‘REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY, FOR THE YEAR 1919-20’ [‎274r] (95/192)

1919-1920.]
AGRICULTURE.
71 Chapter IV.
PRODUCTION
2. The total number of cattle in the Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. proper was 81*84 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees , distribution.
showing a net loss of 10*22 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees or 11*1 per cent, on the figures of 1915-16! Cattle.
In Sind the total number 18*18 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees declined by 3*71 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees or 16*6 per cent,
below the figures of 1915-16. Since 1901 the number of cattle had steadily
increased and in 1915-16 the figures were the highest ever returned. The
number of cattle is now the same as it was 10 years ago. The loss of a
million cattle is less than in the partial famine of 1897 and much less than
in the general famine of 1899-1900. The loss is serious enough, but consider
ing the wide spread nature of the fodder famine and the difficulty of railway
transport, it is remarkable that it was no greater. It is a testimony to the
efficiency of the fodder operations of Government and private institutions and
the energy of the people themselves.
3 . Of the total losses half come under the heading “Young Stock.” A Youngsfcock *
large number of cows died, but comparatively few she buffaloes and, still
fewer plough cattle. From the figures it would seem probable that, speaking
generally, the cattle which died were the least valuable, but the losses of young
stock are serious and of course the surviving cattle deteriorated in condition.
Poona, Ahmednagar and Nasik suffered very severely and in a less degree West
Khandesh and Panch Mahals. In a country where there is no standard of
efficiency either amongst the plough or the milch cattle, little real information
can be obtained from a mere recital of figures. It is quality that counts and
not mere quantity.
4. There was a small net increase of 20,000 head over the number Hor ses and ponies,
returned in 1915-16, but some of the best Deccan breeding tracts suffered
severely.
5. In the Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. proper the number of sheep declined by 2*62 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees s hee v and goats,
below the numbers returned in 1915-16. In the case of goats the decrease
amounted to 8*85 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees . In Sind there was a gain of 50 thousand under
sheep but a loss of 73 thousand under goats as compared with the returns of
1915-16. The figures returned show a genera] decline under goats in ever}^
district of the Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. proper and of Sind (except Sukkur, Hyderabad and
Thar Parkar), but the number under sheep showed some increase in Poona,
West Khandesh and Kaira districts and in the Konkan except Kanara in the
Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. proper and in all districts of Sind except Hyderabad and Upper
Sind Frontier.
7.—Breeding Operations.
1 .—Presidency Proper.
1. Good pedigree bulls of the Kankreji breed are distributed from the Sfcud bulls -
Korthcote Cattle Farm in the Ahmedabad district and from the Surat farm.
Seven bulls were put out from the Northcote Cattle Farm on the premium
system during the year. There were in all 30 premium bulls at the end of the
year, 24 in Gujarat, 5 in the Deccan and 1 in Kanara (buffalo bull).
2. The number of cattle belonging to Government at the Northcote ® r u e 1 e I d 1 J® a g 1 f ^ m g nd
Cattle Farm decreased from 641 to 603. Fifty-four animals were sold and
50 died. The number of births decreased from 128 to 68 due to the failure
of rains and the consequent shortage of fodder. The buildings for the
Bankapur Cattle Farm in the Dharwar district were nearing completion,
ftftd pure breed Mysore cattle were being purchased to form the nucleus
of a herd.
3. At the beginning of the year 43 stallions were employed at stud, 19 Hor * e ' bieedm s-
oeing horses and 24 ponies. One pony was received as a gift and two
ponies were purchased. Fourteen stallions were stationed in Gujarat and
^9 in the Deccan, and they covered 1,336 mares as against 1,272 in the
previous year. The annual cost of maintenance per head rose from Rs. 598
to Bs. 726.
2.— -Sind.
The Arab stallion maintained by the Larkana District Local Board
covered 59 mares as against 43 in the previous year. The cost of feed and
upkeep rose from Rs. 623 to Rs. 666 owing to enhanced prices for gram and