India in 1887 as seen by Robert Wallace / [Robert Wallace].

  • Robert Wallace
Date:
1888
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: India in 1887 as seen by Robert Wallace / [Robert Wallace]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    77/550 (page 31)
    future only 200 steers will be required annually. It is intended to materially reduce the total number of the herd. Rs. 50 is the fixed price recorded as paid by the Government for the best bullocks ; and the inferior ones, sold to the public, fetched in 1885-86 Rs. 23I. The death- rate over the herd has varied during the last five years from about 5 J per cent, to 14A per cent. The Amrit Mahal estab- lishment is separated into four divisions, each having four herds under responsible native herdsmen, who know every animal in their own detachments by its name, and are bound to give an account of them or become liable to a fine. The accuracy with which the elaborate stock-books, giving all sorts of interesting details as to numbers, ages, causes of death, etc., are kept, is highly commendable. Leading1 Strains of Mysore Blood.—Of the important varieties of Mysore cattle which are not Amrit Mahal, the large white bullocks from the south-east, from the banks of the Cauvery River, hold the most important place. Their superior weight and strength peculiarly suit them as carriers’ cattle. They are to be seen in carts on the roads leading to hill stations, such as Utakamand. Among cattle of the Mysore type, their foreheads are particularly large and prominent. The horns at first on leaving the crown of the head go almost straight back, but finally turn up with a much more abrupt bend than those of other strains. The ears are also particularly large and pendulous. The greatest defect consists in the feet being a little soft, owing to the character of their native soil. Plate IV. (V) shows a head which approaches some- what to the style of this particular strain, but the horns do not go quite far enough back before turning up, and the cars do not hang down properly. The varieties which come from the north of the Mysore territories are smaller and hardier, and those belonging- to * o o the western districts are noted for their darker colour of hair. Many of them arc also inferior in quality.