FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31ST MARCH 1938.                          17

These animals are partly maintained by artificial feeding and the
conditions are not ideal for the production of healthy well developed stud
animals for future stock improvement schemes. The extension of this
farm at Tatkôn by the acquisition of an adjoining 110 acres of land is
under consideration.

A comprehensive scheme was submitted to Government for
developing cattle breeding and supplying bulls of the Burmese breed
in the future for distribution to cultivators for improvement of village
herds. After a survey of the greater part of the cattle breeding area of
Central Burma, a site was selected for a cattle farm in the Yamèthin
District on the foothills of the Pegu Yomas, where good soil, a good
water supply, and opportunities for extension at a reasonable cost exist.
This scheme is at present under consideration.

The staff employed at the Tatkôn Cattle Breeding farm consisted of
one Burman stockman and six labourers.

Assistance in regard to clerical work and maintenance of breeding
records was given by the Officer-in-charge of the Government Agricul-
tural Farm adjoining who also supplies green fodder from 20 acres of
the Agricultural Farm reserved for this purpose.

The total cost of this Government cattle breeding farm during
1937-38 was Rs. 2,318.

    CHAPTER VII.—SUMMARY AND RECOMMEN-
                                    DATIONS.

Total Animal Mortality.—During 1937-38 the total mortality in
animals from all causes was 93,164, a decrease of 24,240 on the
previous year's total of 117,404.

This represents a mortality of 1.5 per cent which indicates that only
a small percentage of the deaths in animals in the Province are yet
being recorded.

Deaths from contagious diseases are fairly accurately reported as
the system of supervision and recording by the Veterinary staff and the
pressure being put on the headmen and villagers to record and report
suspicious deaths, is now having the desired effect in the plains, but in
the hill areas the recording of mortality, even from contagious diseases,
is still very inefficient.

Contagious Diseases.—Deaths from all contagious diseases during
the year totalled 16,118. The corresponding figure for 1936-37 was
26,533. There was, therefore, a decrease in mortality during the year
under report of 20,345.

Rinderpest.—A feature of the outbreaks of Rinderpest in 1937-38
was the relatively small mortality in each outbreak compared with
previous years. This was due to the fact that a large number of