Life Sciences Commons^™

The Success Of The Rabbit 'Killer' Trials, A R. Tomlinson

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

SUCCESS well beyond what was anticipated has been achieved in a two year trial of a modified version of the rabbit "killer" method.

In the "killer" method, trained officers are employed to kill rabbits instead of to inspect and supervise the activities of farmers and, in fact, these officers do all the actual work of destruction.

This system was advocated by the W.A. Royal Commission which reported on Vermin Control in this State in 1944, and it was used successfully in New Zealand.

These trials were applied only to poisoning and not to overall destruction measures. The main object was …

Autumn Lambing Means Autumn Feeding, C J. Spencer

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

MANY Merino flocks in the agricultural areas Iamb down in the autumn months.

This means that the lambs are being developed and reared when paddock feed is at its worst, and this in turn means that a well-planned supplementary feeding programme is essential.

Beef Growth Rate Studies : Wokalup Research Station, Maurice C. Cullity

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Comparison of Growth Rates on Irrigated and Unirrigated Pastures of Two Year Old and Yearling Beef Dairy Crosses and of Yearling Jersey Steers.

Galah Poisoning : Kill The "Cocky", John L. Long, F. Vagg

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

NO! Not the one that tills the land, but his enemy, the pink and grey galah (Kakatoe rosei-capilla).

Farmers have usually found the destruction of galahs damaging standing crops and bagged, or stored grain, fairly difficult.

Past methods of boiling grain and adding sweetened substances are rather laborious and require a lot of time.

Now, a quick and relatively simple method is available to farmers, using paraffin oil to adhere poison to the grain.

Wild Dog Control In The North-West, R J. Fraser

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

BECAUSE of its sparsely-settled condition, the North-West of Western Australia is almost an ideal breeding-ground and hunting-ground for wild dogs.

Even the best of the pastoral country is but thinly populated and there are large areas of rugged country which is seldom traversed by white men.

Wild Life In A Modern Age, Clee Francis Howard Jenkins

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE present human population of the earth is estimated at about 2 1/2 thousand million, and reliable sources consider that this figure will be doubled by the year 2000.

Although the pessimistic forecasts of Malthus have not yet come true, it is obvious that the world's food requirements, must lead to increased exploitation of land and other primary resources, with consequent repercussions on all forms of wild life.

Hit Rabbits This Winter : It Will Check Breeding And Give More Valuable Feed For Summer Grazing, C Marshall

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

NOW that the current summer "1080" Rabbit Drive is drawing to a close, it is time we considered our future plans.

I am afraid that in the past most farmers have relied far too much on summer control as the complete answer to rabbit destruction and that this reliance has increased considerably following the introduction of "1080" poison, plus the valuable assistance received from the myxomatosis virus.

Second West Australian Random Sample Egg Laying Tests : 1958-59, R H. Morris

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

4S part of the poultry improvement plan for Western Australia, the Department of Agriculture inaugurated a random sample laying test for commercial grade chickens at the Poultry Research Station, Herdsman Lake, in 1957.

Better Rations For Broiler Production, P Smetana

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

DURING 1959, trials were conducted at the Poultry Research Station, Herdsman Lake, with the object of developing a broiler-feeding ration that was better than the one at present recommended by the Department of Agriculture and commonly used by local broiler producers.

Famous Sheep Breeds. 3. The Leicester, J A. Mallett

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE Leicester sheep, often referred to in Australia as the "English" Leicester to distinguish it from its relative, the Border Leicester, is the oldest of the improved British breeds.

Its development from the nondescript local sheep marked an advance in stockbreeding technique which did much to make Britain famous as the "stud-farm of the world."

Rabbit Control In 1960, C Marshall

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

IN the year 1859, an enthusiastic sportsman in Victoria took delivery from the clipper "Lightning" of a small consignment of wild European rabbits which he joyfully released on his estate at Barwon Park, near Geelong, in order to assure himself of some rough shooting.

He was not the only rabbit importer on record—tame rabbits were brought into Australia before and after 1895 and doubtless there were other importations of the wild rabbit—but he is generally credited—or discredited—with having triggered off the rabbit plague.

Cattle Lice : Spray Now For Prevention, F C. Wilkinson

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

ALTHOUGH lice infestation can occur in any season of the year, the heaviest infestations are found during the winter.

This build up of lice infestation normally starts in the autumn but if the cattle are treated by spraying at this period, the majority of the lice are killed and the build up is prevented.

Thus the old saying "Prevention is better than cure" certainly applies with regard to cattle lice.

A Survey Of The Incidence Of Lupinosis In Sheep In The Dandaragan District In 1959, H G. Neil, W. J. Toms, C. M. Ralph

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

FOLLOWING widespread losses of sheep grazing on dry lupins, a survey of flockowners' experience with the disease was made by the Department of Agriculture in one of the districts most affected.

The idea of a survey originated from discussions with the President, Mr. K. E. Jones, and several other members of the Dandaragan Pasture Improvement Group.

The information obtained from the survey has provided a valuable factual basis for the design of laboratory and field experiments.

List Of Registered Stock Foods And Stock Licks 1960-61, H G. Cariss

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

All foods for stock sold in Western Australia are required by the Feeding Stuffs Act, 1928-1951, to be registered annually with the Department of Agriculture.

Cutting Costs In Calf Rearing, N A. Scott

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

RAISING calves as herd replacements and as a sideline to provide added income is becoming increasingly popular.

This is particularly noticeable since the inception of the Artificial Breeding Scheme whereby farmers are at liberty to breed herd replacements from their most productive cows and use semen from beef breeds for the poorer types.

Foster-Mothering Of Calves, Maurice C. Cullity, K. W. Simes

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

"SAVE those calves" is a slogan which has been used frequently in propaganda to reduce the slaughter of heifers when it is thought that the supply of replacement animals to our dairy herds might be unduly low.

Although there is no fear of this at present, the wastage of calves both heifers and bulls, in Western Australia is unduly large.

Feeding Pickled Wheat To Pigs, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

INQUIRIES are frequently received from farmers asking whether it is safe to feed pickled wheat to pigs, and if so, the quantities which would be suggested.

Until very recently there was no experimental information on the safety or possible dangers of these wheat pickling agents, but feeding trials completed last year at the Animal Health and Nutrition Laboratory, Nedlands, have provided some of the answers to these questions.

Studies In The Mulga Pastoral Zone. 1. The Grazing Of Wandarrie Grass Associations, D G. Wilcox

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE establishment of the Wiluna office of the North-West Branch marked the commencement of a series of investigations into the pastures of the mulga zone.

Unlike the agricultural areas where a fund of knowledge exists on the growth habits of the pastures, the pastures of this area were completely unknown.

The preliminary investigations had to be aimed at forming an understanding of the reactions of the various plants to rain, to temperature and seasonal conditions and to grazing in an area of extremely low rainfall reliability.

This Year's Export Lamb Carcass Competition, N Davenport

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE Export Lamb Competition will be conducted through the Royal Agricultural Society again this year.

Last year, due partly to the season, entries were well below those of previous years and if this competition is to continue, greater support from breeders is necessary.

I am sure you will agree that such a competition has undoubted value both for producers in recognising the type of lamb required, and also as an advertising medium for the sale of high quality Western Australian lamb on the English markets.

Pinkeye In Sheep : Some Timely Comments, F C. Wilkinson

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

DURING the summer months, it is almost inevitable that numbers of sheep in Western Australia will suffer from contagious ophthalmia—or pinkeye, to give the disease its more popular name.

As it can be quite a distressing disease which can cause severe setbacks, most flock owners, knowing that medicaments are available for the treatment of pinkeye, will feel that they should do something for the affected animals.

Zamia Palm Poisoning, F C. Wilkinson

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE Zamia palm (Macrozamia Reidlei) is a common plant in the jarrah and karri forest country and on the coastal plains and is one of the earliest recorded Australian poison plants.

Brucellosis And Its Control With Strain 19 Vaccine, C R. Toop

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

DAIRY farmers of a generation ago will not need to be reminded of the ravages of contagious abortion or of the need for the continued application of effective control measures.

Fifteen or 20 years ago this disease which we now call Brucellosis was rife throughout the dairying districts of the State and it exacted a heavy toll.

The "abortion storm" was a common occurrence and it was not unusual for 30 per cent., and sometimes considerably more, of the cows in a herd to lose their calves at about the sixth month of pregnancy.

The Care Of The Breeding Sow, P C. Beck

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

PIG-RAISING is a specialised field of animal production, which, to be profitable must incorporate both a scientific and a practical approach.

These two factors must be complementary, for without a sound practical approach, the value of the scientific principles involved, e.g., in breeding and compounding rations would accordingly be reduced.

The Romney Marsh, J A. Mallett

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE Romney Marsh, sometimes known as the Kent, is the most popular of the British longwoel sheep breeds used in Western Australia.

Rams of this breed are widely used for mating with Merino ewes, the crossbred female progeny of the matings being in demand for subsequent mating with Downs-type rams to produce export Iambs.

Brucellosis Can Cause Contagious Abortion In Cattle And Undulant Fever In Man, F C. Wilkinson

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

WHEN the cow, shown in the accompanying photograph, was purchased it had a small fluid-filled lump on the left knee.

The swelling did not appear to be painful but gradually increased in size until it assumed the proportions shown in the picture.

It was a typical case of "big-knee," one of the less common manifestations of Brucellosis—the disease commonly known as contagious abortion—and a blood test of the animal confirmed the diagnosis.

Registered Stock Foods : Supplementary List, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

List of Registered Stock Feeds (Supplementry List

Lamb Marking, I K. Stott

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

LAMB marking is the most severe of the various ordeals which sheep are called upon to endure during their lifetimes—yet it is an operation, or rather a series of operations, to which the average fiockowner gives but little care and thought.

Insect Pests : Snails And Slugs, Clee Francis Howard Jenkins

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

WHILE snails and slugs are not insects, they have been included in this series of articles, because the damage they cause is very similar to that caused by insect pests—and furthermore, the task of testing and recommending control measures is usually left to the entomologists.

Selenium : An Essential Trace Element, Laurence C. Snook

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

SELENIUM is one of the rare elements. In most soils it occurs in such minute quantities as to escape attention.

Plants, however, can concentrate selenium in their tissues and, in the U.S.A. in areas where the soils contain more selenium than usual, this facility can result in selenium poisoning in grazing animals.

Fortunately, none of the common soil types in Australia appears to contain enough selenium to affect the quality of the herbage.

How Efficient Is Your Drenching Gun? Does It Deliver Sufficient Drench To Kill The Worms?, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE drenching gun pictured certainly doesn't. It is set to give two fluid ounces of drench (60 ccs approximately). However, when tested by squirting the fluid into a measuring cylinder, instead of down the sheep's gullet, it delivered only 30 ccs.