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