DIGESTIBILITY TRIALS ON INDIAN FEEDING STUFFS             179

    The indigenous breed of cattle in Kangra is small in size, weighing only about
500 lbs. Small bullocks are a necessity in the hilly areas in order to be able to
plough the minute and narrow fields on the hill side. In spite of their small size,
they are, however, sturdy, and would be admirably adapted to their environments
were it not that underfeeding diminishes their agricultural worth and lays them open
to attacks of contagious diseases ; a remark which applies with no less force to the
general condition of the people themselves.

    Large animals are certainly used in the lower regions having a more level
contour, but it is a serious reflection on local conditions that the indigenous cows
rarely give more than 5 lbs. of milk a day and cows after being imported soon
give much less milk than they did in the plains.

    In the heavy rice lands which are met with in this district, the strain on the
working bullock is so great that he rarely lasts more than three or four years and
it is not unusual for cattle harnessed to the plough to fall dead under the yoke.

    The prices of cattle in recent years in Kangra have ranged as follows :—

Bullocks

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Rs. 15 to 40

Indigenous cows

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Rs. 12 to 25

Imported cows

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Rs. 50 to 80

Female buffaloes

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Rs. 30 to 100

Male buffaloes

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Rs. 12 to 40

    Table I, shows in chronological sequence the fodders supplied as a rule in the
different parts of the district under different climatic and agricultural conditions,
from which it will be seen that the supply of an adequate quantity of concentrates
to the ration is the exception rather than the rule.

                                           TABLE I.

             Showing feeding of cattle in different parts of Kangra District.

Irrigated parts of Kangra

Irrigated parts of Nurpur

Unirrigated parts of the

and Palampur Tohsils,

and Dehra, i.e., lower

District (Hamirpur Tehsil

Period

(Kangra Valley proper)

and hotter parts of the

and parts of other

with 75 to 100 inches

District with 50

Tehsils) with rainfall

rainfall

inches rainfall

below 50 inches

January,

Rice straw about 20 lbs.

White Bhusa 20 lbs. per

Dry grass 20 to 24 lbs.

February and

per head per day. To

head per day with

per head per day with

March.

this addition of Rabi

certain amount of green

certain amount of Rabi

weeds growing in wheat

Rabi weeds out of wheat

weeds like Maina taken

like Maina, etc., which

fields and cane tops.

out of wheat fields.

are allowed to grow for

Where the holding is

The condition of livestock

this purpose is made in

comparatively large,

is therefore low owing to

the ration of milch cattle.

some green wheat and

poor diet and wet cold

Some give green wheat

barley is also given to

weather.

and barley if this can be

milch cattle, but this

spared.

is done on a small scale.

The condition of livestock

The condition of livestock

is therefore low owing to

is therefore low owing

poor diet and wet cold

to poor diet and wet

weather.

cold weather.

                                                                                                           A 2