A Study On The Cattle Administration During Qin And Han Dynasties

China is a traditional agricultural country.As the main animal power in agricultural society,Cattle play an extremely important role in the production.Qin and Han governments attached great importance to cattle administration,not only developed a series of management measures for the official and private cattle,but also made laws to protect them.The main feeding institutions of cattle were pastures,stables and stalls during Qin and Han dynasties.Qin and Han governments set up different management personnel for different institutions.Each official cattle was required to register.The registration included quantity,color,sex,age,logo and waist circumference.Feeding methods of official cattle were captivity and grazing.For the cattle which need to feed,the official developed a detailed feeding standards.In order to ensure the supply of fodder,Qin and Han governments had strict rules on the collection,storage and distribution of forage.In addition,the governments also developed a corresponding management approach on the breeding,use and disease of cattle.As an important part of the family property,the number of private owned cattle needed to be registered.For the sale of private cattle,the law of Qin and Han dynasties had clear provisions of the procedures.Private cattle sometimes needed to be taxed and lodged.The governments had also enacted a series of laws and regulations to regulate activities of private cattle,such as damages to other people's property,access barriers and so on.It was forbidden to steal and kill cattle during Qin and Han dynasties.The law of Qin and Han dynasties made detailed provisions on the situation of stealing and killing cattle,and imposed severe penalties for violators.