A BULL was at the centre of a dispute between two Co Wexford farmers at the county’s small claims court yesterday.
Patsy Furlong, Ballyphilip, Bunclody, brought a claim for €1,300 against Fergus Turner, Tomnaboley, Boolavogue, who had sold him a bull that was “not a genuine breeding bull” as it only had one descended testicle.
Judge Donnchadh Ó Buachalla heard that the pedigree Limousin bull was sold by Mr Turner to Mr Furlong at Carnew mart on March 20th for €1,220. Mr Furlong said he was happy with his purchase until he got his vet to check it over a few days later and the vet found it had only one descended testicle.
He produced the cert from his vet. Judge Ó Buachalla noted that the cert merely stated that the bull had only one descended testicle, but made no comment as to whether he was a genuine breeding bull. However, Mr Furlong said it was “common knowledge in the farming community that he’s not a breeding bull if one testicle is not descended”.
“Is your claim then that he’s not a perfect specimen?” asked the judge. “No, it’s that he’s not a genuine breeding bull,” said Mr Furlong. He was not questioning the fertility of the bull, but reiterated that he believed it was not a genuine breeding bull with only one descended testicle.
“Would you accept that a bull with one testicle descended is not a genuine breeding bull?” asked Mr Furlong.
“There are plenty of animals and even humans out there with one testicle and I’m sure they are doing the job,” replied Mr Turner.
Judge Ó Buachalla agreed and dismissed Mr Furlong’s claim.
The bull died a month after purchase due to an infection from a rectal tear, which was also the subject of some dispute yesterday, with Mr Furlong claiming the tear was caused by another bull owned Mr Turner while they were in the pen at Carnew mart, although he accepted he could not prove this.