13

                        Part IV.—Subordinate establishment.

Numerical strength-
Table VII.

31. The sanctioned strength of the subordinate establishment at the
end of the year was : —

The actual number working was 154; 25 have been transferred to Mili-
tary duty; and there are still 36 vacancies which could not be filled owing to the
paucity of Veterinary Assistants in the country. Some of the men now em-
ployed will be replaced after the war, as some are old and others were only
enlisted as a temporary measure to fill vacancies.

                                  Part V.—Expenditure,

32.    The expenditure of the department is shown in Table XIV-A. The
figures are, as usual, supplied by the Accountant-General.

                            Part VI.—General remarks.

33.    The following Veterinary Inspectors have worked well during the
year:—

Veterinary Inspector Janki Nath.
„                   „ Muhammad Abdulla.

The Chief Superintendent's thanks are due to Messrs. Taylor and
Meadows for their support in the work of the department.

      REPORT ON THE GOVERNMENT CATTLE FARM, HISSAR.
                A.—REVIEW OF THE CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT.

The year under report has been a very trying one for the Superintendent
and his staff. Owing to the shortage of rainfall and the insufficient canal supply,
the farm was unable to produce the fodder necessary to support the large num-
ber of stock maintained, and in consequence fodder had to be purchased. The
hay purchased was the best obtainable, but was poor in quality. It is unfortu-
nate that the farm is situated at the tail end of a canal, because when there is
a shortage of water the tail must naturally suffer most. The very scanty local
rainfall has been the most serious factor, as good rains not only improve the
cultivated crops, but give good grazing to the stock. The Chief Superinten-
dent after several years of experience at Hissar considers that the grasses grown
on the farm have a great deal to do with the development of the stock. In
years when the rains have been good a large number of cattle have subsisted
on grazing only. The most important grass is Anjan (Bagri) or Dhaman (Pun-
jabi)=Pennisetum cenchroides. This grass has proved to be very good fodder
for animals. Fortunate ly the farm was unusually free from contagious diseases
during the year. The farm supplied 181 bulls to the District Boards of the
Punjab, which is the largest number ever supplied. The Chief Superintendent
assisted the representatives of the various District Boards to select these bulls,
and every body was satisfied with their selections. Six donkey jacks were also
supplied to District Boards in the Province. There is no doubt whatever that
if the farm did not breed these animals, Government and District Boards would
have to obtain them from abroad and pay larger prices. The Chief Superinten-
dent is of the opinion that, as donkey breeding on the farm has done so well, it
is quite possible in the future foreign buyers will ask for jacks as they ask for
the cattle.

The Chief Superintendent visited the farm three times during the year,
and considers that Mr. Branford and his staff deserve great credit for the work
done during a very trying year.