The loss of live-stock is a commonplace of the too numerous 

 famine reports. Its prevention has hardly received due consider- 

 ation. Famine and its results are apt to be considered as con- 

 cerning Hariana alone, whereas the disaster affects the whole 

 Province. Nor is it sufficiently realized in how short a time 

 the mischief is done. After the zamindar has abandoned his 

 last hope of rain only a month elapses before cattle are sold in 

 thousands at the autumn fairs, and irremediable loss caused to 

 the whole of Northern India. The remoteness of these districts 

 has hitherto prevented any general attempt to provide reserves 

 of fodder, and so preserve the more valuable stock. But as the 

 country is opened out by the yearly expansion of railways the great 

 difficulties of such an undertaking are appreciably lessened, and in 

 any case the issues are too great to be neglected. The last Famine 

 Commission, primarily considered the preservation of cattle during 

 actual famine conditions, but their final *recommendation was that 

 the whole question of fodder supply in its preventive aspect should 

 be thoroughly examined. A few of their general conclusions may 

 be quoted. 



(1) It is better in the long run and cheaper to bring fodder 

 to the cattle than to take the cattle to the fodder (para. 211), 



(2) The demand for fodder should be proclaimed at a very 

 early date. 



(3) Enquiries should be made in years in which there is 

 no pressure, with a view to supplementing the fodder supply on 

 emergency. 



(4) There is this pre-eminent advantage in the growth and 

 importation of fodder that it enables the people to retain the cattle 

 in the villages. Not only does this avoid the dangers that always 

 attend a change of environment, but it is directly economical inas- 

 much as a far smaller amount of imported fodder will suffice 

 per head for cattle kept at home, where people can supplement 

 the imported ration by petty reserves and pickings. 



No definite proposals have ever been put forward for dealing 

 with this problem, but it is clear that extraordinary efforts should 

 be made to give every possible assistance to the Hariana- 

 breeding grounds in ordinary times, and to prevent the loss of 

 valuable cattle in times of scarcity. Bearing in mind tbe loss 

 which occurs in transferring animals from one tract to another, 

 the conclusion cannot be avoided that if the cattle are to be pre- 

 served at all, they must be preserved in their native villages. 



The first essential point is to secure information as to the 

 villages where special attention is paid to the breeding of cattle. 



*Para, 219 of the Famine Report, 1901. ^ 



