How did restrictions on pasture lands affect the animal stock?
The Forest Act changed the lives of pastoralists in a great extent.
The pastoralists now prevented from entering many forests that provided valuable forage for their cattle earlier times. The pastoralists needed a permit for entry in the forests. In most pastoral tracts of India, Grazing Tax was imposed. The number of cattle and the amount of tax were entered on the pass.
The grazing lands came to be continuously used and the quality of pastures declined as a result of imposing restrictions on the pastoral movements.
Thus, the over restriction of their movement created a shortage of forage for animals and the deterioration of animal stock. Underfed cattle died in large numbers during scarcities and famines.