The Enormous Loss from Ox-Warble

Abstract

I VENTURE to solicit your co-operation in making some points better known in order that farmers may be better able to protect themselves from the enormous loss from warbles on cattle from the bot-fly, positive proof having been furnished that it largely exceeds 2,000,000l. to 3,000,000l. yearly! To begin: I appeal to those farmers who have somewhat studied the question to make it clear to those who have not done so that each warble lump has a large maggot under it, feeding on the juices of the hide or flesh. These lumps many call “health lumps” or “thriving bumps,” and seem to prefer that their cattle should have them. It is readily seen how this serious fallacy has arisen, viz. from the fact that the warble lumps begin to show about Christmas (from the growth of the maggot under them), which also happens to be the time that the cattle receive their most nourishing food, and are then warmly housed or sheltered. But there could be no greater mistake than to think that the swellings from the ravages of these horrid maggots are proof of a thriving condition! A correspondent writes me: “Since reading recent issues on the ox-bot or warble-fly, I have visited several cattle markets and slaughter-houses to see for myself if the ravages of the maggots are so serious as the statements led one to believe. I must frankly state that what I have seen convinces me that the statements are much under the mark rather than over it. The first beast I handled showed 42 warbles, some only 3 to 6, whilst many others showed 30 to 70; and on examining hides at slaughter-houses this state of things was again confirmed (the warbles are more readily seen upon the under-side of the skin, and many are small ones that would not show as a lump. I am certain a farmer has only once to make such a visit to be not only convinced of the great loss, but also, if he has any neighbourly feeling about him, to make him call the attention of his brother-farmers to the subject.”