PASTURES AT THE LIVESTOCK RESEARCH STATION, HOSUR

Abstract

The area of the Livestock Research Station, Hosur, is over 1600 acres of which nearly 1215 acres are laid under grass. The Station was under the Remount Depot for hundred years till 1924 when the farm was transferred to the Madras Agricultural Department. From the records available it is clear that the paddocks were ploughed and laid down to grass and the grass management was similar to that in England. The records of the Remount Depot unfortunately do not mention the types of seeds sown, but some of the old hands who worked on the farm state that they were often detailed to transplant slips of Cynodon dactylon.. The testimonial analysis of the paddocks bear out their statements. The apparently wild species that are found here have become indigenous and they are harvested, the seeds collected, stored and sown whenever required. The general appearance of the pastures existing at Hosur is comparable to that in Europe despite the differences in species, and very often visitors who are acquainted with European pastures have been struck by the resem- blance.