28 
Warble I’Lt. 
.“Ia the hot summer days our cows are tormented by the 
fly, and we frequently see them galloping with tails up to get out 
of the way of their tormentor ; this lessens the quantity of milk, 
and prevents feeding cattle growing.”-—D. Byrd, Spurstow Hall, 
Tarporley. 
All who are at all connected with management of cattle know so 
well about the mischief caused by these wild gallops that it is not 
necessary to give observations of these in detail, more particularly as 
they have to be mentioned further on in the notes from contributors 
regarding successful methods of prevention and remedy ; but all stock 
keepers and dairy farmers know to their cost the mischief thus caused, 
not only in delaying fattening, but danger both in the gallop itself, 
and risk of accidents to incalf cows, and also loss in quantity and 
deterioration both in quality and condition of the milk. 
Loss on milk. —The only precise calculation I know of on the subject 
is thus referred to by Prof. Biley, late Entomologist of the U. S. A. 
Department of Agriculture :—“ ‘ The Effect of the Warbles in the 
Dairy ’ is the title of an interesting article by T. D. Curtis, in which 
the loss in the quantity of the flow of milk as well as its deterioration 
in quality, resulting from the annoyance of the animals by the flies 
while the latter are depositing eggs, and later by the grubs, is conclu¬ 
sively shown, and he estimates the shrinkage at 10 per cent., and the 
loss in quality at the same rate, making a total of 20 per cent.”—See 
‘ Insect Life.’ Periodical Bulletin of U. S. A. Department of Agri¬ 
culture. Yol. ii., No. 5, p. 158. Washington, U. S. A., 1889. 
The following note, from personal observations by Mr. D. Byrd, 
gives approximate estimates of loss of value on growth of feeding cattle from 
disturbance, and on weight of cheese and percentage of milk calculably 
lessened by the same cause:—• 
“We all know to our cost how greatly these tormenting flies 
irritate and madden the cattle, causing them to gallop or run, as if for 
their lives, to get away from the buzz and presence of their tormentors. 
Feeding cattle cannot grow in flesh without quiet and rest, and 
milking cows must suffer to a greater extent than we are aware of. To 
use a common remark, they soon ‘ bate ’—give less milk. To drive a 
cow fast, or cause her to be excited, reduces the quantity and quality 
of the milk. Without perfect quiet and rest they cannot do their best 
for us. 
“ This leads me to the one important point. What is our loss in 
the clieese-tub caused by the Warble and Gad Fly? I have tried to 
estimate the loss during the four or five summer months, or even the 
eight months that a cow is supposed to be in profit. There are certain 
times of unrest when the cow will give about one-half of her usual 
flow of milk. These tormenting flies, and the continued presence of 
