Life Sciences Commons^™

Grey Kangaroo Management Programme, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

The Grey Kangaroo Management Programme, introduced in 1971 by the Department of Fisheries and Fauna, is designed to ensure the long-term conservation of the grey kangaroo, while at the same time recognising the right of the landholder to protect his primary production from damage.

One of the points which has arisen after examination of the programme is that some individual farmers are not fully aware of the requirements of the regulations.

Rural Radio Reports - Animals And Birds Declared Vermin, A R. Tomlinson

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

Animals and birds are declared vermin by the Agriculture Protection Board if they are a threat to primary industry.

Stock Brands And Movement Act, M R. Gardiner

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

ALL livestock owners in W.A. should understand the main provisions of the new Stock Brands and Movement Act which comes into force on January 1, 1972.

Thinking Of Pigs To Raise Your Income?, P Mcnamara

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

WHEAT quotas and low wool prices have caused many farmers to look to pigs to consume homegrown grain and to lift their incomes. However, with sow numbers at a record level, is it possible for a wheatbelt farmer to raise pigs profitably?

Because of his access to cheap grain, the wheatbelt farmer may be able to make a good profit on each pig sold. This could make pigmeat production a useful sideline on the farm, providing the farmer produces only lean pigs. There is no market for overfat pigs.

This article gives some hints on production of pigs on cereal …

The Protection Of Primary Production : The Role Of The Agriculture Protection Board Of Western Australia, A R. Tomlinson

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

THE main function of the Agriculture Protection Board of W.A. is, as its name implies, "protection", and, in this case, it is the State's primary production which is being protected from pest animals, birds and weeds.

In general, the Board's activities are centred on the prevention, destruction or management of animals and plants which are troublesome to agricultural or pastoral production, or are capable of being troublesome.

Pig Husbandry Research In Western Australia, N W. Godfrey

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

IN the past it has not been possible to undertake research work with pigs on any appreciable scale in Western Australia.

A small herd has been maintained at Denmark Research Station for some years as a demonstration side-line unit, run in conjunction with the dairy herd.

A number of very useful trials have been carried out with the Denmark herd, but its size has limited the comprehensiveness of the type of research work that could be undertaken.

History Of The State Vermin Barrier Fences, Formerly Known As Rabbit Proof Fences, J S. Crawford

Research Reports

There is evidence of rabbits arriving in Australia as far back as 1788, and it is well known that others were liberated on islands around the coast, including some off the coast of Western Australia. However, they remained localised and it is now generally accepted that the rabbits which did spread originated from a small shipment of the wild type brought on the Clipper “Lightning” in 1859. They were released on “Barwon Park”, the property of Thomas Austin, near Geelong in Victoria, and within three years, had reached pest proportions

The Western Australian Pig Industry, P Mcnamara

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

A look at the pig industry in Western Austrailia.

Hydatid Disease In Western Australia, K J. Austen

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

BECAUSE hydatid disease is a disease of humans as well as animals every consideration must be given to its control and to the prevention of any possible increase in incidence.

The incidence of hydatids in Western Australia has not, in the past, been very high.

However, the great increase in sheep numbers which has taken place in recent years and which is expected to continue for many years to come, will produce a situation where it could be expected that the incidence of the disease will rise unless stock owners, particularly sheep owners, take appropriate steps to control the tapeworms …

A Guide To Pig Feeding, P Mcnamara

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

FOOD is by far the greatest cost in pig production, accounting for between 60 per cent, and 75 per cent, of the total cost, and for this reason it is important that the basic principles of feeding be understood.

Septic Manure Ponds At Lower Kalgan, R Sprivulis

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

BETTER pastures, increasing herd sizes and better quality cows are all contributing to increased production of skim milk and an expansion in pig and calf raising in the dairying areas.

Manure Disposal From Piggeries, P Mcnamara

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

Many new piggeries have been built during the past year as more farmers swing over to intensive housing.

In most cases the problem of effluent disposal has been overlooked. This article shows how some pig raisers are beating the problem.

Piggery Septic System, N E. Macintyre

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

ONE of the problems of intensive houses for pigs is the disposal of the dung and urine.

If proper arrangements are not made to remove this, it soon accumulates in an offensive pile at one end of the piggery, making an excellent breeding ground for flies.

The Baconer Carcass Competition : A Guide To Better Quality Pigs, P Mcnamara

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

TO PROMOTE the ever-increasing trade with Britain and encourage quality production, the Australian Meat Board sponsored the 1937 All Australian Baconer and Pork carcass competition.

Fence Out Those Rabbits, J C. Rowbotham

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

THERE is probably no more distressing sight to orchardists' eyes than two or three hundred young fruit trees that have been damaged by rabbits.

Rabbit Increase : A Warning, A R. Tomlinson

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

THE increase in rabbits which has become apparent in many parts of our agricultural areas is a warning to those who considered the problem solved by myxomatosis that these pests are still present and are quite capable of building up to a major menace again, unless they are continually and effectively controlled.

Predators : Lamb Killers Or Scavengers, Stanley M. Dennis, C. D. Gooding

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

PREDATORS, particularly foxes and crows, have long been considered by many farmers in Western Australia to be a serious cause of lamb losses during the first week of life.

Results of the post-mortem examination of 2,179 lambs carried out by the Animal Health Laboratory over the past two years, however, throws considerable doubt on this belief.

These examinations revealed that 34 per cent, of the lambs showed mutilation by predators but only about 2 per cent, actually died as a result of predator attacks.

Oedema Disease : A Cause Of Death Of Pigs In W.A, J Armstrong, P. Meyer

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

Within the last two years Oedema Disease ("Gut oedema") has been diagnosed as a cause of pig mortality in this State.

This article describes the nature, symptoms and methods of control of this disease.

Vermin Control This Month, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

THE effects of the very wet winter are no longer being felt in vermin control activities in most of Western Australia and they have returned to normal.

The Fox : Status And Control, C D. Gooding

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

NOBODY knows for certain and it is possible that the damage done by foxes is sometimes over-rated, but the fact remains that foxes are reputed to be a real problem to some farmers at lambing time.

Horse Problems In The Kimberleys, M R. Gardiner

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

A review of current horse disease and ill-thrift problems in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, with emphasis on the "Kimberley horse disease".

DISEASES and other conditions affecting the health and working capacity of the horse have long had an important bearing on the economy of the cattle and sheep industries of the northern part of Western Australia.

Under present conditions it is impossible to muster stock on the large pastoral leases in the Kimberley districts without the aid of horses, and many other operations would be more difficult if stockmen were denied their services.

Attack The Rabbit At Home : Destroy Warrens And Harbourage, J S. Crawford

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

Effective rabbit destruction often calls for a carefully worked out control programme consisting of poisoning, fumigating and warren and harbourage destruction.

Possibly the most effective means of not only controlling rabbits but ultimately eradicating them from holdings is the destruction of warrens and harbourage.

Piglet Anaemia : An Iron Deficiency Disease, F C. Wilkinson

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

PIGLETS are born usually with only about 40 mg. of iron in their bodies and the sow's milk only supplies about 1 mg. of the 7 mg. needed each day by the piglets.

This means that if the piglets do not get additional iron, the body stores soon become depleted and anaemia occurs at about one to three weeks of age.

The Levy Nest : A Useful Aid To Farrowing, P Mcnamara

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

The levy farrowing nest which has given good results in England is a recent innovation in Australia.

It could be well adapted for W.A. conditions and is described here by Pig Husbandry Adviser Mr. P. McNamara, B.A. (Cantab.).

Control Of Lice On Pigs, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

LICE are responsible for serious losses in the pig industry, as apart from the reduced growth rates and loss of condition resulting from the constant irritation, the lice are carriers of disease.

Pigs Have A Place In The Dairying Areas, P Mcnamara

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

Pig-keeping could become a much more important feature on South-West dairy farms in the future with the enterprise as a definite farm-unit having a considerable effect on income.

There are indications also that the collection of bulk skim milk and whey for pig feeding will increase in the future. This could make way for the efficient specialist operating large pig raising units close to the source of supply.

In this article. Pig Husbandry Adviser P. McNamara, B.A. (Cantab.) examines pig-keeping in the South-West and makes suggestions on the part that pigs can play on the modem dairy farm.

Dingo Control : Organised Ground Baiting Drives At Mating Time, C D. Gooding, J. J. Freeth

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

DINGOES in Western Australia, like all "creatures of nature", have a well defined seasonal pattern of behaviour.

This is influenced somewhat by weather variations, but even in remote areas where violent fluctuations in rainfall occur from year to year, the dingo still breeds at roughly the same time.

The numbers of pups born and the numbers which survive each year varies a lot, but life goes on at roughly the same tempo under most seasonal conditions.

One Shot Baiting, C D. Gooding, L. A. Harrison

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

THE Agriculture Protection Board introduced the first of its contract poisoning schemes in 1955 in the lower South-West when three units undertook the first "1080" poisoning for farmers in Western Australia.

The originators of one-shot baiting describe this new technique and explain how it should be used for best results on the farm.

Yanchep National Park, Clee Francis Howard Jenkins

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

YANCHEP National Park lies just over 30 miles north of Perth, and was gazetted as an A Class Reserve in 1905.

It covers more than 6,000 acres.

Rabbit Fumigation, C D. Gooding

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

Not all poisons act by absorption from the alimentary tract or through the skin, the fumigants are a big group of poisons used in pest control which act on the animal after being absorbed through the lungs.

FUMIGATION as it is now used in Western Australia is not always an economical way of treating whole farm properties. It should only be used on its own in areas where it is impossible to use other more permanent methods such as warren destruction.