OTHER DEPARTMENTS

ANIMAL HUSBANDRY DEPARTMENT

Organisation

The animal husbandry activities in Bhir district are controlled by the District Animal Husbandry Officer, Bhir. He is a Class II officer and is directly subordinate to the Regional Deputy Director, and the Director of Animal Husbandry, Maharashtra State, Poona. The Animal Husbandry Department at the district level forms the section of the Agriculture Department of the Zilla Parishad and the District Animal husbandry Officer is subordinate to the Agricultural Development Officer of the Zilla Parishad.

There are a veterinary hospital and eight veterinary dispensaries in the district. They are located at Bhir, Mominabad, Patoda, Georai, Ashti, Manjlegaon, Kaij and Neknoor. There are veterinary aid centres located at—

Rajuri, Raimoba, Pimpalwandi, Shirur, Dhanora, Deolali Bidsangvi, Pimpalner, Wadawani, Umapur, Sirsala, Talkhed, Kurla, Chaklamba, Pangaon, Nagapur, Dhekanmoha and Talwada.

The Veterinary Officers in charge of the veterinary hospitals and dispensaries are Class III officers of the State Government.

Functions

The main functions of the Animal Husbandry department pertain to general improvement of the live-stock, treatment of sick animals, control of cattle epidemics, carrying out castrations and control and destruction of ticks. The department also advises the farmers in the hygienic methods of keeping and maintaining animals and participates in various cattle fairs and shows held at different places in the State by opening veterinary stalls, etc., for propaganda purposes.

Up-grading of domesticated animals is done by selective breeding, either by running superior bull centres or by artificial insemination. With a view to securing a better yield of wool, meat, eggs, etc., up-grading of sheep and poultry is also under-taken. Every effort is made to check the out-break of contagious and infectious diseases.

Statistics of Diseases, Inoculation and Vaccination

In 1960-61, 22,116 animals were treated for contagious and non-contagious diseases and 72,001 castrations were carried out at various centres in Bhir district. The following table gives the statistics of out-breaks of main contagious cattle diseases and the inoculations and vaccinations carried out during 1960-61: —

Animals tendered for slaughter are inspected and out of them, those useful for agriculture, breeding and daily purpose are retained. In 1960-61, out of such inspected 2,477 animals 757 were retained.

Gammaxine powder is supplied by the department for the eradication of ticks.