Entry 57: Salvatore and a Bull Named Baggiano - Sarvu e u Toru cu Nomi Baggiano

Basilia Staltari
4 days ago
4 min read

Updated: 3 days ago

Location: Calabria, Italy

Date: 1947

The bull was named Baggiano, but contrary to the meaning of his name, he was neither silly nor foolish, and certainly not worthless. Salvatore was well aware of the toro's intelligence, as the moment a rope was attached to the end of the bull's nose ring, Baggiano submitted to his handler's control and allowed Salvatore to lead him easily wherever they needed to go. One Thursday morning, Salvatore and his twelve-year-old son, Giovanni, were guiding Baggiano towards the livestock market in Siderno Marina. On this day of the week, the foot traffic on the country tracks were busier than usual, filled with a variety of animals being led by other farmers who were also making their way towards the same destination. Known as ‘a fera’, this market served as a central venue for farmers to sell, buy, barter or swap their valuable livestock with each other and the general public. However, Salvatore had a different reason for bringing this mighty, strong animal on a four kilometre trek into town. ‘A fera’ was also a place for farmers to showcase the beauty and quality of their stud animals, thereby promoting their breeding services.

'Sarvu portau u toru a fera pammu u su faci vidiri allatti cuntadini.'

Every farmer took pride in their livestock, and this generated a vibrant community spirit that filled the market with lively and passionate conversations among the traders. Baggiano was a Simmental bull - a versatile breed of cattle that originated in Switzerland, known for its dual benefits of high-yielding beef and milk production. He had a reddish coat dappled with white markings, referred to as ‘pezzato rosso’. Docile and even-tempered, his imposing stature was enough to attract a large and inquisitive crowd. His mere presence enough to demonstrate his virility! Upon seeing him, farmers quickly recognised him as a praiseworthy bull and decided that when their cows were ready for mating, they would bring them to Salvatore's farm.

Baggiano was not actually owned by Salvatore. The bull was too valuable and something he could never afford. The ‘toru’ was registered with the Provincial Commission for the Approval of Bulls in Reggio Calabria, and was officially owned by the Corigliano Brothers Agricultural Company, headed by Doctor Pietro Corigliano and his brother, Michele Corigliano, an engineer. Both men worked full-time in professions unrelated to animal husbandry and lacked practical farming experiences, so they assigned a reliable cattle expert – Salvatore, to manage the everyday care of Baggiano and oversee the breeding process. As specified in the registration Certificate of Approval No. 28 pictured below, Salvatore Moschilla (son of Andrea) was the entrusted keeper of the bull and authorised breeder, located at Contrada Monaco, Siderno. This was not the address of a “stud farm” - Salvatore conducted the breeding process in his backyard, behind the cottage where he and his family lived. The process was coordinated informally. Local farmers would contact Salvatore and on a pre-arranged day, they walked their heifer or cow to his property to be “introduced” to Baggiano. No science was involved - mating was left to happen naturally in a fenced paddock. As part of his obligations, Salvatore was required to record details in a duplicate receipt book, such as the date of service, the farmer’s name and the fee payment received. One copy was given to the farmer, while another copy remained in the book intact, providing a record of financial transactions for the Corigliano Brothers Agricultural Company.

Salvatore's unwavering commitment to Baggiano is best illustrated by the following facts: While all other farming chores were shared between his wife and eight children, Salvatore himself took charge of every aspect related to the upkeep of the 'toru'. He personally handled all its management and was responsible for the bull's complete care, with Giovanni assisting him when needed. The ‘toru’ was not used for ploughing fields or any other physical labour on the farm; he was maintained specifically for the sole purpose of breeding. Furthermore, the value of this prized bull is reflected in where he was housed. His unique stable was a fully enclosed stone structure with a door, roof, and even a storage room containing his food supplies. This stable, referred to as ‘a stalla du toru’, was attached to the back of the cottage where Salvatore resided with his family - thereby providing him peace of mind regarding Baggiano’s well-being and security.

From 1947, Baggiano played a crucial role in fathering herds of cattle across rural Siderno. Despite what the name implies, words like "silly", "foolish" and "worthless" certainly do not describe this particular 'toru'. The person who named the stud bull clearly had a brilliant sense of humour!

EXTRA INFORMATION 1

The original 'stalla du toru' where Baggiano was housed is still standing today.