Page 215 - Bahrain Gov annual reports(V)_Neat

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This disease can be appreciably reduced if growers take advantage of the spraying facilities
offered by the Department of Agriculture free of cost. Growers that arc laying out new palm
gardens arc advised either to carry out row or border planting, so that gardens can be mechan­
ically cultivated at a very low cost.
Fodder Crops
Local Agriculture is very unbalanced as far as fodder crops are concerned and the only
crop of any importance is lucerne which is grown extensively. Lucerne may be said to be
The King of fodder crops and remains productive and is an economic proposition under local
conditions for a period of 4 to 6 years. Being a deep rooted crop with a strong root system it is
an excellent soil builder, nodulation is good if seed is inoculated, and root residues left in the
soil are readily de-composed. Local seed is superior to seed from neighbouring countries and
provided normal cultural operations arc carried out 6 to 9 cuts, yielding from 6 to 8 tons per
acre can be obtained. Seed is usually sown broadcast cither in October to November or in
March to April and the usual rale of sowing works out to 40 to 50 lbs. per acre, but heavier
sowings of 50 to 70 lbs. per acre have reduced weed growth appreciably. Before sowing the
land should be well worked over, all weeds removed and heavily manured. As fertilizer tria.j
are still in progress it is not possible to lay down hard and fast rules regarding manuring. The
following mixtures have given promising results :
Per acre : 300 lbs. composite fertilizer plus 12 to 16 tons horse or donkey manure.
2,000 lbs. bird guano plus 12 tons horse or donkey manure plus 16 tons sand.
The water requirement for the production of lucerne is higher than that required for most
other crops, the demand is fairly constant and tends to increase in the heat of the summer.
In winter and early spring the crop can be irrigated every six to eight days, but from late
spring irrigation should be stepped up and the crop should be watered every three to four days.
With the introduction of new fodder crops at Budeya it is hoped to produce forage crops
that are drought resistant with low water requirements. The results to date with Guinea
Rhodes and Napier grass have proved to be fairly satisfactory and further investigations are
being carried out with other types of fodder crops.
Animal Husbandry
Animal husbandry in its true sense can hardly be said to be practised in Bahrain. As there
is practically no grazing on the Island and the cost of feeding stuffs is gradually rising the
maintenance of stock for meat and milk is losing its attraction for the local population.
Cattle, donkeys and poultry arc the main types of stock bred on the Island and a few
enthusiasts are interested in breeding sheep and goats. The decrease in the popularity of
animal husbandry is not only attributable to the scarcity of fodder, but also to poor animal
management, feeding, and a lack of knowledge as regards the principles of breeding over a
period of time which has undermined the virility and potential of livestock on the Island.
With a rapidly expanding population the need for adequate supplies of food of the right
type can be said to be of major importance and an increase in the cattle population on the
Island would not only help appreciably from the point of view of the health of the local popu­
lation, but would also help to meet the requirements of farmers as far as manure is concerned.

Cattle
The type of cattle bred on the Island are Zebus (Bos Indicus), which in all probability were
imported from India and have some of the characteristics of the Gir and Red Sindhi breeds
from Katiawar and Sind. Cattle arc mainly kept for dairy purposes and compare very unfav­
ourably with milking breeds in India. The average yield per day works out to about 15 lbs.
with a butter-fat-content in the region of 4.5 to 5.5 per cent. The low milk yield tends to make
dairy farming an uneconomic proposition and encourages milk producers to water their produce
and underfeed their cattle. With the introduction of pedigree stock, improved livestock
management and new types of fodder-crops it is hoped to gradually improve the local cattle
and increase the average milk yield.
The conditions under which dairy cattle arc maintained cannot be said to be good as
animals are usually kept tied up in small insanitary “barastics" throughout their lives. As
exercise is essential for the growth, development and health of animals this practice over a
period of years tends to have a deleterious effect on the general health of stock. If small
paddocks with adequate shade were provided and simple sanitation methods were carried out
the general health of the local stock would be appreciably improved.