4

sent district boards seem disinclined to find the money
required to pay the very moderate prices assessed on
these bulls, and Government is faced ith the necessity
of feeding larger numbers of bulls on the farm than true
economy would c ntemplate. The districts want bulls
and plenty of bulls are available. It is merely a ques-
tion of finding a suitable solution. Up to date buffalo
breeding has not received the attention which it de-
serves. A fine example has been set during the year
by Guru Partap Singh of Bheri Sahib who has offered
to give annually free of cost all mature male stock bred
at his farm and declared fit for breeding purposes by
the department to the District Board, Ludhiana, for the
improvement of the local breed of buffaloes. Camel
breeding is being encouraged in the Fazilka and Mukt-
sar Tahsils of Ferozepore district; but sufficient money
is not available at present. The supply of three quarter
merino sheep from the Hissar Cattle Farm to the
Kangra district continues. The department is keeping
in close touch with the shepherds at Fazilka, which is
one of the most important wool markets in the Punjab.

5.     Every effort is being made to grapple with the
important question of the prevention of contagious dis-
eases. A conference was recently held at Dharamsala
with a view to find methods of concerted action to pre-
vent the spread of contagious diseases between the
Mandi, Bilaspur and Suket States and the neighbouring
districts of the Punjab. The total reported mortality
from contagious diseases in the year rose from 17,628 to
24.220. Among cattle hæmorrhagic septicæmia was
responsible for about 47 per cent. of the total mortality.
Rinderpest, which occurred particularly in Lahore,
Gujranwala and Sheikhupura districts, was next in
importance. At the various surra stations in the pro-
vince 2,641 horses and camels were created during the
year as compared with 1,925 in the previous year. This dis-
ease is restricted mostly to the districts of Sheikhupura,
Gujranwala, Sialkot, Rohtak and Karnal. The depart-
ment undertakes anti rinderpest inoculations and inocul-
ations and preventive vaccinations against hæmrorrhagic
septicæmia.

6.    Towards the end of the year a committee investi-
gated the affairs of the Punjab Veterinary College; and
were satisfied that on the whole the college was econo-