The Maharashtra government has set up a nine-member group of veterinary doctors to carry out a comparative study of bulls, bullocks and horses to determine if a bullock can be a race animal.
The Bombay High Court recently refused to allow bullock cart racing in the state, citing the Supreme Court's observations on the issue.
The group of doctors is to study anatomy of these animals, their stamina to run, 'draught capacity' (capacity to pull weights), the physiological and biochemical changes in their bodies while running and other allied matters.
The nine-member group has been asked to submit its report in a month's time, a Government Resolution (GR) issued by the Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries Department on November 2 said.
The ban on bullock cart racing in the state has evoked sharp reactions. Bullock cart racing is quite popular in the state, especially in western Maharashtra.
The study group is also supposed to submit an expert opinion regarding "anatomical, physiological, biochemical, clinical and surgical interventions and aid for bulls and bullock as a race animal".
It was not clear in which way the study group's findings would be used by the government.
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