MUMBAI: It's a debate that could go on till the cows come home. Are bullocks meant to run races? The Maharashtra government continues to chew the cud over this issue.
In its latest move, the government has cobbled up a nine-member study group to carry out a comparative study of the bull, bullock and horse in a bid to determine if bullocks can be used as race animals.
In August this year, the state government had issued a gazette notification to resume bullock cart races in order to "preserve culture". In a setback to the government's move, the Bombay high court extended the ban on bullock cart races last month.
The government resolution states that the HC had referred to a Supreme Court order of 2014 while extending the ban. The HC said: "The bull is not an animal that does not exhibit work skills like the horse. Besides, taking into account the anatomical structure of the bull, the bull is not fit to run in races."
The government resolution, issued by the state animal husbandry department, specifies that the study group comprising nine veterinarians will carry out the comparative study on different breeds of bulls, bullocks and horses. The resolution lays down six parameters for the group to focus on. Among them are the anatomy and physiology of different breeds of bulls and bullocks vis-a-vis the horse. "Yes, this is our attempt to win favour for bullock cart races. The intention is to prove that bullocks can run a race quite like horses," a government official told TOI.
The resolution also directs the group to study the bullock's capacity to run, to study its ability to pull weights and to review physiological and biochemical changes in bulls, bullocks and horses during a race.
The government has asked the team of veterinarians to submit their expert opinion and also prepare a comprehensive report besides compiling research work, studies and trials conducted across the world.
Bullock cart races are popular in rural parts of the state in Western Maharashtra and in parts of Vidarbha.
In its latest move, the government has cobbled up a nine-member study group to carry out a comparative study of the bull, bullock and horse in a bid to determine if bullocks can be used as race animals.
In August this year, the state government had issued a gazette notification to resume bullock cart races in order to "preserve culture". In a setback to the government's move, the Bombay high court extended the ban on bullock cart races last month.
The government resolution states that the HC had referred to a Supreme Court order of 2014 while extending the ban. The HC said: "The bull is not an animal that does not exhibit work skills like the horse. Besides, taking into account the anatomical structure of the bull, the bull is not fit to run in races."
The government resolution, issued by the state animal husbandry department, specifies that the study group comprising nine veterinarians will carry out the comparative study on different breeds of bulls, bullocks and horses. The resolution lays down six parameters for the group to focus on. Among them are the anatomy and physiology of different breeds of bulls and bullocks vis-a-vis the horse. "Yes, this is our attempt to win favour for bullock cart races. The intention is to prove that bullocks can run a race quite like horses," a government official told TOI.
The resolution also directs the group to study the bullock's capacity to run, to study its ability to pull weights and to review physiological and biochemical changes in bulls, bullocks and horses during a race.
The government has asked the team of veterinarians to submit their expert opinion and also prepare a comprehensive report besides compiling research work, studies and trials conducted across the world.
Bullock cart races are popular in rural parts of the state in Western Maharashtra and in parts of Vidarbha.
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