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Somerset County Herald and Taunton Courier Saturday 15 Jul 1939
Page 15 Column 2
WARBLE FLY ORDER SUMMONS
DISMISSED AT TAUNTON
OTHERY FARMER'S DEFENCE
Ernest William SALVIDGE, farmer and cattle dealer, of Othery, near Bridgwater, was summoned at Taunton Borough Court on Wednesday for being in possession of a cow which was visibly infected with warble fly maggot. He pleaded not guilty, and was represented by Mr. E. C. K. WESTON (Messrs. Clarke, Willmott & Clarke).
LUMPS UNDER SKIN.
Captain William TWEED, of Taunton, divisional inspector of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, said on Saturday, June 10th, he received a communication from P.S. MYERS at the Taunton Market, and in consequence he examined a milch cow, four to five years old, belonging to defendant. Its back was covered with warbles, which had produced lumps under the skin. Witness concluded the cow had not been dressed nor any attempt made to squeeze the warbles out.
LOSS TO LEATHER TRADE
Warbles irritated an animal and caused considerable damage to the hide, said Captain TWEED. The Warble Fly Order came into force because of the enormous loss caused to the leather trade from warbles boring holes in the hide, which, when made into leather, was useless. When a maggot left an animal it developed into a fly, which from about May to August, frightened an animal by its buzzing noise and laid eggs on its legs. It was with a view to stopping the infestation of cattle that farmers were asked to dress cattle at the stage when the maggots could be killed, i.e., when they were in the back.
“AT PURCHASERS RISK.”
In reply to Mr. WESTON, Captain TWEED said defendant told him the cow had been sold when he (Captain Tweed) examined it and removed a warble.
Mr. WESTON: Is it the rule of the market that an animal is at the purchaser's risk at the fall of the hammer? - I do not know the rules of the market.
In reply to further questions, Captian TWEED said. “There are people in markets who will say anything against an official. I was a side-attraction to the market itself. People left the auction and gathered around me and we had an open-air meeting.” (Laughter.)
Mr. WESTON: I believe the auctioneer complained?
Captain TWEED: Yes, but it was not my fault.
P.S. MYERS said he asked defendant in the market if he had dressed the cow. He replied he had not, and there was no need for him to dress it, as he considered it had been done by the previous owner.
“PREMATURE REMOVAL CRUEL.”
Defendant, giving evidence, said he bought the cow at Salisbury market on June 6th. When P.S. MYERS and Captain TWEED came to him in the market at 12.30 p.m. he told them the cow had been sold to Mr. EDWARDS, of Hemyock. A condition of sale at the market was that an animal was at the purchaser's risk at the fall of the hammer. Therefore at 12.30 the cow was neither in his (defendant's) possession nor in his charge. Defendant said the warbles were not ready to be taken out, and it was cruelty to a bullock to remove them prematurely.
Mr. Geoffrey COMBES, farmer, of Manor Farm, Barford St. Martin, Salisbury, the previous owner of the cow, gave evidence of having it dressed for warbles in accordance with the regulations.
The herdsman of Mr. COMBES spoke of the condition of the cow immediately before it went to Salisbury market. Mr. Nathaniel COATE, of Manor House, Othery, said the removal of the warble by Captain TWEED was “great punishment to the cow.”
Douglas John SALVIDGE, who was with his brother in Taunton market, corroborated his evidence.
The Bench dismissed the case.