HORSES AND CATTLE IN INDIA.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1618, 25 July 1887, Page 3

HORSES AND CATTLE IN INDIA.

The following particulars regarding the horses and cattle m India are taken from the "Indian Agricultural Gazette, l^ Calcutta : — Bullockß, bulls, and buffaloes are the on'y beasts used for ploughing throughout India, excepting m the Sinde, and ths western districti of the Punjab. The general condition of these cattle is miserably poor, owing partly to the insufficiency of grazing land, partly to neglect of the principles of breeding, and partly to want of veterinary knowledge. There are, however, a few local breeds whioh are used ia works other than agriculture, and, therefore, oarefully fostered. The amrit malial ie a breed of cattle m Mysore, kept by the local authorities for military purposes. The indigenous breed of Nellore and Karnul m Madras his lately been greatly improved. There is a high-class breed of trotting bullocks m the central provinces m great demand for wheeled carriages. The large breeds of oxen of Guzerat, In Bombay, and of Hariana, m the Punjab, are very well adapted for drawing heavy loads la a sandy soil. The bulls of the Government farm at Hisar, m the Punjab, are also very well known. The worst cattle are to be found m the regions of Delta, and here the) G place is partly taken by buffaloes, which are more hardy than ordinary cattle, though not no easily, mapagoablo In lower Burmah the plough cattle are bullocks and buffaloes, almost, half-and-half. Along the Indus Valley and tho sandy desert whioh stretches into RBJputana, camels supersede cattle for i all agricultural operations. Indigenous breeds of horses, speaking broadly, do not exist m Bengal and Madras. In Bombay, the oblef breeds are those of the Deccan and the Katblawar. The Punjab, however, Is -the chief source of remounts for the native cavalry attached to the British military, The district of Chang is especially famous for Us horses. The mares are believed tp be the best m the Punjab. A horse fair Is annually held tfcere and prigss distributed. An enormous number of different breeds of horses is recognised among themselves by the gomindars of the district, Every breeder of horses sows early half or a quarter of an acre with wheat of mixed wheat aod barley, to afford green food at an early date for his horses. A good deal of Importance is attached to this point. The colors m this district are dark bay, chestnut, light bay, grey, white, roan, piebald, and black. A horses color ought always to be bright, Among the unlucky spots. on a horse are tqrapashani, a small white, star or blsza on the forehead ; argal, two legs or one different m oolor from the rest of the body ; baivrian, rough spots on the coat, especially if near the tail ; nagarittn, a line of rough hair on the . neck, pointing backwards ; and garara, eyes of a different color.