LIVE STOCK 



Grand Total 



THE OXEN AND BUFFALOES 



Estimate 

 for Bengal. 



Estimate for 

 Native States. 



Hides. 

 Skins. 



Exports. 



Local. 

 ^Requirements. 



Death-rate. 



D.E.P., 

 v., 659-74. 

 Oxen. 



Humped Cattle. 



Buffalo. 



Seini -aquatic. 



Wild. 



live stock of Bengal is not recorded, but, since its population is twice 

 that of Madras, it may be assumed to possess double the returned 

 live stock of all sorts met with in the Southern Presidency, viz. 

 61 million. This gives the 198 millions (above mentioned) as the total 

 live stock, in place of the officinal figure of 137 millions (exclusive of Bengal). 

 But to that total has also to be added the 15 millions shown as owned by 

 the Native States. In fact 30 millions would not over-state the live stock 

 of these States, making a grand total for India of over 228 million 

 cattle of all kinds. 



Some such estimate seems essential to allow of comparison with the 

 trade returns, which include Bengal and the Native States. Thus, for 

 example, the term " hides " may be taken to mean undressed skins of 

 fiill-grown bovine animals, and " skins " those of calves, sheep and 

 goats. For the five years ending 1903-4 the average number of hides 

 (raw and dressed) exported from India came to 12 millions, and of skins 

 37 millions ; these collectively would, therefore, show 23 per cent, on the 

 estimated total live stock of all India for the period in question. But the 

 exports by themselves take no cognisance of the numbers of hides and 

 skins used up by the indigenous leather industries of India itself, nor of 

 the numbers of animals that die or are killed and the skins, for varioiis 

 reasons, entirely lost. Were a figure to be given for the annual death- 

 rate (from all causes) of the cattle, sheep and goats of India, it is probable 

 that it would be something nearer 70 to 80 rather than the 50 millions 

 indicated by the returns of foreign trade specially dealt with above. For 

 further particulars see the article Hides and Skins (pp. 632-9). 

 /. THE OXEN, BUFFALOES, ETC., OF INDIA. 



The following is a list of the chief Bovine animals of India that fall 

 into this group : 



Bos indicus, Linn. ; Blanford, Fa. Br. Ind. (Mammalia), 483-4 ; Mollison, 

 Textbook, Ind. Ayri., 1901, ii., 63-139 ; Meagher and Vaughan, Dairy Farming 

 in India, 1904, 41-7. The Zebu or Humped Ox, bail, gai, gau, dhur (cattle), 

 dhur danger (horned cattle), dudhar (milch cow), etc. 



The Indian animal differs from the tame ox of Europe and North Asia in 

 structure, general coloration, voice and habit. Its origin is unknown, but ac- 

 cording to Blyth it was probably African. No ancestral form has as yet been 

 discovered among the Indian fossil bovines. Humped cattle have, however, 

 often been reported to have run wild in India. All the breeds of the Indian ox 

 are held sacred by the Hindus and are, therefore, neither killed nor their flesh 

 eaten by a large portion of the people. On the other hand, the tending on cattle 

 is regarded as a highly honourable position, and hence also milk, butter, cheese, 

 etc., are largely consumed by all classes of the community. Below will be found a 

 brief sketch of some of the leading breeds of oxen. 



B. bubalus, Linn.,- Blanford, I.e. 491-3; Mollison, I.e. ii., 140-55; Meagher 

 and Vaughan, I.e. 47-51, 56 ; Note on Export of Buffalos to Australia, Rev. and 

 Agri. Dept. Ind., 1885. The Buffalo, arna, mang, mains, bhains, bir biar, gera 

 erumi, moh, siloi, misip, iroi, kywai, pana, karbo, etc. 



Tame buffaloes are found all over the plains and lower hills of India. They 

 are repeatedly mentioned in the Institutes of Manu (xi., 69), so that they have 

 been known from the earliest historic times. They are semi-aquatic animals, 

 and accordingly most abundant in humid localities. Are large, massive, 

 and clumsy creatures, with exceptionally short thick legs and conspicuous hoofs. 

 The horns are thick, flat, curved or straight, and marked with rings indi- 

 cative of age. The muzzle is large, remarkably square, and the head carried 

 very low. A truly wild buffalo is fairly abundant in India (except in the 

 Southern and Western Provinces), especially in low-lying swampy land 

 covered with tall grass. Few domestic animals have, in fact, changed less 

 than the buffalo. While it will not breed with the ox, the tame buffalo-cow 

 will pair readily with the wild buffalo-bull, the stock being thereby improved, 



732 



