2

Six cattle insurance societies have been started in Jullundur and Rohtak, the Madar
society being premier. As Mr. Calvert, Registrar, Co-operative Credit Society, has pointed out
these societies, which will only pay premia to those members who have adopted the treatment
prescribed by the Veterinary Inspector will give great scope for the activities of the
Veterinary Department.

Cattle-breeding proceeds steadily, and there are now 1,265 stud bulls in the Province
against 1,090 in the previous year. The demand for Dhanni bulls in the North Punjab has
been so great that there was a danger that the home of the breed in the Chakwal and Talagang
Tahsils might become bereft of them. The proposal to subsidise selected owners of this.
class of animal in Attock and Jhelum has been accepted by Government. The big question
of the improvement of cattle-breeding and the agency for the purpose were briefly touched
on at the Sectional Meeting of Veterinary Officers in Lahore in March 1919, and at the recent
Punjab Agricultural Conference in July. It is obviously impossible to arrive at definite
views on this subject until systematic measurements of height, girth weight, pull and so forth
are carried out, so that past and present achievement may be compared.

3. The Hissar Cattle Farm weathered a bad year of fodder shortage when many
animals had to be stall fed. The Auditor's report shows a profit of Rs. 11,534 against the
profit of Rs. 43,181 in previous year. Mr. Branford, Superintendent, was on leave for 6 months
and Captain Morris, Deputy Superintendent, officiated for him. The courageous way in which
these officers tackle the difficulties of running a Farm of nearly 5,000 head of cattle and over
1,000 sheep is worthy of high praise. A marked testimony of the excellence of the work carried
out on the Farm is the strong demand for cattle by foreign Governments, the Brazilian
Government alone buying no fewer than 358. Five new Arab mares and 1 Arab
stallion were added to the Farm. The breed of Jacks appears to be excellent, and their quality
was particularly commented by visitors to the Farm. The supply is for the present sufficient
both for District Boards and Army mule breeding requirements.

                                                                                                  S. M. JACOB,

Dated 5th August 1919.                                                Director of Agriculture, Punjab.