed their purchases, which generally consist of first
class bullocks, 3 or 4 years' old, and the very best cow-buffaloes, they
rail them to the station nearest which they are likely to obtain a mar-
ket. On arrival at their destination they usually hold a small fair at a
convenient centre, notice being sent round to intending purchasers.
They seldom demand cash payments, but as all their customers
are known to them, they prefer to recover the price of their ani-
mals by 8 instalments paid at each succeeding harvest. Their
usual procedure is to make their sales before Har, recovering one
instalment in Har, one in Lohri and another in the following Har
in the next year. The purchaser pays one rupee as earnest-
money and executes a bond binding him to pay the instal-
ments as they fall due. No interest is charged, but the price
of the animal is enhanced so as to include interest charges.
Mr. de Montmorency calculates that the colonist of Lyallpur
buying from Aroras in instalments pays 12^ per cent, more
than he would if he bought from zamindars of his old district or
in a fair. Some district officers calculate that interest included in
the price is really much higher than this. The Hoshiarpur report -
considers the interest as high as 30 per cent. The zamindars sel-
dom default in their payments, otherwise they would be given no
more credit. Several district reports touch on the hardship
which these transactions involve to the zamindar, and the Deputy
Commissioner of Amritsar suggests that Co-operative Societies
should undertake immediate cash payments to the Aroras on behalf
of the individual members of the society, and so avoid the loss aris-
ing from the these credit transactions.

A second class of Aroras from Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan
Bahawalpur and Sindh have the trade in high class Sindhi and
Dajal cattle in their hands. Their methods closely resemble
that of the Shahpur and Mianwali Aroras, but they are reported
to be even harsher in their dealings with the zamindars.
Owing to the paucity of fairs in this part of the country, these
Aroras make their purchases for export chiefly through agents
in the villages. ^

The business conducted by the Kashas, chiefly Gujars and
Kasais of the Hazara, Rawalpindi, Attock, Bannu and Peshawar
districts, is of a somewhat special nature. Their interest in high
class, animals is limited chiefly to cow-buffaloes, of which they
buy large quantities at the Jaithu, Amritsar, Ludhiana and other

32

and rail them to Atfcock, Hassan Abdal and Hazro, where the
animals are sold at weekly fairs to trans-border Pathans. They
also supply buffaloes to all the north- western districts. But
their principal business consists in buying up worn out and
comparatively useless cattle at all fairs in the country from
Hissar to Lyallpur. These purchases are invariably marched
until they eventually strike the Grand Trunk Road, up which a
continuous stream of cattle may be seen driven by these Rasha
traders throughout the cold weather. On the march they continue
their trade and are perpetually selling off animals which can
still work for two or three years more at cheap prices, or exchang-
ing fairly serviceable cattle for a larger number of utterly worn
out animals. They sometimes include in their droves a few under-
sized but serviceable cattle from the breeding districts, which the
zamindars of the Pothwar and Dhanni tracts are glad to buy at
cheap rates to replace the high class animals for which they have
obtained large sums of money, The ultimate destination of these
droves by the time they arrive at Rawalpindi, or are sold at Hassan
Abdal and Gondal, is in most cases the hide merchant.

Export trade to the United Provinces, which mainly consists
of young stock from one to two years, is largely in the hands
of Banjaras. They limit their operations to the old Delhi territory
and are not generally met with north of Ludhiana, and the line
of the Sutlej. They do, however, occasionally visit the Amritsar
fair. Their purchases at fairs, however, represent only small
proportion of their business, for they are constantly on the move
throughout che country at all times of the year, but especially
in June and July, buying up young stock, which they march
through well known grazing grounds to the districts of the United
Provinces, where ihey find a ready market. The stock bought
by the Banjaras is always younger than that bought by the
Aroras, and never of the same high quality. The cultivator in
the United Provinces appears to be less particular than his Punjabi
brother as to the type of animal he uses for cultivation. The
Banjara caste includes both Hindus and Mussalmans, the Hindu
is chiefly interested in the sale of the young stock for draught
purposes, while the Mussalman is more closely connected with
the Kasai. This arrangement is one of which they are not slow
to take advantage when it is more profitable to sell an animal to
Kasais than to march it across the Jamria for sale to zamindars.
These traders are regular visitors to the weekly fairs at Nuh,
Kosi, Muttra and other centres. Their business is on a smaller
scale than that of the Arora. They are financed by banias and
seldom carry with them a large amount of cash. Their sales in

the fair are usually for cash or short credit, and in any casd
they do not give credit longer than for one harvest.

The Kasais or butchers are to be found at all fairs, their inter- - *>~
est being chiefly centred in procuring worn out or useless animals
for the slaughter-house or the hide merchants. But in the south-
eastern districts they combine with their usual trade a certain
amount of business in agricultural cattle which they supply to
the districts of A mbala, Delhi, and Karnal, and to the United
Provinces. Their dealings closely resemble those of the Aroras,
the price demanded being enhanced so as to include interest, and
being recovered remorselessly in two or three instalments at suc-
cessive harvests.

An important and yearly increasing body of traders are the
Sikh Jats from the districts of *the Central Punjab and from the
Lyallpur colony. It is noteworthy that several co-operative
credit societies in Lyallpur and elsewhere utilize their surplus „
funds in buying up high class bullocks in Hissar, and selling them
again at a considerable profit to neighbouring villages of
their districts. The Jat Sikh of Patiala, Nabha and Jind is to be
found in great numbers at the Hariana fairs, and according to
the Shahpur report much of the import trade in buffaloes to
the Jhelum colony is in their hands.

A large proportion of the import trade in Bhagnari, Massuwah 7
and Dajal cattle into Mnlban and the neighbouring districts is in
the hands of Baloches, Pathan Fakirs and Sikhs. The Baloches
occasion ally sell for cash down, bat usually trade on the
credit system, charging 5 to 10 rupess as earnest-money and
recovering the remainder after six months. They also occasional- .
ly recover one-third of the price at the time of sale, and the rest
in two equal six-monthly instalments. These traders remain
for some time at the Khuni Burj just outside the city of
Multan in order to dispose of their cattle.

A considerable trade of inferior class of animals is carried
on by low classes and menials such as Labanas of Lahore
and Ferozepore, Gujars and Changars of Sialkot and Gujrat,
Fakirs of Jullundur and Gurdaspur, and Nais and Telis of all
districts. Perhaps the most striking instance of enterprise in the
cattle trade is the fact that the import of cattle from the Massuwah
tract in Sindh and of Bhagoari cattle into the Central Punjab is
very largely in the hands of a colony of Mirasis in the Sharakpur .
tahsil, who are financed by banias in the neighbourhood of their
villages. Kakezais of Sialkot and Gujaranwala also undertake
imports from Sindh.

34

(it) Cattle Fairs.

The course of the cattle trade is marked by a large and
increasing number of cattle fairs, most of which are devoted
to a distinct class of business. The transactions in the great
fairs at Rewari, Dadri, Narnaul, Bhiwani, Hissar, Sirsa and
Jehazgarh are almost entirely confined to the best Hariana stock.
The Chakwal and Talagang fairs are the principal markets
for Dbani-Potwar breeds. At present there is no corresponding
fair for the western breeding centres, but with the development
of railway communication this deficiency will doubtless be supplied.
At the Abohar and Muktsar fairs, and at the great Jaitu fair
and others in the Phulkian States, the sales are partly of Malwa
cattle but principally of high class Hariana cattle reared in the
tract irrigated by the Sirhind Canal, and of the best buffalo
Btook.

The fairs at Ludhiana, Jullundur, Hoshiarpur and Gurdaspur
supply some of the demand for small sized cattle to work hart
wells in the Bet villages of the Beas and Sutlej or for ploughing in
the submontane tracts. Bat at these and other fairs on the Grand
Trunk Road the business i^ very largely in worn out or worthless
^ cnttle destined fertile slaughter-house and the hide merchant. The
Lyallpur and Eminabad fairs are very largely attended and a
certain number of good cattle b> ought from Chakwal or locally bred
are offered for sale. But their principal use is to provide the
colonist with an opportunity for "scrap-pirg" his worn out bullocks
which are bought up in large numbers by Pathan traders. The
fair recently started at Hafizabad is of the same character. A
comparatively recent development in the cattle trade is the system
of weekly fairs held at Hassan Abdal and Gondal in the Attock
District and continued at various points along the road to Peshawar.
A similar weekly fair is held at Nuh in Gurgaon at the other end
of the Province. The large majority of the cattle sold at these
fairs find their way to the slaughter-house.

The only fairs of a general character at which every class of
business is transacted are the large fairs h^ld at Amritsar at the
Bisakhi aod Diwali festivals and the Gulloo Shah fair in the Sialkot
District. Every class of cow, bullock and buffalo may be purchased
at these enormous gatherings, while the trade in old and worn out
stock is as brisk as at Lyallpur or Eminabad.

These large fairs are all under Government supervision and a
considerable source of income to the District Board. There are
however a number of small local fairs initiated by Arora and other
traders who collect their clients at convenient centres to dispose

35

of their latest purchases from distant fairs. Many large fairfc
doubtless owe their origin to such small beginnings.

Some district officers have reported that more cattle fairs are
required, notably in Arnbala and Rawalpindi. Before starting
a cattle fair it should be remembered that no amount of
Government assistance or even a connection with an existing
place of pilgrimage will create a succesful cattle fair unless a
demand exists for facilities in carrying on a definite class of
business. The warning sounds obvious, but this condition of
success has occasionally been overlooked, and instances are noo want-
ing of fairs which, though supported by Government, are languish-
ing through an alteration in the course of trade. It is doubtful
whether the cattle fair recently established at Pakpattan provides
for any requirements by cattle-dealers or their clients. On the other
hand the success of the Ha6zabad fair proves that a definite
demand is being supplied. The Jalalabad fair receives a larger share
of official patronage than those of Aboharand Muktsar, yet the busi-
ness at Jalalabad is declining while ~ the otberx two fairs are
thronged. The annual cattle fair at Sargodha has been abandoned.
But, as the Colonization Officer points .out, the demand for good
cattle in the Jhelum Colony is very considerable, and the market
for young stock and worn-out stock is no doubt proportionately as
great as in Lyallpur.

XV.— DAIRYING IN THE PUNJAB.
(i) The milk supply.

In dealing with this part of the enquiry it is not proposed to
take into account the military grass farms and dairies in various
parts of the province, as they affect the total supply to a very small
degree.

The supply of milk and dairy produce to civil stations is pro-
vided for to some extent by dairies conducted somewhat on the same
lines as those managed by the military authorities. Lahore, Delhi,
Simla and other stations can show three or four of these institu-
tions, generally under European supervision.

The Settlement Officer of Delhi sends an interesting account
of a small dairy started three years ago for the supply of butter and
milk to the Cavalry Cantonment.

It is a small affair with only 11 cows and 6 buffaloes. The
quantity of milk is estimated to be 60 seers daily : of which 25
seers is sold and the rest is used in making butter. Thirty- five seers
of milk yield 4 seers of cream. This cream is collected for three dayg

36

and then the butter is 'formed. The daily outturn of butter is there-
fore about 2^ seers.

The daily profits are :—

Bs. A. P.

Milk sold ; 25 seers at annas 2 per seer ... ... 3 2 0

Milk from which cream has been taken ;

30 seers at pies 9 per seer ... ... 65

Butter sold ; 2J seers afc Us. 2 per seer ... ... 5 0 0

986

As the quality of the milk varies and the owner and his family also
consume some of it, the average daily income may be put at Rs. 8.
The annual income thus comes to Rs. 2,920.

Expenses are : —

Rs. A. P. Rs.

. Rent of military grass farm ... ... ... 192

Daily cost of (t) Bhnsa and Chari ... ... 1 8 0

'12 seers gram ... ... .,

.300 1,642

14 seers cotton-seed

10 seers oil-cake

.22 seers gram husks ...

1,834

Profit ... 1,085

On an average one animal has to be replaced every year.

The arrangements for supply to civil stations are capable of
much extension and improvement. Properly controlled dairies
account for only a small proportion of the supply. The remaining
demand is met by cows privately kept, or from the bazaar.

The urban milk supply is at present in the hands of Gujars.
in the north of the Punjab, and of Ghosis and Ahirs in the south.
Sixty per cent, of the Lahore milk supply is brought in by Gujars
who keep their cows five or six miles from the city. The corre-
sponding proportion in Amritsar is 40 per cent. The cows are milk-
ed in the morning, and the milk brought by rail or special ekkas
for sale in the streets, or to halwais (milk-sellers).

The remaining Gujars live in the city or just outside it, and
the present arrangements are highly unsatisfactory. Sanitation is
entirely neglected. The cow-sheds, whether inside the city or in ita
immediate vicinity, are equally dirty and objectionable. Little
attention is paid to the quality of the fodder given to the animals.
T^he Gujar or Ghosi cares only for the quantity of milk he can extract.

37

The Gujars and Ghosis are frequently financed by the halwais.
They are under contract (renewed in Delhi 3 times a year), to
supply so much milk against money advanced. Milk is hawked
about the streets in open and unclean vessels, and the sale of milk
by the halwais is conducted in no better fashion. A halwai will
only sell pure milk when first establishing his business. As soon
as he has secured his customer he does not hestafce to adulterate
freely. No attention is paid to the cleanliness of the shop. Many
remedies have been proposed for this unsatisfactory state of affairs.
Sanitary regulations ha?e been enforced, and attempts have been
made to exclude the Gujar from the city. But wholesale con-
demnation of the present system, or rather want of system, is use-
less unless an efficient substitute can be provided. Until the
people can be shown that .a sanitary milk supply is not only possible
but profitable both to the retailer and the consumer, any measures
directed against the present system are useless.

It is generally found that the wealthier members of the com-
munity are only slightly interested in the question of a general sup-
ply of pure milk to the public. They are accustomed to retain
matters in their own hands and either keep cows in their houses,
or have a special arrangement with the zamindars of a village
outside the city. The person who suffers and for whom nothing
is done is the middle-class clerk or small shop-keeper who is not
rich enough to arrange for his own supply of milk, or powerful
enough to insist on the improvement of what the Gujar and
halwai are pleased to purvey to him.

In Delhi the common rate for cow's milk sold to the halwai is
Rs. 3 amaund, and for buffalo's milk Us. 4. The halwais retail at
Us. 5 a maund fresh, and Us. 6-4-0 boiled. The Gurdaspnr report
states that milk ten years ago sold at 11 seers to the rupee, while
the rate is now only 9 seers.

The estimate of the rise in prices varies, but in the last 20
years or so the rate seems to have doubled. The rise in prices is
actually greater, for pure dairy produce is now seldom found, in
towns at any rate. Adulteration is said to be more practised than
10 years ago.

(i i) — The trade in ghi.

In rural districts there is little trade in pure cow or
buffalo milk though a considerable amount is consumed by
the zamindar himself. The attention of the zamindar is devoted
to the production of ghi. It is not necessary to describe the process
of manufacturing ghi, nor is it possible to attempt any computa-
tion of the amount annually manufactured in the province. A

vaat quantity is locally consumed and does not appear in any
record of internal or external trade. But there can >; be no {doubt
that the manufacture of ghi is the principal home industry of
, the province. It is also equally certain that owing to the lack of
co-operative methods the producer fails to receive his appropriate
share of the profits and that the consumer has to put up with
frequent adulteration of an article, for which he pays an increas-
ing price.

The principal ghi -producing tracts of the province are the
/districts of Karnal, Hissar, Rohtak and Delhi, and the Jaga-
dhri tahsil in the Delhi Division, the Ludhiana and Phillour tahsils
of the Jullundur Division, the Montgomery District, and the
Khangah Dogran and Hafizabad tahsils in the Lahore Division,
the Lyallpur District, the Kacha and Thais of Muzaffargarh in
the Multan Division, the Khushab tahsil of Shahpur and the
Thai of Mianwali and the Phalia tahsil and and Dinga ilaqa of
the Kharian tahsil of the Gujrat District in the Rawalpindi Divi-
N sion. The province is chiefly self-supporting in the matter of
ghi, the exports to the United Provinces and elsewhere being
balanced by imports from other tracts such as the Poonch State
and Sindh. The chief consumers, of course, are iu the » large
s cities of Lahore, Amritsar, Delhi, Rawalpindi and Multan. De-
tailed statistics of import and export are difficult to obtain from
the railway returns. But the fact that an average of 10,000
maunds, which may be valued at Rs. 3^ lacs, is annually exported
by rail alone from the Karnal District, while a large amount
finds its way by road to Patiala and other centres, gives some
idea of the importance of this village industry. The Deputy
Commissioner of Montgomery in his report estimates the net
profit from ghi to the district as Rs. 15 lacs.

The wholesale supply trade is in the hands of traders ^chiefly
\ of the bania class, residing at convenient ^centres on the railway.
The ghi is supplied to these centres by the smaller^ village traders
to whom it is brought by their zamindar clients. The zamindar
receives occasionally cash, but more often credit in his running ac-
count, which is balanced if at all at irregular intervals and rarely
in favour of the zamindar. The profits of the middleman, though
extremely difficult to arrive at, are indicated by the number of such
persons who pay income in the ghi-producing tracts.

To show the business carried on by these ghi merchants it may
be mentioned that a single bania from the village of Gharaunda in
the Karnal District, a station on the Delhi-Kalka line, despatched
in 11 months, from July 1908 to June 1909, ghi valued at
Rs. 39,000 to places as far distant as Simla, Amritsar, Jullundur,

39

Kartarpur, Rurki, Saharanpur and Hardwar. If his profits as a
middleman are placed as low as 4 per cent., his yearly income from
this source alone far exceeds the salaries paid to the majority
of Government servants. An instance of the bania's transactions
with their zamindar clients may be quoted. A zamindar of the
Karnal District was provided by his bania with a buffalo of average
quality which might have been bought for Rs. 60. The bania
however debited him with Hs. 75 and interest was to be charged at
12^ per cent, per annum. The animal calved in October, and by
the following August the zamindar had paid in to the bania 73
seers of ghi and was able to keep some for home consumption.
The value of the ghi credited against the cost of the buffalo was
Rs. 59. This account, an actual entry in a trader's books, shows
both the profits to be made from buffalo-rearing, and the loss to
the zamindar who is forced to obtain his animal in this manner.
Without damaging the profits of the wholesale trader there appears
to be a wider field for co-operation in the production and sale of
ghi.

The price of ghi has risen very largely of late years. The
Deputy Commissioner of Montgomery writes : " Ghi formerly used
to. sell from 24 to 32 chittanks the rupee. But in villages it is now
selling from 18 to 20 chittanks, and in towns and cities about 16
chittanks." In Lahore and other cities the price is nearer 13 chit-
tanks. On the whole a fair estimate of prices would be, 18 to 20
cbittanks a rupee for the zamindar's sales to the wholesale trader, 16
to 18 chittanks from the wholesaler to the retailer, and 14 to 12
chittanks to the city consumer.

Ghi like milk is much adulterated, and a regular trade in com-
positions of ghi, fat and other ingredients is carried on from cer-
tain stations in the neighbourhood of Delhi, chiefly to Bengal.

XVI.— PRICES AND PROFITS OF STOCK-BREEDING.

The general conclusion to be drawn from district reports is
that the price of bullocks has doubled within the last 10 or 15 years.
Whereas the good average working bullock 4 years of age could be
bought, say in 1894, for Rs, 50 or Rs. 60, the price is now not less
than Rs. 100 or Rs. 120, and it is not rare to find the best Hariana
or Dhani bullocks sold for Rs. 200 or even more. Of course
bullocks of a sort can still be bought for Rs. 40 or Rs. 50, but
these are either old or of inferior stock, such as the Bagri cattle of
the Bikanir border. The fact alone is sufficient to account for
the increasing popularity of the male buffalo which can be bought
in good working condition for prices ranging between Rs. 25
and Rs. 50, though even this price is nearly twice as much as

40

obtained 10 or 15 years ago. The sale of cows is comparatively
rare, but the same increase in value appears to have taken place.
A good cow which formerly cost Rs. 30 cannot now be bought

v for less than Rs. 60. For the milch cows of Hariana or Montgomery
as much as Hs. 120 is obtained, and at the Amritsar fair the prices
given for good Sahiwal cows are nearer Rs. 200. The prices
of cow-buffaloes vary greatly, ranging from Rs. 40 to Rs. 150,
and even double this high sum has been realized for high
class Kundi buffaloes purchased for Bombay or Calcutta. The
prices paid for yearling stock, such as are bought by the

- Banjaras in the south of the province, range from Rs. 10 to Rs. 30.
The average price paid by Aroras for good three year old stock is
about Rs. 70. Butchers' prices range from Rs. 15 to Rs. 40.

Conditions are no better in the hills. The small type
of cattle imported from Hoshiarpur and Gurdaspur into
Kangra only cost from Rs. 15 to Rs. 50 each. But prices
have risen everywhere in the same proportion as in the plains.
In Kulu the price of a yoke of plough bullocks is reported to have
risen from Rs. 8 to a maximum of Rs. 24 within living memory.

Apart from the general rise of prices and wages, which has had
its effect on cattle-breeding as on every other industry, the reasons
for the enhanced cost of cattle are, as had already been stated,
firstly the spread of cultivation throughout the province and the
consequent increased demand for draught and milch cattle of all
kinds, and secondly the years of famine and scarcity between 1896
and 1903, which reduced the supply in the breeding and exporting
tracts to an extraordinarily low level. As has been already shown
there is little hope of an increase in the number of animals bred
in the villages of the fully cultivated districts and consequently no
hope of a reduction in price. But if favourable seasons continue
the stock of cattle in the exporting tracts is bound to increase,
and if this stock can only be maintained it may be hoped that
no further rise in prices will occur.

The Settlement Officer of Hissar has been at considerable
trouble to collect information as to the profits from the breeding
and rearing of cattle. Several villages in that district are owned
by Mahajans who interest themselves in cattle-rearing. They buy
good yearling stock at fairs, or take them from their tenants in
payment of debt. After rearing them for 2 or 3 years, and using
them in their carriages they are able to clear a good profit by an
advantageous sale at the half-yearly fairs. The cost of rearing
shown below being based on the actual prices of fodder is probably
higher than would be incurred by a zamindar who is able to use up

41

the waste products of agriculture in feeding his cattle. On the other
hand a Mahajan who can afford to bide his time for a good bar-
gain would get more for his animals than a zamindar anxious to
realize a quick return.

The figures of the Hissar report maybe thus summarized.
The cost of a fairly good cow may be taken as Rs. 50, and her
life as about 15 years. She may be expected to give milk for five
months during the year.

On the expenditure side we have : —

Rs.

Price of a four-year old cow ... ... ... 50

Cost of feeding for 4 years at Rs. 6 per mensem during the time
she is in milk, and Rs. 3 per mensem for the remaining days

of the year ... ... ... ... 561

Accidents and contingencies ... ... ... 50

661

The income will be :*—

Ghi at Rs. 2 per mensem during the 5 months the cow is in
milk, r daily produce being taken at 2 chittanka ... 200

Sale price of 11 calves at Rs. 30 cash if sold as yearlings 300

500

In addition to this the produce of one cow will save a family
of 3 persons, one anna each per diem, during the 55 months
the cow is in milk, or ... ... ... 30y

Total 809

The annual profit of 26 per cent, on the original outlay, allows
a margin for exaggeration in the profit to the family, and for an
underestimate in the head of accidents and contingencies.

The profits of rearing a yearling bullock which may be bought
for Rs. 20 or Rs. 30 are thus calculated. The bullock is kept for
2 years, the cost of keep being Rs. 3 a month, or Rs. 72.
Against this expenditure of Rs. 102, the rearer may reasonably
expect to obtain Rs. 110 or Rs. 120 for the bullock, or a yearly
profit of over Rs. 20 per cent.

A cow-buffallo aged 4 or 5 years costs about Rs. 80. She
breeds at intervals of 2 years, and continues in milk for about a year
after calving during which time she consumes double the amount
given to a cow. Her average life is about 15 years.

EXPENDITURE.

Rs.

Cost of cow-buffalo 5 years1 old .., ... 80

Cost of feeding for 10 years at Rs. 12 per mensem during
the time the animal is in milk and Rs. 6 for the re-
mainder ... ... ... ... 10,080

Accidents and contingencies ... ... 80

1,240

INCOME.

Sale of 4| maunds of ghi per year or 22| maunds for

5 years

Sale of four surviving calves assumed to be half males
and half females ...

And as one buffalo will save a family of 6 persons
6 annas a day during the 5 years she is in milk we
may add ... ... ... ...

Total

The annual profit of Rs. 55 per annum on the original outlay
of Rs. 80 thus calculated, allowing an ample margin for errors
in estimates, explains the increasing popularity of the cow-
buffalo.

These estimates of profit relating as they do to high class
animals for which there is an established demand are too high for
the ordinary non-breeding district. But they indicate to some
extent the value of the cattle-breeding industry to the province as
a whole. The Settlement Officer of Delhi calculates the annual
profit from a cow to be Rs. 25 to Rs. 30 and of a buffalo Rs. 40 to
Rs. 50. The latter estimate corroborates the flissar figures. In
the case of the cow the Delhi calculation was for a dairy animal
belonging ro Ghos s, in whiuh case the profits wouLJ nn<lou*>t^dly be
greater tli an those derived from an animal kept merely for
breeding.

XVII.— THE MEAT TRADE.

The zamindar is debarred by religion and custom from what
in other countries is a mosb profitable form of stock-breeding,
the rearing of cattle for the meat market. No Hindu fanner
will knowingly, or at any rate openly, part with his cattle to a

43

butcher or to any one who may be suspected of being interested
in the meat trade. The rural population, whether Hindu or
Mussalman, subsists normally on a vegetarian diet Under these
circumstances both th« demand for meat and its supply a^e very ^
definitely limited. The demand for beef of any kind is practically
confined to cantonments, civil stations, and the larger cities, and •
the demand for high class beef to very limited sections of th^se
communities. The population of cantonments and the European
civil population is more or less fixed and there is no evidence that
the beef-eating population of the towns is largely increasing. The
demand for beef, such as it is, is therefore practically constant.

The supply of beef is limited in the same way. The utmost
a butcher is prepared to pay for a bullock or a cow, unless, as
happens in very rare cases, it has been specially fattened for the
market, is Rs. 20, the butcher looking to obtain a profit of about
five rupees, not including the value of the hide. It is obvious
that it would be unprofitable for the zamindar to sell working
bullocks or milch cows of any value to the butcher. The but-
cher's purchases, as may be seen at any fair, are old and worn
out bullocks bought for the sale of the hide and the inferior meat, '
and undersized, worn out, barren, or otherwise useless cows.
From an economic point of view practically no harm is caused by ~
the disappearance of worn out animals, and undersized cows,
though their disappearance may be a loss from the point of view
of the milk supply, are seldom to be regretted from the stand-
point of the breed. Such animals are sold by Mussualmans direct
to the butchers. In the south of the province Hindus will usually
deal through a Hindu Banjara who disposes of the animal to his
Mussalman caste brother if there is nothing to gain by keeping
the animal alive, in addition to these classes of animals, how-
ever, there is no doubt that a considerable proportion of the
young stock sold to Banjarw-s and other dealers find their way
to the butcher. Large numbers are no doubt sold for draught
work, but if grazing is insufficient or it is otherwise inconvenient
to keep the animals longer they are sold off to butchers at the
weekly fairs in the neighbourhood of Delhi and other large
centres. In this way, no doubt, young heifers which might develop
into useful cows are lost to the country. The zamindar, however, f -
only disposes of his young stock because he has no space in which
they can be grazed, and because it is more profitable to stall
feed a buffalo than to stall feed a cow. If the conditions of home
breeding can be improved, and as it- becomes more profitable to
keep young stock than to sell them there will be fewer complaints
of the paucity of cows. It ia noteworthy that whereas the prices

44

of cattle and cereals have risen there is no corresponding
rise in the price of meat. There are also indications, though
information is difficult to obtain, of a trade in dried meat for
export. The reason appears to be that the scarcity of grazing
and the rise in the price of hides are responsible for the slaughter
of many cattle which, though no doubt useless or past work,
would otherwise have been preserved. A larger quantity of
meat i8 rendered available while the local demand has hardly
increased at all. The trade in hides as the cause of this and
other important developments deserves separate treatment.

XVIII.— TRADE IN HIDES AND BONES.

Before the development of the foreign export trade in hides
the skins of dead cattle were considered to belong by right
to the Oharnar or Mochi, who in return was bound to provide
the zamindar with shoes and small leather articles used in
husbandry without farther payment. The rise in the prices of
hides owing to the growing demand for export has changed the
relations between the zamindar and the menial in this respect.
In many districts the old custom still survives but not without
constant disputes. Where Oliamars and Mochis were powerful
and disposed to violence the new conditions occasioned out-
breaks of cattle poisoning. The result has not been altogether
in favour of the Chamar. In Gujranwala, Gurdaspur and Lahore,
and in other districts, especially in Muhamrnadan villages, the
old custom has been abandoned and the zamindars now sell the
hide to the Chamar or Chuhra at the market rate. In these districts
cattle poisoning has ceased.

Jt may be generally asserted that in normal seasons even
the high prices now obtained for hides do not tempt the zamindar
to sell off any but his most worthless cattle. The export trade
has undoubtedly stimulated the trade in old and worn out cattle
which are worthless except for their hide. But the comparative
cheapness of hides in time of scarcity shows that far too many
animals, besides those which actually die of privation, find their
way to the butcher an<"l the hide merchant. The recent increase
in prices, due amongst other causes, to the development of the
motor industry, and the fact that the hide of a slaughtered animal
ib more valuable than that of an animal dying in the ordinary
course of nature, have been responsible for unpleasant incidents.
Slaughterings of cattle (chiefly young buffaloes) on a considerable
scale are known to have taken place in some districts, necessitating
the interference of the district authorities. The increasing demand
for the male buffalo as a draught animal will no doubt operate to
check such incidents. But in default of an export duty on hides, it

45

is unlikely either that the demand will slacken or that persons
interested in the trade cease to look to such sources for their
supplies.

The local demand for leather, which is of course very large
indeed, is still as from time immemorial chiefly in the hands of
Chamars, Moohis and Khojas. Some Chamars and Mochis such
as those of Karnal and Ludhiana, are prosperous communities and
are in a position to take up any contracts for the supply of boots
and shoes.

The profits from the export trade in hides have attracted
firms like Ralli Brothers to embark in the business, and the
People's Bank of Lahore and other Indian Companies were
for a time largely interested. The hides are collected at
convenient centres on the railway by agents of the large firms
in the chief centres, Hassan Abdal, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Feroze-
pore, Kasur, Multan and Delhi. Apart from the European enter-
prise the trade is principally in the hands of Khojas. The prices
for undressed hides which the zamindars obtain in districts where
the old custom has been superseded are approximately Rs. 7 each.
But bullock and cow hides are more valuable, the price for dried
skin per maund being about Rs. 40 for cow and bullock hides, and
Rs. 33 for buffaloes.

The trade in bones appears to bring in no profit to the
zamindar. The chuhra is allowed to collect the bones, and stack
them at convenient centres where they are bought by travelling
agents, chiefly Khojas, for the export trade. The price per maund
is from 8 annas to 12 annas.

XIX.— SHEEP AND GOATS.

Sheep and goats are kept in considerable numbers throughout
the Province. The higher classes of zamindars consider it beneath
their dignity to own these animals, which are usually kept by
Gujars or meniuls, The flocks are not infrequently owned by the
butchers of large towns, the produce being shared on the half
batai system between the owner and the herdsmen. The cost
of feeding is practically nil, as the sheep graze on the fallows and
the goats on jungle shrubs. Milch goats however occasionally get
some cotton-seed.

Sheep are valued for their wool and skin, for the meat they
provide and for their milk. Sheep dung is also highly prized as
manure, and it is common in the Western Punjab for flocks to
be invited to the wells in order that their droppings may enrich
the soil. The landowner even pays for such visits. In Lyallpur

46

the herdsmen receive Re. 1 per acre for herding sheep for some time
on plots to be sown with sugarcane and cotton.

The number of sheep has increased throughout the Province
during the last five years, especially in the north-western, western,
and south-eastern districts and in Kangra, where the best sheep
are produced. They graze on the fallows and on such sparse
vegetation as can be found, and are rarely stall fed except for the
meat market in large cities and cantonments. In the Central
Punjab the number of sheep appears to have decreased. Culti-
vation is no doubt too intense in these districts to provide good
grazing, and the heavy canal irrigation makes the ground too wet for
them in the monsoon season. Sheep prefer the dryer tracts. The
valuable fat-tailed sheep is confined to the Kala-Chitta range of
the Attock district and the hill tracts of Shahpur and Jhelum.
In the plains di3tricts little distinction of breed is recognized.
But the best sheep come from Bikanir, Hissar, and the Narnnul
tracts of the Patiala State. These animals are said to be the
largest sheep bred in the Indian plains, and are imported into
Lyallpur and other districts ap country, where they are highly
prized for their wool. Of the Hiraalnya hill sheep those from
Kulu, Mandi, Suket and Sirmur are most esteemed. The sheep
of the Bar and Thai country are very numerous, but inferior in
quality owing to the scanty grazing available.

Sheep are sheared twice a year, in April and October, the
latter shearing being generally the more productive. The average
yearly clip of a plains sheep, varies from one seer in the case of
the Thai and Bar flocks of the Western Punjab, to two seers 'pro-
duced by a Bikanir or Hissar sheep,

A considerable amount of wool is used locally for clothing,
especially in the Western Punjab and in the hills, and some is
taken by the mills at Dhariwal and elsewhere. But a very
large quantity, including the best fleeces, is exported. The most
important markets and centres of export are Multan for the
western districts, Amritsar for the Central Punjab, Fazilka and
Abohar for Hissar, Bikanir and Ferozepur, Rawalpindi and Gujar
Khan for the Rawalpindi and Jhelum districts, and Basal in the
Attock district for the Kala-Chitta range and the Trans-Indus
hill tracts. The wool is usually put upon the markets in a very
dirty state. But some care is bestowed on this important matter
at Gujar Khan and Multan where much cleaner fleeces are brought
in. Prices vary considerably, the average being about Rs. 20
a maund uncleaned, but as much as Rs. 27 a maund hag been
obtained recently. These prices are double those of a few years
ago. Clean wool fetches about three times as much. Cleaning

47

and combing machinery will shortly be installed at Fazilka, and
baling presses are working at Fazilka and Abohar. Undressed
skins fetch from 8 annas to Ke. 1 and are used locally for water
bags, shoes, musical instrument and bags for keeping money,
clothes, flour, etc. The skins are also sold to wandering traders
who collect for the large export trade at Amritsar and other
centres.

The ewe has offspring when about a year old and produces
about five lambs worth about Ks. 2 each in the next three years.
She gives about 6 chittacks of milk a day for four months.
The milk is rich in butter fat and can be made into first class
ghi either by itself or mixed with cow or buffalo milk. The use
of the sheep as a dairy animal is commonest in the Thai. A
full grown ewe costs from Rs. 5 to 10 or double the price, say of ] 5
years ago.

The relative position of sheep and goats has been reversed
in the last five years. In 1904 goats were the more numerous,
there are now more sheep than goats. The number of goats has
decreased in every plains district; only in Attock and in Kulu
has there been any increase. The general decrease is largely
due to the prevalence of disease throughout the Province. An-
other reason is no doubt the spread of cultivation which has
reduced the scrub jungle on which the goat thrives. There
is also a general consensus of opinion that owing to the in-
creasing profits to be made from wool and ghi the sheep is the
more valuable animal. But the goat is hardier and can subsist in
times of drought where other animals fail. It would therefore
be premature to affirm that the decrease in the number of goats
was in any way permanent.

Like sheep goats are most numerous in the south-eastern, -
north-western and western districts. No special breeds are
distinguished, but the goats of Lawa in the Talagang Tahsil, and
of Dajal in the Dera Ghazi Khan are exceptionally good. Goats
like sheep are valued for their dung, especially as manure for to-
bacco. But they do more damage than sheep and are therefore
less welcome. The she-goat bears when a year old producing one
kid or sometimes two in the year. She will produce altogether
7 or 8. She-goats are milked twice a day, and give from 14 to
20 chittacks of milk daily for four months. A good she-goat will
yield as much as 2 or even 3 seers. The price of goat's milk is
rather under 1 anna per seer. The milk sells well as it is sup-
posed to have a medicinal value. A milch goat costs from Rs.
5 to Ks. 15, and the average price of a kid is about Rs. 2-8-0.
These are double the prices of a few years ago. Goats are sheared

48

in the spring and again in the autumn if sufficient hair has
grown. The annual yield of hair is about 4 chittanks for each
goat. As goat's hair fetches about Rs. 10 or Rs. 15 a maund the
value of the hair (jat) is little more than 1 anna for each goat.
The hair is sold to camel meu or banias and is made up into

- ropes, sacks arid mats.

The undressed skins like those of sheep are sold to traders
who collect for the export trade at Amritsar and elsewhere. The
skins are also used locally for shoes and bags. A goat's skin is
rather more valuable than that of a sheep, and fetches from Re.
1 to Re. 1-8-0.

The male stock both of sheep and goacs are largely disposed
| of for meat. The average plains sheep will fetch about Rs. 5 and
the goat about Rs. 6t the butcher making perhaps Rs. 2 in each
case. But the Kulu sheep specially fed for the Simla market
sells for Rs. 8 and the butcher's profit by sale of meat is as much
as Rs. 5.

XX.— ASSISTANCE FROM GOVERNMENT AND
LOCAL BODIES.

The principal forms which Government assistance has
hitherto taken are (1) the cattle-breeding establishment at Hissar,
(2) the free distribution of bulls by the District Boards, (3) the
management of cattle fairs and provision of prizes for good
stock, (4) the grant of taJckavi loans for replacement of agricultural
cattle, and (5) the creation and expansion of the Civil Veterinary
Department.

No mention need be made here of Military Grass and Dairy
Farms as their influence, though undoubtedly of educational value,
is chiefly confined to cantonments.

(I). The Hissar Cattle Farm. — The principal object of the
institution, so far as cattle are concerned, is to provide a good
i animal for transport purposes. Prior to 1902 the class of animal
load in the farm was extremely mixed. Bulls and cows had been
purchased from all parts of India and allowed to breed indiscrimi-
nately. The original local stock had consequently been crossed
with a large admixture of Gujrat and Mysore blood.

Since 1902 the object of the breeding operations has been
to return as far as possible to the local type still characteristic
of the Hissar District. The success has been very great and the
bullock now issued is a powerful animal, possessing great bone

- and extremely symmetrical. The large horns and black colour of
the Gujrat breeds have practically disappeared. This result was

49

attained by judicious purchases of cows in the villages of the district
and the old mongrel stock was gradually eliminated, a large
number of cows and bullocks being sold by auction. The establish,
ment now consists of (a) bulls bred in the farm which conform
to the requirements of the type prevalent in the Hissar-Nagaur
country, (6) cows mostly bred on the farm, possessing the same
characteristics, (d) a few older cows dating from before 1902,
retained because, though themselves are not true to type, their
offspring generally satisfy requirements. The provision of fodder
receives great attention, and the farm since 1902 has been self-
supporting in this respect. The Bir provides grazing in abundance,
and some of the best grass (anjan) is regularly stacked, the seed
being in demand for the Lyallpur Farm and various Regimental
rdkhs in the colonies. The cultivated area provides a sufficient
quantity of gram, and jowar-chari, and nothing is bought from
outside even in the worst years.

Though primarily maintained to meet the demands of the
Government services, the farm also supplies District Boards with
bulls for distribution to zamindars and in special cases complies
with indents from Jamaica, Brazil, and the Dutch colonies in Java.

The Hissar Cattle Farm is controlled by the Inspector-
General, Civil Veterinary Department, and is not a Provincial
Institution.

(2). District Board Bulls : Their maintenance. — The Dis-
trict Boards of the Province undertake the duty of providing free
of charge a certain number of selected bulls in order to improve
the breed of cattle. Until recently these bulls were obtained either
from the Hissar Cattle Farm, or bought locally. The results have
been generally valuable, but mistakes have been made in the past
which have not infrequently produced dissatisfaction among the
people.

The Agricultural Department has endeavoured to guide the
Boards in this matter. Agricultural circular No. 1 * recommends
District Boards to prepare a working plan for the purchase and
distribution of bulls. In most cases this recommendation has not
been translated into action. Bat much good has been done by
enquiries as to the type of bulls suited to particular districts The
Hissar bled bull is no longer distributed indiscriminately in
districts like Shahpur and Jhelum for which the Dhanni variety
is obviously suited, nor in the Bet tracts of the Central Punjab
where a smaller type of bull is required for the stunted cows of
these localities. But no Board appears to have drawn up a definite
scheme of operations.

* See Appendix No, 3,

50

At the same time considerable progress has been made in the
last four years. The District Boards' bulls in 1906 only numbered
256. These are now 472. In the last four years 431 bulls have
been bought, so that allowing for replacements the number has
nearly doubled. In 1906 the Agricultural Department in their
scheme for utilizing the special annual grant of one lakh for veteri-
nary improvements recommended that one bull should be bought
\ for each tahsil every year. Taking the province as a whole this
standard has almost been attained. In somo districts the number
of bulls bought has exceeded the standard, m others owing to the
want of a definite scheme and to difficulties in the matter of
maintenance little has been done. Allowing for the considerable
expenditure which had to be incurred in providing Veterinary
Hospitals District Boards may be said to have fully utilized the
portion of the special grant, allotted for the purchase of balls.
Government have decided to continue the grant of one lakh per
annum and further improvements may be expected.* Much
remains to be done. Ifc is somewhat surprising for instance to
find that there are at present no Government bulls in the Jhelum
Colony. At present little care is taken to trace the effect of the
bulls on the stock of surrounding villages. The attention of the
Boards might be directed towards this important matter.

The District Boards of all districts south of the Sutlej, and
the central districts, Lahore* Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Gujranwala
and Lyallpur, buy their bulls from the Hissar Cattle Farm. The
Hissar bull is specially suited to the uplands of Ferozepur and
Ludhiana where conditions of soil and climate are not too far
removed from those prevailing in Hissar and where the indigenous
cow is not too small. The resulting stock is generally of good
type and commands a very fair price, but it is not to be compared
with the animals Imported direct from Hariana, or the Hariana
\ bullocks reared in the Cis-Sutlej States. It is being recognized
that in the Bet tracts where the cows are stunted the Hissar bull
is not so useful as the Dhanni, and the District Boards of Ferozepur
and Gurdaspur have lately bought a number of Dhanni bulls for
the riverain tracts. It is a common complaint, especially in the
Hariana Districts, that the bulls from the Hissar Cattle Farm pro-
duce sluggish stock far less hardy than the offspring of the
zamindar's own bull. The reason for tbese complaints is to be
found in the history of the Hissar Farm during the last ten years.
Previous to 1900 the Hissar bull was of extremely mixed breeding.
Bulls of all the best Indian breeds had been congregated in the
farm and no attempt had been made to preserve distinctive types.
The result was too often an animal, sometimes powerful enough

* See the recent circular isiued by the Agricultural Department in Appendix No, 4.

51

but hopelessly cross-bred and exhibiting the defects of each type
in a markod degree. These bulls were undoubtedly less hardy
than those of the Hariana breed found in the best villages of
Hissar and Rohtak. Bub since 1 900 the Hissar Farm has endea-
voured to breed as near the Hariana bulls as possible and has in
the main succeeded. In buying from the Hissar Cattle Farm the
District Boards now get a bull of the Hariana type, hardy and
almost entirely free from the defects to which the zamindars take
exception. Apart from the difficulties connected with their keep
and maintenance there can be no doubt that the Hissar bulls are
extremely popular both in Hariana itself and in other central and
southern districts for whicn they are suited. The best animals
in the fairs are generally found to possess a very considerable
strain of the Hissar Cattle Farm bull. The District Boards of
the districts north of the Chenab have of late years distributed
Dhanni bulls, and the western districts bulls bred in Dajal. These
animals are bought locally, usually with the advice of the Civil
Veterinary Department,

Maintenance of District Board Butts. — The Agricultural
Department have refrained from advising the District Boards as
to the maintenance of their bulls, as the policy adopted must
necessarily vary with the conditions prevailing in each district.

In all districts, except in the north-western and western
districts of the Province the bull, after having been stall-fed for
a week or two to induce him to remain in the village, is allowed
to roam with the herds. No special arrangements are made for
his keep but the zaildar and the lambardar of the village are
generally responsible that he remains healthy and does not stray
too far. Complaints are not infrequent that zaildars and lambar-
dars dislike the responsibility of looking after the animal and that
the zamindars grudge the damage to their crops. In parts of the
Jhelum, Rawalpindi and in Montgomery and the western districts
the bull is kept* in the village and the cows brought to him. Some
Boards, notably those of the Rawalpindi and Dera Ghazi Khan
Districts have even paid the zaildar or other person entrusted
with the bull for his fodder and keep. Liberality could go no
further. Under this system there is the risk, if the money is pro-
perly expended of the bull being overfed and too little exercised.
On the other hand the person in charge may take it upon himself
to levy fees or may possibly divert the allowance to his own uses.
In Dera Ghazi Khan the bull entrusted to a zaildar is often neg-
lected. The difference between the breeding arrangements of the
central and southern districts, and those of the northern and
western seems to have been overlooked. Where bulls are privately

52

owned and kept afc stud, as they are in the latter tracts, the
system of making the z<uldar responsible is unsuitable. The
soundest method of encouraging breeding is to provide private
I owners at a reasonable cost with bulls for which they charge fees.
Conditions in the northern and western districts seem most
favourable to such a development of District Board action.

The condition of the district bulls is reported on from time
to time by the staff of the Civil Veterinary Department, and in
some districts the location is changed at more or less regular
intervals. In the worst cases, but not with sufficient frequency
or system, an old or diseased bull is castrated or removed to the
protection of a local gaushala. It must be confessed that hither-
to no District Board has evolved a completely satisfactory
arrangement for the maintenance of bulls, and the absence of
system goes far to lessen the value of the Board's generosity.

It may be noted that the efforts of Government and the

District Boards have been directed solely to the breeding of

v//l draught cattle. No special attention has been devoted to the

improvement or preservation of breeds specially suited for dairy

purposes.

(3). District Board Cattle Fairs. — The benefit which the
cattle trade of the provinces derives from the large fairs has been
already described. These fairs are managed by the District Board
either on behalf of the Provincial Government as contractors, or on

' their own account. A small fee is charged on each sale within the
limits of the fair, and except in a few cases, the Board, after
paying rent to Government and necessary expenses, clears a
considerable balance. The annual profits from cattle fairs usually
exceed the yearly expenditure on District Board bulls. It is
perhaps too much to hope that all these profits should be ear-
marked for the improvement of cattle-breeding, but it would be
only just for the expenditure on such improvements to bear some
relation to the advantage which the District Boards reap fro re the
cattle trade of the Province. Prizes are given at each fair to

| encourage breeding and rearing.

(4). Takkavi. — The arrangements for assisting the replace-

^ ment of agricultural cattle by the grant of taJckavi loans are dealt

with in the Financial Commissioner's Standing Orders. Between

1896 and 1904 Government distributed no less than six lakhs in

5 taMavi loans for agricultural cattle in the Hisaar District alone,

apart from the free grants given for that purpose from charitable

funds. Of this amount large sums were remitted. It is a matter

for consideration whether in view of the large sums expended

51

by Government on takkavi it would not be better to devote more
attention to the preservation of cattle by the storing and importa- f-
tion of fodder.

(5). The Givil Veterinary Department. — The Civil Veterinary
Department of the Punjab consists of a Chief Superintendent and
two Superintendents controlling the operations of 14 Veterinary
Inspectors. A Veterinary Inspector is in charge of 3 or 4 districts,
to each of which are posted a Veterinary Assistant for the hospital
in each tahsil and an itinerating Veterinary Assistant. This
establishment is fully occupied with the prevention and cure ofr
disease and with horse, mule and donkey breeding in districts
outside the operations of the Remount Department. Their assist-
ance in the matter of cattle-breeding is most valuable. But the
staff, especially in the higher grades, is at present inadequate for
the important work allotted to it, and extremely small compared
with the establishments of the Remount and Army Veterinary
Department.

Initiative and executive action in matters of cattle-breeding
rest with the District Boards, which are advised on technical
points by the officers of the Civil Veterinary Department, The
diaries and inspection notes of these officers are full of valuable
suggestions as regards cattle-breeding, which might with advantage
be followed up with greater energy by the District Boards.

XXI.— SUGGESTIONS FOR ACTION BY GOVERNMENT
AND LOCAL BODIES.

(1) Development of the Givil Veterinary Department. — Govern-
ment has for some years considered the question of providing a
cattle-breeding depot in the Northern Punjab, which would be for
that part of the province what the Hissar Cattle Farm is for
the south, a centre for the breeding of first class cattle on
scientific lines. A project has been drawn up for such a dep6t
in the Jhelum colony, and fts. 1,20,000 were actually sanctioned
with that object. But the scheme is at present in abeyance, the
chief objection being the unsuitability of any site in an irrigated
tract. As an alternative it has been suggested that a cattle-
breeding dep6t might be established by the Kot Estate in the
Futtehjang tahsil of the At took District which is at present under
the Court of Wards. But however desirable it may be to encourage
wealthy landowners to conduct the breeding operations in their
large herds on scientific principles (an important point which
will be dealt with later on), the difficulty in the case of an estab-
lishment situated in a private estate would be to secure con-
tinuity of action when the estate was no longer under the Court
of Wards. Tho most reasonable proposal would seem to be to

54

treat the whole Dhanni-Potwar tract as a selected breeding
ground forming the separate charge of a Superintendent of tho
Civil Veterinary Department working as regards cattle-breeding
under the Deputy Commissioners of the districts concerned.
His duties in addition to the supervision of measures for dealing
with cattle disease and veterinary hospitals would be to collect in-
formation as to the villages where the best cattle of the valuable
Dhanni-Potwar type are bred, to assist the people with advice in
technical matters connected with breeding and to direct the
distribution of bulls and the provision and, if necessary, the
importation of fodder in times of scarcity. To prevent the increase
in the number of touring and inspecting officers the Super-
intendent could take over the duties of the Transport Registration
Officer for this tract.

This plan would have the advantage of economy. No
expensive buildings and recurring expenditure on upkeep would
be required. The appointment would be merely a stage in the
development of the Civil Veterinary Department, a department
thoroughly popular with the people and admittedly under-staffed.
The necessity of a Superintendent for each Division has been
already represented to Government. It is not necessary to repeat
the recommendations of the district authorities of Hissar as to
the necessity for a Superintendent of the Civil Veterinary Depart-
ment specially deputed to the Hariana tract with his headquarters
at Hissar. His duties would be similar to those assigned above
to the officer posted to the Dhanni-Potwar tract. His attention
would be even more markedly directed to the provision of fodder
in time of scarcity.

As has been pointed out the valuable breed of Sahiwal milch
cattle is already being diminished by continual export, and with the
extension of canal irrigation in the Montgomery district is likely to
decline still further both in quality and numbers. The Deputy
Commissioner of Montgomery has submitted a proposal to lease
200 acres to a zamindar as a stud farm for the breed, and the
scheme had been sanctioned by Government. The conditions of
the lease are that at least 200 cows shall be kept up, no bulls
introduced that have not been approved by Government authority,
and that any of the produce can be claimed for Government at
prices to be fixed by the Deputy Commissioner. If the experiment
proves successful the system might be extended. But there is
always the difficulty of enforcing conditions of this kind if, as is
only too likely, the lessee is tempted by the profits of cultivation to
bring more and more land under the plough. The Montgomery dis-
trict and adjoining tracts really require the attention of a

Superintendent of the Civil Veterinary Department no less than
the breeding grounds of flissar and Chakwal.

There is perhaps less urgency for similar arrangements in
the Dera Ghazi Khan district but the matter should not be lost
sight of.

(ii). — District Board Bulls.

The provision of good bulls will always remain the principal
field for District Board action with regard to cattle-breeding. As
has been pointed out above, with the improvement of the class of
bull now turned out from the Hissar Cattle Farm, the quality of the
bulls provided by District Boards cannot be gainsaid. Their dis-
tribution requires more attention than it obtains at present. In
every district localities will be found with sufficient grazing facili-
ties, where the climate has not been spoilt by excessive irrigation.
In such centres it might be possible to build up an excellent breed
if a number of bulls were stationed there and the resulis carefully
watched. The excellence of the cattle near Keri and Jehazgarh in
the Rohtak District is due to the efforts of a Nawab of Jhajjar,
who. some 80 years ago, imported a number of Nagor bulls and
placed them in the villages near Jhajjar, In the villages of the
old Skinner Estate a similar course was followed. The Dajal
breed in Dera Ghazi Khan owes its reputation to steady importa-
tions of Bhagnari bulls into the villages of the neighbourhood of
Dajal. It is understood that the District Board of Lahore con-
template action in this direction, and this example might well be
followed in other districts.

The difficulties experienced in arranging for the maintenance
of these bulls arise very largely from the fact that the bulls are pro-
vided free of charge. The zamindars of the villages where they
are stationed having incurred no expense in procuring the bulls are
only remotely concerned in caring for what they consider the pro-
perty of the Board. The Civil Veterinary officers point out that far
better results would be obtained and the animals would be far
better cared for if the bulls, which at present are turned loose to
wander with the herds and are owned by no one in
particular, were the property of individuals who were interest-
ed in securing fees for the bull's services. As has been
mentioned, the practice of individuals charging fees for their
bull's services is extremely rare, and only found in except-
tional cases in Chakwal. It has been suggested to prosperous
agricultural co-operative credit societies that the purchase of bulls
would be a profitable outlet for their superfluous funds. The
answer has always been that so long as the District Board
provides bulls free of charge, there is no reason why co-operative
credit societies should pay for them. This answer provides as

good an argument as any in favour of the proposal that in
future the District Board should cease to provide the whole
cost of the bull. It would no doubt be undesirable for the
District Board to withdraw from all participation in a most
popular enterprise. But there is no reason why the yearly
allotment should not be made to go twice as far as it does by
restricting the District Board's share in the cost of bulls provided
for selected villages or co-operative credit societies to one half.

In this way the villages would be brought to some sense of

i responsibility in the matter of the bull's maintenance, while the

District Board bearing half the cost would still be in a position to

impose conditions as to the inspection of the bull and his produce

by Veterinary officers,

(Hi). — Improvement rf village breeding.

The present high prices of cereals and the lack of grazing
grounds restrict the numbers of cattle which the zamindar is dis-

X* posed to breed. But if the number of animals cannot be increased
efforts should at least be made to improve their quality. The bulls
provided by the District Board, even if their number is increased
by the adoption of the proposals made in the preceding paragraph,
will always remain the smaller proportion of the bulls which the
province requires. The improvement of the ordinary bull,
whether provided by the village community or dedicated by the
pious Hindu, is a matter to which attention must be devoted.
Where the zamindar is alive to the profits to be obtained from
stock breeding efforts are already being made. In Rohtak the

x zamindars select their bulls with great care, but complain of the
inferior animals let loose by banias in towns and large villages.
Even in Gujranwala, where cattle-breeding receives no special
attention, the Deputy Commissioner reports that zamindars have
refused offers of inferior bulls which rich Hindus proposed to let
loose in the name of charity. In Hissar a scheme initiated by
Major Farmer of the Government Cattle Farm met with some
success. The object of this scheme was to enlist the sympathy of
charitable Hindus in the improvement of cattle, and to this end the
District Board agreed to pay, as far as funds permitted, a portion
of the price of a Government bred bull, if the other portion was
forthcoming from private sources, the bull being then loosed in
• the names of private contributors. This arrangement appealing
as it does to the religious feelings of the Hindu community should
be capable of development and is well worth a general trial. The
Townsend Agricultural Society of Hissar, though at present de-
voting its attention to the encouragement of camel- breeding, con-
tains members who are generally active in getting rid of bad bulls

n out of their zails and villages. With regard to this important

57

question Mr. Townsend remarks : " It is hard to see how banias
and other Hindus can be prevei^ted from letting loose such bad
animals till a more healthy public opinion grows up. I do not
think legislation would do any good ; the zamindar would pro-
bably welcome it, but the Brahmin and Bania would oppose it
very strongly as interfering with their religious ceremonies."

Mr. Dunnett, the Settlement Officer of Ludhiana, makes the
useful suggestion that the donor of one or two really good bulls
might be recognized and rewarded in the same way as the builder
of a sarai or a roadside well.

The example of the Townsend Agricultural Society of Hissar
in endeavouring to remove unsuitable bulls deserves to be followed
throughout the Province- The working out of a scheme for the
improvement of cattle-breeding which would include the removal of
undesirable animals as well as the provision of new bulls might
be entrusted to a strong sub-committee of each District Board.
Working on a carefully considered plan this sub-committee might
be trusted to arrange for the supply and control of bulls provided
wholly or in part by District Board funds. They would direct
the distribution of the animals and see that they were properly
cared for, and would also arrange for the removal of unsuitable
sires. They would also encourage charitable persons to provide
animals only of approved quality.

In order to arrange for the removal of the inferior animals afc
present only too frequent throughout the central and south-eastern
districts, recourse may be had to castration where it is not object-
ed to. But the numerous gaushalas throughout the country never
refuse any animals which are sent to them, and would no doubt
welcome the prospect of assisting the improvement of cattle, by
receiving worn out or inefficient bulls. Some of these institutions,
notably those maintained by Rai Sahib Ram Gopal at Sirsa and
in his estate in Bikanir, are very well managed. Proper accounts
are kept, and in most years the income exceeds the expenditure.
The institutions have a good balance in hand and the Rai Sahib
expressed himself strongly in favour of a proposal to keep good
cattle apart from the infirm in separate herds.

(fo). — Improvements in breeds of Milch Cattle.

The necessity for preserving the valuable herds of Sahiwal
cattle has already been dwelt on, and suggestions put forward for
ensuring that a fair proportion of the land distributed on the new
Canals is reserved for grazing. The proposal of the Deputy Com-
missioner, Montgomery, to lease land as a breeding dep6t for
Sahiwal cows has been alluded to. The Deputy Commissioner of
Lyallpur has a plan for supplying Sahiwal bulls to the Gujars in

58

Lyallpur and other colony towns, and trying to get them to rear
female calves at any rate. At present the Gujars neglect the young
stock of their valuable cows and do not allow even the female
calves to have much milk. The example of the Deputy
Commissioner of Lyallpur might be followed in Amritsar, Lahore
and other large towns where the Gujars who provide the milk
| supply are draining the Montgomery breed of its best cows, with-
out attempting to replace them. A certain amount of assistance in
this direction might be afforded by such institutions as the Lahore
Central Jail which are obliged to keep up large herds of cows. At
present these herds are of a nondescript character, but with a little
care it should not be difficult to preserve a herd of the pure
Montgomery strain. The Aitchison College authorities who main-
tain a small herd are making efforts in this direction.

(v). — Buffalo-breeding.

The breeding of buffaloes has not hitherto received much
attention from the District Boards or the Civil Veterinary
Department, nor have Deputy Commissioners made any sug-
gestions on this head in their present reports. Buffalo bulls are
kept by individuals who charge fixed fees for service. This is
the system which it is desirable to introduce in the case of cattle-
breeding, and therefore any attempts on the part of District
Boards to provide buffalo bulls should be deprecated. The Deputy
Commissioner notes that the District Board of Gujrat had some
such scheme under contemplation and it is satisfactory to see that
he is reconsidering the proposal. At the same time the attention of
the Civil Veterinary department can be directed towards observing
the quality of buffalo sires working in districts, and to indicating
improvements where such suggest themselves.

(ui).— Assistance /row large landowners.

The Punjab being essentially a province of self-cultivating
proprietors, the number of wealthy landlords owning large estates
is comparatively limited. But the Maliks of the north- western
districts, the Biluch chiefs, the wealthy zamindars of Montgomery,
the Sirdars of Ludhiana, Ambala and Karnal, and the Nawabs of
the Karnal District are all interested in cattle-breeding and
maintain large herds and extensive grazing grounds which yield
them considerable profit. Their cattle, however, are generally
somewhat heterogeneous. If these gentlemen can be induced to
transform what are at present mere collections of cattle into
herds of definite types bred on scientific principles, it would
undoubtedly be a most profitable undertaking both for themselves
and the province at large. Most of these landowners are
themselves expert cattle masters and it should not be difficult to

-

59

persuade them to specialize in the breeds suited to the country in
which their lands are situated. Hitherto they have received encourage-
ment principally in the matter of horse-breeding, but when once
their attention is directed to the importance and profits of scienti-
fic cattle-breeding they may be expected to enter upon it with
enthusiasm. Courts of Wards have expended large sum in starting
stud farms for horse-breeding, few of which have obtained perma-
nent success. Cattle-breeding is a less costly pursuit, and with
reasonably good management should be far more profitable than
horse-breeding. The Civil Veterinary Department would no
doubt gladly assist with expert advice if required.

(vit).— Improvement of the milk supply.

The Deputy Commissioner of Jhelum suggests that if District
Boards can afford the initial outlay, they should start model dairy
farms, and urges the importance of giving the people an object
lesson in scientific dairying. But if an object lesson is all that is
required the Military Dairy Farms at Lahore, Ambala and Rawal-
pindi already provide the very best instruction in modern dairy,
ing methods; and the Military authorities, it is believed, would
be prepared to show these arrangements to duly accredited
visitors. The Director of Agriculture could no doubt arrange
for persons interested in starting dairy farms in civil stations to
inspect the Military Dairy Farms, or even for a course of instruc-
tion. As has been stated private ventures of this kind already
exist in Lahore, Delhi and other places. The development of
this class of industry for the population in civil stations may well
be left to private enterprise.

But, although it may be unnecessary for Government to
embark on further expenditure in the shape of model dairy farms,
there are departments of Government to whom such institutions
are almost necessities. For instance, the large and yearly in-
creasing Railway colony in Lahore might well be catered for
by a dairy run on the same lines as the military dairy farms.
The milk could be collected at centres, say in the Montgomery
or Lyallpur districts, asd separated on the spot, the cream
railed into Lahore, and made up into butter, in the same way as
the Ambala cantonment is supplied with cream for butter-mak-
ing from collecting centres in the Karnal district. The milk
supply would need to be arranged for by a dairy farm in the
vicinity of Lahore on the same lines as the dairy farm in Lahore
cantonments. Besides the North Western Railway, other Go-
vernment institutions such as the Mayo Hospital, the Central
Jail and the Aitchison College are all interested in the supply
of pure milk, it would appear that there is as much, if not more

66

reason for a large Government dairy in Lahore as in any can-
tonment.

The establishment of dairy farms on European lines cannot
be regarded as a remedy for the present unsatisfactory state
of the milk supplies to cities and towns. The demands of the
Indian population are for pure milk and pure ghi. Only a
very small proportion of the Indian community consume butter
of the kind which is prepared in European dairies. It would no
doubt be possible to manufacture ghi in large factories. But
there would be no advantage in starting competition of this kind
with a prosperous home industry.

The worst features of the present conditions are the insani-
tary conditions under which the milk trade is carried on, the
extent to which both milk and ghi are adulterated, and the pro-
fit which the zamindar loses from want of co-operation in the
production and sale of ghi. For the first defect unfortunately no
remedy by import from any considerable distance can be hoped
for. The supply of milk from any distance above 10 or 15
miles on a scale large enough to provide for the wants of Lahore
or Amritsar would be a most hazardous operation especially in the
hot weather. Even were it possible to place the milk on the railway
no facilities are at present afforded by the Railway adminis-
trations in the shape of trains specially fitted for milk traffic.

It remains, therefore, to encourage a supply of pure milk
produced under sanitary conditions in the neighbourhood of, but
outside cities and towns. It is believed that the Deputy Com-
missioner of Lahore has endeavoured to start model milk shops
in Lahore, and the idea is worthy of all encouragement. If small
capitalists can be found willing to start milk shops and to take
this supply only from dairy men who are prepared to supply
milk produced under sanitary conditions so much the better.
The chief difficulty which will present itself is the uncertainty
of a demand for pure milk at a somewhat higher price. To meet
this Government might assist by inducing Government institutions
such as jails and hospitals (in default of a Civil Dairy farm) to
obtain their supplies from those shops which were prepared to
deal in unadulterated and uncontaminated dairy produce. The
ordinary custom might be expected to follow in course of time.
The Railway authorities might help by granting favourable
rates to those dairymen whose premises and methods had been
approved by the sanitary authorities of the Municipality, and
the Municipality might remit the octroi dues in the case of such
persons.

61

(viii). — Co-operative dairying.

The successful co-operative credit society in rural tracts, as
has been already noted, is not slow to recognize the profits to
be derived from engaging in the cattle trade. It would also
appear that such societies are quite ready to devote their surplus
funds to breeding cattle for their own use or for sale, if free
distribution of bulls by the District Boards is discontinued. Their
attention might also be devoted to the profit which may be ex-
pected from co-operative dealing in dairy produce. The successful
experience of similar undertakings in Ireland and the profits
made in the milk and ghi trade throughout the province fully
justify a recommendation that prosperous societies should embark
in the business of co-operative dairying.

As regards the milk trade it has been shown in the last
paragraph that milk cannot be supplied to any centre from
outside a radius of more than 10 or at the most 15 miles.
The co-operative movement has had its chief success at a greater
distance than this from important cities and towns, and it is
desirable that such enterprises as cattle breeding and dairying
should be grafted on to existing societies which have already
prospered rather than societies should be formed for these special
objects. But many villages near cities and townn really depend
quite as much on market gardening or dairying as on ordinary
agriculture and there is no reason why in the case of these villages
co-operative credit societies should not be based on what is, after
all, their principal industry. In the previous paragraph the
conditions necessary for improvement of the milk supply have
been discussed from the point of view of the small capitalist. If
co-operative societies enter the field they might reasonably expect
to obtain the same assistance from Government in the shape of
a guaranteed certainty of custom for their improved, but more
costly, produce. It is possible however that a well developed
co-operative sj stem, by cuttinor down the excessive profits of the
middleman might result in the supply of improved produce with
no greater expense to the city consumer. It is believed that
the Registrar of Co-operative Credit Societies considers these
proposals favourably and is prepared to undertake experiments
in such trading.

In the case of the ghi trade the question of distance
does not arise. Most villages engage in the business and it
should therefore be easy to find existing societies ready to add
trade in ghi to their other activities. It should not be a difficult
matter to arrange for the collection of the ghi and for the sharing
of the profits in the proportion of the amount contributed by

each member. The business part of the undertaking will present
more difficulty, and expert management will be required to trans-
port the ghi from the collecting centres to the railway and to
place it on the market. The details of working must be left
to the Registrar of Co-operative Credit Societies, who is understood
to be considering these suggestions.

(la). — Improvement in breeds of sheep and qoats.
Hitherto little action has been taken towards the improvement
of the breed of sheep and goats. From time to time the sheep
of the country have been crossed with imported strains, but
there has been hardly any perceptible effects on the general
stock. But as the officers of the Civil Veterinary Depart-
ment obtain more and more knowledge of their charge, further
efforts will no doubt be made. The recent introduction of merino
rams into the Kulu flocks should result in great improvement
in the fleece of hill sheep. In the plains much good can be
effected by systematic selection of good rams suited to the climate.
The merits of the Bikanir and Hissar sheep are already appre-
ciated in the districts further north, and District Boards might
give further encouragement to the improvement of the breed
by a judicious distribution of good Bikanir rams to suitable
persons. The Hissar sheep were themselves much improved by
the encouragement given to sheep breeding in the villages of
the old Skinner Estate. Similar action could be undertaken in
the case of goats.

(*). — Cattle and shtep fairs.

The need for cattle fairs in the Ambala district, at Gujar
Khan in the Rawalpindi district, in the Jhelum colony, and
generally in the Western districts has been mentioned by district
officers and has already been alluded to. At present few sheep
fairs are held, either separately or in connection with cattle fairs.
But it would appear that a sheep fair at Fazilka in the Ferozepore
district or at Basal in the Attock district would have considerable
prospects of success and would be both useful to traders and
profitable to the District Board. * Another suitable place for a
sheep fair would(be Gujar Khan, and the existing fairs at Abohar,
Amritsar, Hissar, Bhiwani and other places might be extended
so as to include sheep and goats. Prizes for sheep and goats
might also be included in the prize lists issued by District Boards
on these occasions.

XXII.— SUMMARY.

The conclusions arrived at in the previous chapters may be
briefly summarized,

63

(i) Bullocks.

The demand for draught cattle has largely increased in the
last 20 years owing to the spread of cultivation. (Chapter II). •
This increased demand has been met, but only by pressing every
class of animal into service. The increasing use- of the male
buSalo for draught is evidence of the difficulty felt in meet-
ing the demand. The number of draught animals is not much
greater than it was 15 years ago, but the animals kept are
more efficient. Grazing grounds are becoming more and more
contracted, and the farmer cannot afford to keep old and worn
out stock, which can be readily disposed of to traders. The
problem of adjusting supply and demand will be greatly facili-
tated, if, as seems probable, the use of labour-saving machinery
is widely adopted. The number of bullocks required can be
reduced by more efficient ploughs, cultivations and harrows.
Improvements in well machinery, which may be resonably
expected, would also mean a considerable saving of bullock power.

Prices have practically doubled in the last 15 or 20 years
partly owing to the increased demand and partly to the success-
ion of bad years between 1896 and 1906 which depleted the
sources of supply (Chapter XVI). Nevertheless the profits of
agriculture are so great that the zamindar of the highly culti-
vated districts prefers to pay a long price for imported stock
rather than face the very considerable difficulty of conserving
grazing grounds and breeding his own stock (Chapter VIII). In "
highly cultivated districts cattle of a kind continue to be bred
locally, but the main sources of supply are the breeding centres
of Hariana, the Potwar Dhanni tract and Sind (Chapter VI). Of
these centres the first is liable to suffer from drought, and the
second is threatened with depletion owing to reckless export.
If the quality and quantity of the stock bred in these centres can
be maintained a further rise in prices may possibly be prevented.
The two essential points to which attention should be directed are: —

(1) the appointment of special officers to Hariana and the

Potwar Dhanni tract to obtain information as to the
villages in which the best cattle are bredj io direct
breeding operations, and assist the people with expert
advice. (Chapters XIII and XXI (i),

(2) the storage and import of fodder in bad seasons so as

prevent the loss of valuable stock by forced sale in
time of drought. (Chapter XIII).

It is probably impossible to breed more animals in highly
cultivated districts under present conditions. But the quality of

64

the stock can be improved by the judicious distribution of good
bulls by district boards. The people should be encouraged to
bear some part of the cost of the animals provided. The experiment
of attaching a number ot bulls to villages well situated as regards
climate and grazing deserves attention. The most satisfactory
system of maintaining stud bulls is that they should be owned
either by co-operative societies or by individuals, and that fees
should be charged for their service. Under such a system the
present difficulties of maintenance will disappear (Chapter XXI ii).
The class of bulls provided by private individuals at present
is capable of much improvement. Villages should be encouraged,
to refuse gifts of bulls which fail to reach a proper standard
Rewards and sanads should be freely given to individuals who
present really good bulls for the use of the public. Efforts should
be made to eliminate worn out and unsuitable sires which should
either be castrated or made over to the local gaushala. The
distribution and management of the bulls of a district should be
entrusted to a strong sub-committee of the District Board
(Chapter XXI ii and Hi).

(ii)—Gows and Buffaloes.

In breeding districts the number of cows is satisfactory and
may be expected to increase largely with a succession of good
years. If adequate arrangements are made for fodder supply in
years of drought, it may be hoped that the numbers will not in
future be subject to the sudden fluctuations which have been so
unfortunate a feature of the recent droughts.

In highly cultivated districts breeding receives little atten-
tion, and, as the buffalo is more profitable as a dairy animal, the
number of cows tends to decrease (Chapter XI).

The valuable breed of milch cattle in Montgomery is drawn
upon to such an extent that it is in danger of extinction. In
distributing land on the new canal the question of providing fully
adequate grazing reserves should be considered, as well as the ad-
visability of special rates for irrigating lands which are intended as
permanent pasture. In view of the experiment recently undertaken
by the Deputy Commissioner of Montgomery in leasing land as
| a breeding dep6t for cows of the Sahiwal type tbe grant of lands
on special terms for this puropose should be considered in dis-
tributing the area to be irrigated by new canals. (XI ii and XIII).

The attention of Deputy Commissioners should be directed to
the efforts now being made in Lyallpur to induce cow-keepers to
» pay more attention to their young stock (XXI iv).

The increase in the number of buffaloes throughout the
province is one of the features of present agricultural conditions.

65

This animal thrives and breeds for the cow in tracts where grazing
is scarce and stall feeding has to be resorted to. The dairying
profits of a buffalo are much greater than those of a cow (XI ii
and XVI).

Buffalo breeding appears to be proceeding on sound lines,
but may receive attention from District Boards, and the Civil
Veterinary Department (IX and XXIV)«

(Hi). — Dairying.

The development of dairies for the supply of civil stations
conducted on the same lines as Military Dairy Farms may be left
to private enterprise. There is, however, evidently room for a
Government dairy farm in Lahore to supply the Railway Colony, or
provide for the wants of the hospitals and jails.

The milk supply to the Indian population of towns and cities
is highly unsatisfactory. The conditions under which milch animals
are housed and fed both inside and outside the cities are most in-
sanitary. Efforts should be made to remove the cow-keepers from
cities. These efforts must, of course, be very gradual so as not to
arouse opposition. Owing to the difficulty of transport from a dis-
tance the tnilk supply must be drawn from a radius of not more
than 10 miles. Within these limits the production of milk under
sanitary conditions can be managed by remissions of octroi and _
such like concessions to dairymen whose premises are considered
sanitary.

The conditions under which milk is hawked about the streets
and sold in shops is also unsatisfactory. Model shops should be
encouraged by guaranteeing all the custom which Government
can give them in order to start the undertaking (XXI vii).

Some assistance may be expected from co-operative effort ^
(XVI and XXI viii).

The manufacture of ghi is an established Lome industry which
it would be inadvisable to disturb by any further organization.
The profits of the ghi trade are very considerable. Co-operative
action may be recommended in order to ensure the zamindars -
receiving their due share of the profits from their produce (XV
ii and XXI vii and viii)*

(iv). — The cattle trade.

The cattle trade is fully developed ; and in need of no as-
sistance from Government. The demand of the export trade in
hides clears off large numbers of useless and worn out cattle and -
the zamindar is beginning to take a share of these profits. If
however the zamindar kept more of his young stock he would be
less dependent on import, but with diminishing grazing this de- -
velopment is not likely to take place (XIV, XVII, XVIII).

66
(v).— The Civil Veterinary Department.

The superior grades are obviously understaffed, and two
more Superintendents are urgently required, one for the North
Punjab, to enable special attention to be given to the Potwar
Dhanni tract, and one for the South Punjab, to be stationed at
Hissar to devote similar attention to the Hariana breeding grounds
(XIII and XXI i).

(vi). — The co-operative movement.

Existing co-operative credit societies should be encouraged
to buy their bullocks direct from breeders and not from dealers,
and thus save the system of purchase by instalments aud the
very large prices charged in lieu of interest (XIV it).

They should be encouraged to buy bulls of their own and take
up breeding themselves (XXI ii).

Their attention should also be directed to the profits likely
to be obtained from co-operative dealing in ghi* Co-operative
societies for the supply of milk might be formed in the neighbour-
hood of large towns (XXI viii).

(vii). — Miscellaneous.

Attention should be paid to sheep breeding, the animal being
valuable for both wool and ghi. Goats are less important but should
not be neglected (XIX). New cattle fairs are required in certain
localities : at centres where the wool trade is important sheep
fairs should be started or combined with existing cattle fairs.
XXIII.— CONCLUSION.

Deputy Commissioners and Settlement Officers throughout
the Province have evinced great interest in the enquiry, and
have assisted the officer deputed to write the report in every
possible way. Specially good reports were received Aom Lyallpur,
Hissar, Gurgaon, Delhi, Ludhiana, Gurdaspur, Montgomery ; also
from Amritsar, Rawalpindi, Attock and Multan. Almost every
matter or suggestion of value outside the district reports and even
many points in district reports, must be attributed to Major
Walker, Chief Superintendent of the Civil Veterinary Department
of the Province and to Major Farmer of the Hissar Cattle Farm.
These officers have placed their experience unreservedly at the
disposal of the writer, and have helped him throughout with
criticism and instruction. A report on this subject should naturally
have been written by an officer of the Civil Veterinary Department,
and the fact that these officers are far 'too busy to undertake
such work forms one more argument in support of the necessity
for augmenting the Veterinary staff of the Province. The
Director of Agriculture has throughout the enquiry given :the
writer the benefit of his advice and criticism.

A. M. STOW.
October 1910.

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APPENDIX No. 2.

SYNOPSIS OF DISTRICT REPORTS ON THE CATTLE TRADE OF THE

PUNJAB.

BULLOCKS, Cows AND BUFFALOES.

(a) Exporting tracts. — Tracts in which cattle are bred for sale. By
what classes breeding is carried on. Status and condition of professional
graziers. Breeds of cattle. Arrangements for bulls. Arrangements for
grazing and feeding. Method of disposal of stock and destination. Range
of prices. Present prices compared with prices in past years. Profits of
breeding. Increase or decrease in breeding in recent years and causes.

(6) Importing tracts.— Tracts into which cattle are imported. Tracts
from which obtained and breeds. Means by which imported (itinerant
traders or fairs). Range of prices. Present prices compared with prices
in recent years. Are purchases from cattle dealers generally for cash or
on credit ? If on credit, what are the usual terms ? If a fair is held in the
district, statistics should be given showing the tracts from which cattle are
brought, the approximate number, and the sales under each head.

NOTE — (») Bullocks and cows and (u) male and cow buffaloes should be dealt with separately
as in ^ a) and (6).

(c) Home "breeding. — Any extension of the practice by agriculturists of
breeding cattle for their own use. Probability of further extension with ruling
high prices. Sufficiency of grazing facilities. Possibility of expansion of
grazing grounds or of more extentsive production of fodder crops if grazing
facilities are inadequate. Quality of the cattle locally bred as compared with
cattle bought from graziers. Local arrangements for bulls and suggestions
for improvement.

(d) Dairying. — Localities in which dairying is carried on and to what
extent. Class of dairy animals. In what form produce is marketed. Cattle
foods. Yield of milk. Profits of dairying. Recent increase in prices of
dairy produce. Expansion if any of dairying in recent years and causes.

(e) Supply of farm cattle, — Adequacy of supply of cattle for agricultural
purposes. Is it considered that there has been any improvement or
deterioration in quality in recent years ? Suitability of the male stock of the
best milch cattle for agricultural purposes.

(f) Grazing grounds. — The extent and the character of the grazing
grounds belonging (i) to Government and (ii) to private individuals. To
what extent are they utilised and what developments if any are possible
to maintain or extend the cattle-breeding industry, or to make the maximum
provision for scarcity years ?

(g) Fodder. — Methods of conserving fodder. Their cost and efficacy
and how far resorted to. Is fodder generally 'sufficient in seasons of short
rainfall ? If rot, in what tracts is there a serious deficiency, and how is the
shortage usually met ? \Vhat steps appear practicable to lessen the shortage

n bad seasons ?

(h) The trade in hides and "bones. — Description. Receipts on account
of the sale of hides and bones.

Vll

GOATS.

IrOATS.

(t) Tracts in which goats are kept and to what extent. Recent increase
or decrease in the number of goats and causes. Facilties for goat keeping.
For what purposes kept. Present receipts and profits compared with those
in previous years.

SHEEP.
(7) As for goats.

APPENDIX NO. 3.

AGRICULTURAL CIRCULAR No. 1.

STUD CATTLE.

1. A working plan should be framed for each district fixing the type
A working plan to of bul1 to be suPPlied> tne number to be purchased

be framed for the annually and the standard scale to be maintained, and
regular supply of this programme should be carefully adhered to, subject
bulls' to such revision as may be dictated by experience.

Success in the improvement of agricultural stock will depend largely on
systematic and sustained action. In deciding on the type of bull needed,
the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, should be consulted.
Each district must be taken on its merits and, in some cases, certain local-
ities within districts require different breeds. In framing a programme,
the efficient life of a bull may be assumed to be 7 or 8 years.

2. Stud-bred bulls for breeding can be obtained by District Officers

from the Government Cattle Farm at Hissar on annual -
a8?*?5? ?vsnpply indent. I| may be accepted that bulls from Hissar are
generally suitable for the Bouthern districts of the
Province.

3. Indents for bulls supplied by the Hissar Cattle Farm must be in

, form A annexed. They should be submitted to the
taining6 bulls^from Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, by the
the Hissar Cattle 1st of September in each year, and, except in special
Farm, cases, no attention will be paid to indents received late.

The Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, will forward a consoli-
dated indent to the officer in charge of the Hissar Cattle Farm. He will
also proceed in due course to the cattle farm, inspect the bulls available,
and allot them to the various districts. A copy of the consolidated indent
will be sent to the Director of Agriculture, with a note as to the number
of bulls actually supplied to each district.

4. Bulls will be supplied by the Hissar Cattle Farm at a fixed rate
Payment for bulls of KB- 20° eaclL- Payment should be made to the

supplied from the Superintendent of the farm immediately on the receipt
Hissar farm. of a \){\]t

5. Where Hissar bulls are not suitable, or are not available in

sufficient numbers, Local Bodies should make their own
i ^chase of I*1?8 arrangements for purchase. It should be easy to obtain

the small number of bulls required annually by purchase N
in the villages or at fairs through a select committee of experienced
agriculturists, of which it is advisable that the Veterinary Inspector of

Tiii

the Division should be a member. Bulls obtained in this way will not
be quite as good as stud-bred bulls, but they will be far above the ordinary
class of sire, and will be of immense benefit to the agricultural community.
The Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, will be prepared to
render any assistance in his power, but if he is asked to make purchases
he should be given ample notice and furnished with information as to the
kind of animal required, and the price, as well as with funds. Where
young bulls purchased locally are not old enough for stud work, that is,
when they are under 3J years, Deputy Commissioners can doubtless arrange
for their care and upkeep for a year or two.

6. The arrangements required for the management and care of bulls
Arrangements for differ according to localities concerned. Generally, the

the care of bulls for system of letting a bull loose in a certain tract under
breeding. the supervision of some trustworthy person answers

very well. Where this system is objected to on the ground of injury to
the crops or of exposure to severe cold in winter, it should be possible to
arrange to keep the animal under some restraint in the village at the
common expense for such time as his services are required, and to send
him on from village to village. The question of management is one which
each District Board must settle for itself. In all cases, however, a bull
should be in charge of some responsible person who should undertake to
see that the aniinal is kept in good condition and has regular exercise, is
not allowed to cover an excessive number of cows, and is placed at the
disposal of the public for their cows free of charge. The practice of placing
stud-bulls in charge of syces is objectionable. Bulls should be branded, and
should be transferred to other parts of the district every two years.

7. A register should be maintained in form B. in the District Board
Re *ster of bulls Office, of all District Board bulls serving in the district,

showing the date of reception, the breed, age, physical
marks, place of standing, person in charge and general arrangements.
The register should be written up whenever there is a change of stand,
and brief notes should also be made from time to time as to the general results
of coverings, etc. Any additions, casualties or transfers should be communi-
cated without delay to the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department.

8. Unserviceable bulls from age or otherwise

•DiS08hlSf UnSer' 8hould be sold bv auction under the orders of the

vice a ble bulls. r\ it

Collector.

9. All bulls will be inspected regularly by the officers and sub-
Inspection by the ordinates °f the Civil Veterinary Department. The

officers of the Civil Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, of the
Veterinary Depart- Circle will forward such reports and recommendations
ment< as he may consider necessary to the Deputy Commis-

sioner. He has power to condemn bulls, when they should be disposed
of aa in the preceding paragraph. Veterinary Assistants may be required
to treat any stud-bull that may be sick.

10. The sanction of Government has been accorded to the establish-

•p + w v h /vf . ment of a bull-breeding farm at Sargodha, and it is
Establishment of a ., _ », „ ° »

bull-breeding farm proposed to take up the Salt Range breed (Dhani),
at Sargodha for the which is suitable for the Northern districts. But it
Northern Punjab. will not be possible to begin issues from the Sargodha
farm until 191 lor 1912.

Form A. Distriot.

INDENT FOB STUD-BRED BULLS REQUIRED FROM THE

HISSAR CATTLE FARM.

1

2

3

Number of Hissar bulls at
present in the district.

Number now indented
for.

EemarTca.

Note -^nether any local prejudices exist
in regard to colour, special marking,
etc., and if the local breed is large,
medium or small.

-v
I

N.B.— This indent should reach the office of the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Depart-
ment, not later than the 1st September in each year.

FonnB.

REGISTER OF STUD-BULLS MAINTAINED IN

DISTRICT.

|

1

3

K

i

.

^ .

J

Name of

55

13

1

Descriptive
marks.

it

S

g,

1

place where
located and
person in
charge, with

1

•3

k

pi

O rt

_i

i date of

j§

2 §b

Pi

*P^^§

S *j3

arrival.

S

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£

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oo o

1
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3

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£

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05

APPENDIX No, 4.

FfiOM

W. 0. KENOUF, ESQUIRB, C. S.,

Director of Agriculture, Punjab,

To

Aix COMMISSIONERS, DEPUTY COMMISSIONERS AND
SETTLEMENT OFFICERS IN THE PUNJAB.
Dated LYALLPUE, the 4th September 1910.

SIE,

I have the honour to address you in continuation cf my Circular No. 1
of 1906 and with reference to the decision of the Provincial Government in
their No. 1084-5, dated 23rd June, 1910, to continue the annual grant of a
lakh of rupees for veterinary objects for another five years from the 1st of
April, 1911. As before, the allotments by districts are to be made by Commis-
sioners for the period of five years. I propose to review briefly the progress
made in the last four years and to offer suggestions for the utilisation of the
grant.

2. I would first invite a reference to my Circular No. 1 of 1906 in
which the position at that time was summarised and in which variou s
general questions were discussed. As regards staff, we are working up to a
strength of one veterinary assistant, mainly stationary, in each tahsil, and
one itinerating man per district with a 5 per cent, leave reserve. The 14
men still needed to complete this cadre will be recruited by April, 1912.
There are now 12 veterinary inspectors in place of 9. The number of
Superintendents remains unchanged at 3.

3. The change which was introduced in 1907, from a system under
which veterinary assistants were mainly itinerating to one under which they
are mainly stationary at their hospitals, going on tour only when summoned
to outbreaks of disease, has entailed much heavier expenditure on buildings
than was originally contemplated. Complete veterinary hospitals are needed
almost everywhere. Nevertheless, excellent progress has been made with the
programme. There are now 59 hospitals on the standard plan or affording
satisfactory accommodation and many more are under construction.

4. It was stated in any Circular No. 1 of 1906 that the most impor-
tant feature of the scheme f or veterinary development was the systematic
and regular supply of bulls with a view to the improvement of agricultural
cattle. A scale of 7 or 8 good Government bulls per tahsil was aimed at or,
say 800 or 900 for the Province. There are now 472 Government bulls
against about 200 in 1906. Having regard to the fact that a number of
old animals have been replaced and that casualties have been made good,
the scheme of supplying one bull per tahsil per annum has been more or
less adhered to. The standard has been exceeded in some districts, while,
in others, very little has been done. The matter has received careful
consideration in every district, and deficiencies are often due to special cir-
cumstances.

ti

5. The annual grants to hospitals have been increased and their equip-
ment has been placed on an excellent basis. A certain number of horse and
donkey stallions have been purchased.

6. There is ample evidence that the Department has made great
strides in securing the confidence of the people. The success of inoculation
against rinderpest has contributed most towards this end. But the profes-
sional efficiency of the veterinary assistant has also increased and agriculturists
who reside within a reasonable distance of a hospital are very willing to
bring in their animals for medicinal as well as for surgical treatment. The
services of veterinary assistants were in extraordinary demand last year
during the outbreak of foot and mouth disease. The greatly enhanced prices
of all agricultural stock are making cattle-owners give much more thought
than before to their breeding and management. The agriculturist's cattle
are of the very first importance to him, and there is every indication that
nothing will be more appreciated by the agricultural population than well
considered measures for the benefit of their stock.

7. The followirg suggestions are now made as regards the application
of the new grant :-—

(i). The improvement of the breed of cattle.— -I consider that thia
should still have the first place in the programme of veterinary
improvement. The experience of the last four years has shown
, that circumstances vary in different tracts and that there are
often special reasons which account for the small number of
bulls issued in some districts. In the Central and East
Punjab, it is generally easy to let a bull loose in a certain
area under the supervision of some trustworthy agriculturists.
The bull is maintained by the cultivators, and receives kind
and considerate treatment. But the case is different in the
South-West and North-West where grazing on crops is re-
sented and where it is difficult to get a bull kept free of cost.
It is anticipated that the whole question of breeding will be
taken up shortly on the appearance of the Provincial report on
the cattle industry of the Province, materials of which were
collected under instructions issued in my Circular No. 5/
of 1909.

In the meantime, the policy of a systematic and regular supply of
bulls should be adhered to wherever this is practicable. I
consider, however, that claims that District Boards should
meet the cost of the up-keep of bulls should be resisted. If
the people of a given tract really desire to have a good bull,
they should be prepared to at least feed it or to pay for ita
services. The policy of the future where free up-keep cannot
be obtained, should probably be to encourage private persons
to keep good bulls at stud and to charge for their services.
At the outset, it might be necessary to assist the movement by
providing a part of the cost of such bulls from Local Funds.

(tt). The construction of veterinary hospitals. — The present cost of a
complete veterinary hospital on the standard plan is Ks. 6,634.
The importance of good buildings cannot be exaggerated.
They inspire confidence, and agriculturists cannot be expected

Xll

to bring in their animals from a distance unless there is
proper accommodation for them. The hospital stables should
furnish an object lesson in sanitation. It is hoped that the
building programme will be persevered with steadily. In many
districts this will make heavy demands on the grant for two
or three years more.

(wi). Equipment and annual up-keep of hospitals* — These matters
have been placed on a routine footing.

u

(iv). Any other suitable veterinary objects.— These include the
expansion of the scale of stallions.

Summing up, the grant which is now continued is urgently needed in
most districts for the completion of the building programme, and, by the
time this has been finished, it will doubtless be desirable to embark on a
comprehensive scheme for the improvement of cattle.

8. It is unnecessary to continue to send me annual accounts of ex-
penditure. The Superintendents, Civil Veterinary Department, will, as
before, discuss the arrangements for the utilisation of the grant with the
Deputy Commissioners in the course of their tours. The Superintendents
maintain rough check accounts and will draw my attention to cases in which
there are balances which are not likely to be utilised.

9. The annual report referred to in para. 1 5 of my Circular 1 of 1 906
should also be discontinued as the information is obtained through the
Superintendents, Civil Veterinary Department.

I have, &o.,
W. C. EENOUP, C. S.,
Director of Agriculture, Punjab,

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