Life Sciences Commons^™

Flock Testing : Weighing, Sampling And Measurement Procedures For Fleece Measurement, H G. Neil, R. J. Lightfoot

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

An outline of shearing-shed procedure for the collection of greasy fleece weight records and sampling of the fleece for detailed measurement by the Department of Agriculture Flock Testing Service for Merino stud breeders.

Plants For Saltland : Samphire, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

THE photograph shows two bushes of "samphire" (mainly Arthrocnemum spp).

This common name is ascribed to several plants, all of which occur naturally in the agricultural areas in Western Australia.

Seventh Random Sample Laying Test 1963-64 : Poultry Research Station, Wembley : Third Progressive Report O 26th April, 1964, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

SEVENTH RANDOM SAMPLE LAYING TEST, 1963-6

4 POULTRY RESEARCH STATION, WEMBLEY

THIRD PROGRESSIVE REPORT TO 26th APRIL, 1964

Average age of birds 276 days or 39 weeks and 3 days.

Seventh Random Sample Laying Test : 1963-64 : Poultry Research Station, Wembley : Fourth Progressive Report To 31st May, 1964, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

SEVENTH RANDOM SAMPLE LAYING TEST, 1963-64

POULTRY RESEARCH STATION, WEMBLEY

FOURTH PROGRESSIVE REPORT TO 31st MAY, 1964

Average age of birds 308 days or 44 weeks and 1 day.

Pullorum Tested Poultry Flocks : 1964, 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.

A Revised List Of Diseases Of Ornamental Plants Recorded In Western Australia, O M. Goss

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

THIS list of ornamental diseases constitutes a revision of portion of the census published by Carne (1925) and added to by the same author in 1927.

It contains also records of diseases identified in the period between these earlier publications and June 30, 1961.

Wheat Breeding And Variety Trials, 1963-64, J T. Reeves

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

A review of the wheat breeding and pedigree seed production by the Department of Agriculture.

Yields from the wheat variety trials at agricultural research stations during the 1963-64 season are presented and discussed.

Take-All Disease Of Wheat, S C. Chambers

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

Take-all is the most serious of the several root-rotting diseases of wheat in Western Australia.

In the absence of cereal crops, the fungus responsible for take-all survives on the roots of native grasses.

Losses can be minimised by adopting cultural methods which reduce the amount of infective material in the soil and which also encourage vigorous growth of the crop.

Grade Herd Recording, 1963-64, Maurice C. Cullity

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

A review of Grade Herd Recording during the 1963-64 season.

THERE was a substantial increase in the number of cows which were recorded in 1963-64 compared with 1962-63 (23,520 and 22,635 respectively).

This season's figure represents 20.4 per cent, of all cows in the dairying districts.

The number of cows which completed lactation and therefore whose yields were included in the averages, rose from 17,258 to 19,011.

Oat Variety Trials, 1962 And 1963, J L. Mcmullan

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

OAT variety trials were located on a number of Research Stations and, in 1963, on three other properties in the higher rainfall areas.

These three trials contained only varieties of midseason maturity.

The location of the test centres is given in the tables, while brief details of the varieties and crossbreds under test in the period 1962-64, inclusive, are given in Table 1.

Contagious Ophthalmia (Pinkeye) Of Sheep, C R. Toop

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

CONTAGIOUS OPTHALMIA, better known to the sheep owner as "pinkeye", is a common disease of sheep particularly during the summer months.

It is known to occur in most countries where sheep are kept and is prevalent in Australia throughout the sheep-raising areas.

An Assessment Of Cattle Husbandry Problems In Western Australia, W J O Wilkie

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

THE science of animal husbandry deals with all those things which affect the welfare and productivity of our domestic animals.

The relative emphasis placed on welfare and productivity depends on whether the animals are kept as pets or for profit.

Supplementary List Of Disease Recorded On Various Hosts In Western Australia, G C. Macnish

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

THIS supplement contains the diseases recorded on all hosts during the period July 1, 1961 and June 30, 1963 inclusive.

A few disease records omitted from previous census have been incorporated. A list of previous publications in this series is appended. Also appended is a list of common names of host plants to facilitate reference.

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.

Weaning Lambs Under Pastoral Conditions, H Suijdendorp, L. Parsons

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

IN the summer rainfall region of the pastoral areas lambs are too often born too late to ensure their survival.

In good seasons with a fair measure of winter rain more late lambs will survive, but losses are still serious. The only solution to this problem is to make sure lambs drop in May-June.

But the presence of late and often unmarked lambs at mating time is a disturbing influence, which makes it hard to advance the established mating pattern.

Poultry : Toxic Factors In Protein Supplements, D F. Hessels

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

The toxic effect of low quality and/or stale protein supplements can be a problem in the poultry industry.

This article describes trials carried out to assess their importance in Western Australia.

Lucerne Establishment On The West Midland Sandplain, J W. Gartrell

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

WEST of Dandaragan and the Midland line from Watheroo to Mingenew there are four million acres of scrubplain commonly called the Western Sandplain.

All virgin soils in this region are acutely nitrogen deficient so that the agricultural future of the region depends on how successfully legumes are grown.

Silage Making In The Lower South-West, A L. Hamilton

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

The history of silage making in the South-West of Western Australia is typified by periods of relatively intense activity followed by periods when the activity virtually ceases.

The recent rise in popularity has followed the introduction of machinery or methods which tend to make the job easier to handle, or which improve the quality of the silage.

Ram Management, J Craig

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

REALISING that good rams play an important role in flock improvement, the wise flock owner selects his rams after careful consideration of their breeding, type, production and fleece characters or potential meat-producing qualities.

Good ram management can have a major effect on lambing percentages. In this article Senior Veterinary Surgeon J. Craig outlines methods of achieving the best results from rams.

Recent Advances In Lupinosis Research, M R. Gardiner

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

BECAUSE of the important role which lupins play in light land development, flock losses from the effects of lupinosis must inevitably continue to be a matter of serious concern.

However, research carried out during the last four years has considerably advanced our knowledge of the fundamental nature of this disease and of the way in which it may be prevented or controlled.

Linseed Growing In The Ord River Valley, D F. Beech

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

Experimental work with linseed at the Kimberley Research Station began in 1952 and has been intensified in the last four years.

Fertiliser requirements and methods of land preparation, sowing, irrigation and weed control have been established.

Suitable varieties have been selected. Farm-scale crops have been grown in the area and, although cotton is very much more remunerative as an establishment crop, it is expected that linseed will ultimately have a place in the Ord irrigation scheme.

Establishing Wheatbelt Pastures? Don't Use A Cover Crop, J A C Smith, D. B. Argyle

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

One of the factors which influence the establishment of improved pasture in the West Australian wheatbelt is whether the pasture legume is sown with a cover crop or not.

Mediocre establishment can follow when a cover crop is used and it is recommended that, for rapid establishment, any pasture legume should be sown without a cover crop.

Recommended Oat Varieties, 1964, J L. Mcmullan

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

THE varieties Kent, Ballidu, Avon, Dale and Fulmark are recommended for sowing in 1964 by the Department of Agriculture and the Coarse Grains Advisory Committee.

Sclerotinia Disease Of Vegetables : Survival Of The Fungus In Soil, S C. Chambers, M. Hardie

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

Sclerotinia of vegetables is carried over in the soil of market gardens by means of resting fungal bodies called sclerotia.

Recent tests have shown that sclerotia may stay alive in the sandy soils of Spearwood for two years, but disappear from the wet peat soils of Wanneroo within six months

The Composition Of Milk : Notes On A Recent Survey Of Dairy Farms, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

THE report on the recent survey into milk composition carried out by officers of the Dairying Division of the Department of Agriculture will soon be available to all interested dairy farmers.

Take-All Of Wheat On The Esperance Downs : The Ffect Of Nitrogenous Fertiliser, S C. Chambers

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

The number of wheat tillers affected by take-all was not influenced by the application of ammonium sulphate in an experiment at Esperance Downs Research Station.

However, its use stimulated tillering and increased yields by an estimated 7.4 bushels an acre.

Lice On Cattle, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

Lice can cause serious financial losses through reduced growth rates and loss of production in beef and dairy cattle.

This article describes the main species and recommended control measures.

Guard Against Bitter Pit, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

Two seasons ago bitter pit' caused heavy rejections of apples for export overseas and bad trade publicity.

To avoid a repetition of this, precautions should be taken against bitter pit on all susceptible varieties.

Modern Developments In Bulk Handling Of Apples, J C. Rowbotham

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

One of the results of mechanisation replacing physical labour has been the development of bulk handling of many commodities.

Apart from the saving of time, effort and cost, bulk handling of agricultural produce enables quicker harvesting at the right time.