Life Sciences Commons^™

The New Stock Diseases Regulations : A Summary Of Major Regulations Under The New Stock Diseases (Regulations) Act, M R. Gardiner

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

THE new Stock Diseases (Regulations) Act proclaimed on August 1, 1970, introduces some new regulations and makes many changes to existing regulations, which could affect most farmers at some time or another.

This article summarises the regulations most likely to affect farmers, with emphasis on new or changed regulations.

Causes Of Low Lambing Percentages, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

West Australian Merino flocks average about 70 per cent, lambs marked each year. Reasons for this low percentage are that as many as 30 per cent, of ewes do not lamb, twinning rates are low and from 10 to 25 per cent, of lambs born die.

Among the research projects by the Department of Agriculture's Sheep and Wool Branch have been a number directed at the various stages of reproduction in the ewe. These have given some important leads on the causes of low lambing percentages.

If you have marked less than 60 per cent, lambs in the past several …

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.

Shed Lambing In The Esperance Environment, T Marshall, F. F. Dixon

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

Neonatal lamb mortality is often high in Western Australia and losses as high as 33 per cent, have been recorded on private properties in the Esperance area. Surveys by Western Australian Department of Agriculture officers have indicated that more than threequarters of such lamb deaths occur after birth. About half these deaths result from the combined effects of weather and mismothering.

Work in Victoria has indicated that lamb mortality may be reduced by intensive lambing systems such as shedding and this trial was established to see if shedding could reduce lamb mortality in the Esperance environment.

Bovine Tuberculosis Control In Western Australia : Past, Present And Future, M R. Gardiner

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

TWENTY YEARS AGO, tuberculosis was a widespread and serious disease in the dairy cattle of Western Australia.

Besides having a marked depressing effect on the economy of the dairying industry, bovine tuberculosis was a constant hazard to humans coming in contact with it.

Sheep Worm Control And Lambing Time In High Rainfall Areas, F C. Wilkinson

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

Indications from a continuing sheep trial at Margaret River are that farmers in high rainfall areas could increase stocking rates and lamb growth rates by lambing in September- October rather than July-August.

The results also indicate that farmers in the area may be spending more than necessary on worm control.

Cyanogenetic Plants Of Western Australia, T E H Aplin

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

THIS article deals with the more important cyanogenetic plants found in Western Australia.

It also deals with plants which have not been proved as cyanogenetic but which do produce toxic effects similar to those produced by cyanogenetic plants.

Symptoms, post mortem appearances and the treatment for affected stock are also dealt with.

This Could Happen Here : If Foot-And-Mouth Disease Came To Western Australia, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

THE first outbreak would probably be on a piggery not far from a major port. But it might also appear among cattle or sheep in a similar area, or even on a cattle station in the North.

Pollorum Tested Poultry Flocks, 1966-67, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

PULLORUM disease has been virtually eliminated from breeding and hatchery poultry flocks in Western Australia by the annual blood-testing of all birds and the destruction of reactors.

Mastitis In Western Australian Dairy Cattle, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

IN 1964/65, as a first step towards a State-wide mastitis control programme, the Department of Agriculture undertook a survey of mastitis in West Australian dairy herds.

The survey was designed to obtain a clear picture of the incidence and severity of the disease and is the most comprehensive mastitis survey carried out in Australia.

West Midlands Development : Poison Plants In The West Midlands, T E H Aplin

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

TOXIC plants have caused considerable economic loss to stock raisers since the early days of settlement in Western Australia.

Although much is now known of the toxic materials contained in such plants, and although most of the plants have been thoroughly publicised, losses are still occurring in many areas.

Lamb Mortality On Agricultural Research Stations, K P. Croker

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

Progress report of a study of lamb losses in experimental flocks on Department of Agriculture research stations in the agricultural areas.

THE major barrier to increased production by the West Australian sheep and wool industry is the shortage of sheep in the agricultural areas of the State, and much research has been directed towards overcoming this shortage.

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 …

Worms In Sheep. 2. Seasonal Variations In Worm Burdens, R W. Butler

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

The first article in this series described the worms which commonly infest sheep in Western Australia and the symptoms caused by heavy infestations.

This article outlines the effects of seasonal changes on worm burdens in sheep.

AS a basis for planning a worm control programme it is essential to have information on the seasonal changes in worm burdens and on the factors which control these.

In this article, the more important of these are considered.

The Problem Of Pesticide Residues In Animal Products, J Craig

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

. . . a summary of the present position concerning pesticide residues in animal products, and recommendations for pest control measures which will avoid residue accumulation.

Feeding Urea To Dairy Cows, R A. Bettenay

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

IT has been known for some years that the ruminant animal, through the agency of microflora in the rumen, has the ability to use urea as a source of nitrogen, and to convert some of this to protein.

Down But Not Out [Milk Fever], F C. Wilkinson

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

The five-year-old Jersey cow pictured had calved overnight.

In the previous year this cow had been the highest producer in the herd, so the farmer was very pleased to see she had produced a heifer calf.

Down And Out [Pulpy Kidney Disease], F C. Wilkinson

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

Two days previously the weaner mob had broken through a gate into a hundred acre paddock in which an excellent green oat crop was growing.

The owner had not been particularly worried because the oats needed grazing. When however, he went to check the water troughs and found 17 weaners dead, he became perturbed.

Warning : Footrot Threatens South-West Sheep Industry, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

DURING the past few months footrot has appeared in sheep in the South-West in an area extending from Busselton southwards to Kudardup.

This area has only recently been stocked with sheep which have been purchased from many sources.

It is probable that there were a few "carriers" amongst these introduced sheep, and that under the favourable conditions of the South-West the infection was able to develop and spread and then to declare itself in clinical form.

Alive-Stiff-Dead [Tetanus], F C. Wilkinson

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

Only 12 hours before this photograph was taken the lamb pictured was alive and healthy.

When examined it was very stiff and unable to stand. A few hours later it was dead.

Do You Know This Disease [Scabby Mouth], F C. Wilkinson

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

This sheep is showing rather severe lesions of "scabby mouth" a disease widely distributed in both the pastoral and agricultural areas.

Reproductive Wastage And The Sheep Shortage In Western Australia, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

WESTERN AUSTRALIA has an acute shortage of sheep.

It is estimated that about seven million extra sheep are needed to stock existing pastures fully; meanwhile the carrying capacity of the State's pastures is increasing at the rate of three million sheep a year.

Coccidiosis Of Calves, W A. Halhead

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

Coccidiosis is one of the commonest causes of calf loss and debility on South-West dairy farms.

Treatment and control are simple once the nature of the disease is understood.

A Sick Ewe Why? [Pregnancy Toxaemia], F C. Wilkinson

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

THIS dazed-looking ewe was seen wandering aimlessly around with an unsteady gait.

Three other ewes had died after a similar sickness lasting about four days.

Two more sheep in the flock of 350 ewes were also sick. One of them was down with its head on one side.

Lot Feeding Of Beef Cattle. 5. Feed Lots And Animal Health, W J O Wilkie

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

BRINGING cattle from various sources together in a feed lot makes them more liable to disease than they would be in the open paddock.

Precautions, careful selection, prevention and vaccination can reduce the risk of disease and the possible need for treatment during the feed lot fattening period.

Why Did These Lambs Die?, Stanley M. Dennis

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

INVESTIGATIONS over the past two years have shown that most lamb deaths in Western Australia occur during the first three days of life, that is, in the critical neonatal period.

Most of the lambs died between 24 and 72 hours after birth.

Congenital Abnormalities In Sheep, Stanley M. Dennis

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

More than 60 forms of abnormality have been found in lambs in Western Australia and in some flocks the proportion of particular abnormalities has been as high as 8 per cent, of lambs born.

In this article Dr. Dennis discusses the causes of abnormalities and reports progress of a Statewide survey of congenital abnormalities.

Sheep Breeding Problems In W.A. : The Industry's View, Stanley M. Dennis

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

IN 1963 a short questionnaire was distributed to farmers and pastoralists seeking information about sheep breeding problems and lamb losses.

This was a fore-runner to the Department of Agriculture survey into the causes of abortion and lamb mortality which is reported elsewhere in this issue.

Pullorum Tested Poultry Flocks, 1965, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

PULLORUM disease has been virtually eliminated from breeding and hatchery poultry flocks in Western Australia by the annual blood-testing of all birds and the destruction of reactors.

Vibriosis In Sheep, Stanley M. Dennis

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

OVINE VIBRIOSIS or vibrionic abortion, a serious disease of breeding ewes, has been known for almost 50 years and has been reported from most of the important sheep breeding areas of the world.

It is capable of causing serious economic loss.