Animal Sciences Commons^™

Entering The Egg Industry With Laying Cages, W Ward

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

DEPARTMENT of Agriculture Bulletin 3579, "Entering the Egg Industry with Laying Cages", by W. Ward, examines various aspects of the cage system of housing laying hens.

This system is by far the most popular method of housing layers, with 90 per cent, of new farms using cages and many daep litter farms now converting to cages.

Snail Investigations : A Progress Report, G D. Rimes

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

Experimental baits and sprays have given promising control of snails in cereals and pastures in the Geraldton-Dongara districts.

The problem of harvesting infested wheat crops has been overcome by attaching a specially designed rake in front of the header ccmb to remove snails from the plants.

Oestrogen Free Subterranean Clovers : Their Development And Prospects, C M. Francis

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

SELDOM have plants received more publicity than the "oestrogen free" subterranean clovers developed by the University of Western Australia's Institute of Agriculture.

The production of oestrogen free clovers has attracted great popular interest, particularly among farmers in the southern sheep raising districts.

Amsinckia Or Yellow Burr-Weed (Amsinckia Spp.), G R W Meadly

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

YELLOW BURR-WEED is widely established in the Wimmera and Mallee districts in Victoria, presumably introduced with fodder brought to this country from the United States about 1914.

It is a problem in Oregon and other north west wheat areas of America.

The weed is also widespread in New South Wales, being most troublesome in the wheat-growing sections of the Riverina. It is not established to the same extent in South Australia and Queensland.

The recent discovery of areas infested with yellow burr-weed at Merredin prompted the Agriculture Protection Board to declare it a primary noxious weed for Western Australia.

Wheat In Development Programmes For New Esperance Farmers, R J. Doyle, G. D. Oliver

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

IN the December, 1967, issue of the Journal of Agriculture, we reported on five development budgets for the Esperance region.

The aim of the exercise was to find out if a new settler concentrating on sheep, with $20,000 available for development after acquisition of land, could make a reasonable living for himself and his family while developing his farm.

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.

Pendulous Crop Of Turkeys, M E. Bacon

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

THE condition known as pendulous crop occurs occasionally in a mild form in fowls, but the most commonly reported cases concern the classical symptoms that occur from time to time in turkeys.

The condition is also referred to as baggy crop, dropped crop, hanging crop and sour crop, and causes mortality, poor development and emaciation within turkey flocks in some areas.

Swine Erysipelas, G C De Chaneet

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

SWINE ERYSIPELAS, first diagnosed in Western Australia in 1960, has become a source of considerable loss to the pig industry.

Most losses have resulted from carcass condemnation at abattoirs because of arthritis caused by the erysipelas organism.

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.

African Horse Sickness, M R. Gardiner

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

THE viral disease, African horse sickness has become the most menacing contagious disease of equine animals since bacterial and protozoan diseases of the horse, such as glanders and dourine, have declined throughout the world.

Space Requirements For Pullets And Layers On Litter, A H. Lean

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

UNEVEN growth, cannibalism, weakened resistance to disease, unsanitary conditions and poor production commonly arise from failure to provide sufficient floor, feed and watering space for pullets and layers.

The Spice Finch, John L. Long

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

THE Spice Finch (Lonchura punctulata) is also known as Nutmeg Finch or Mannikin, Spice bird, Spotted Munia, Common Munia, Ricebird and Scaly-breasted Munia.

It is an east and south east Asian species inhabiting Malaya, Singapore, Penang, India, Ceylon, Burma, Indo-China, Yunnan, Formosa and the Philippines.

The dangers associated with such a species being introduced to Western Australia are great.

Round Worms : Important Parasites Of Pigs, F C. Wilkinson

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

ROUND WORMS are usually found in the small intestine of pigs. The adults average six to 10 inches long. They are creamy-white and cylindrical in shape, tapering to a point at both ends.

Bluetongue Of Sheep, M R. Gardiner

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

BLUETONGUE is a serious disease of sheep, mainly of introduced European breeds, throughout the African continent.

It is maintained there by wild and domestic ruminants in the presence of certain insect vectors (carriers).

The disease has probably existed there from immemorial times among the indigenous ruminants, emerging as a recognised disease only when the much more susceptible European breeds were brought into the continent.

The Indian Mynah, John L. Long

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

THE Common or Indian Mynah (Acridotheres tristis) inhabits Afghanistan, Baluchistan, southern Russian Turkestan, India, Ceylon and the Andaman Islands.

Worms In Sheep. 4. Drenches For Treatment And Control Of Worms In Sheep, W A. Halhead

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

PREVIOUS articles in this series have described the species of worms affecting sheep in Western Australia, their life histories and the factors which lead to the seasonal rise and fall in worm burdens.

A programme of strategic (preventative) drenching has been outlined which is based on a knowledge of these seasonal changes in worm burdens.

Winter Beef Production Trial : Wongan Hills Research Station, D J. Barker, H. G. Cariss

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

IN 14-inch rainfall districts most rainfall occurs between May and October. It is d i f f i cult to keep beef animals fattening on summer dry pastures but such areas do have a ready supply of locally grown cereals.

Using these materials as the basis of a supplement it is possible to market prime baby-beef by June-July.

The higher prices obtained for this "winter" beef more than offset the cost of supplementary feed.

Concrete In Dairies, D Roger Buchanan

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

PRIME requirements for exposed concrete surfaces in dairies are that they should be easily cleansed and should not deteriorate in contact with milk and milk products.

In milking stalls, animal races and on loading platforms hardwearing surfaces which offer good foothold are also necessary.

The Outlook For Wool, Lamb And Beef, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

WOOL and fat lambs have been traditional products of farms in the wetter parts (20 inches of rainfall and above) of Western Australia's agricultural areas.

The prices for both these products are causing corncern and some farmers have already changed to beef production.

This article discusses the future prices for wool, fat lambs and beef.

Report On Trials Conducted In 1978 And 1969 By Plants Research Division And Wheat And Sheep Division, J W. Gartrell

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

In the late 1920's the seven million acres of virgin land

between Hyden and Salmon Gums were considered for settlement under

the "3,500 farms scheme" because it constituted "practically the

only large area of wheat lands in a suitable climatic zone not then

settled in Australia" (Teakle 1939).

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.

Heart-Leaf Poison, River Poison, Stirling Range Poison, T E H Aplin

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

THIS article deals with heart-leaf poison, river poison and Stirling Range poison, all more or less restricted to the lower South-Western Region of Western Australia.

Land Resource Evaluation - Ninety Mile Tank Report On Trials Conducted 1968, 1969 And 1970 By Plant Research Division And Wheat And Sheep Division, J W. Gartrell

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

In the late 1920's the seven million acres of virgin land between Hyden and Salmon Gums were considered for settlement under the "3,500 farms scheme" because it constituted "practically the only large area of wheat lands in a suitable climatic zone not then settled in Australia" (Teakle 1939). At that time the sandy scrubplain soils were more a liability than an asset because methods of profitably farming the light soils had not then been evolved. These useless scrubplains merely increased the distances between patches of' more f'ertile soils. The scheme for settlement was based mainly on the potential of' the …

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.

The Amended Brands Act, M R. Gardiner

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

DURING the past year many changes have been introduced into the Brands Act to adapt legislation to modern conditions.

This article summarizes the new requirements for the guidance of the farming community.

Poison Plants Of Western Australia : Crinkle-Leaf Poison (Gastrolobium Villosum Benth.), Runner Poison (G. Ovalifolium Henfr.), Horned Poison And Hill River Poison (G. Polystachyum Meissn.), Woolly Poison (G. Tomentosum C.A. Gardn.), T E H Aplin

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

THIS article deals with four toxic species of the genus Gastrolobium which are superficially similar to one other.

Two of these species are prostrate in habit; the other two are more upright but are generally short in stature.

The Red-Whiskered Bulbul, John L. Long

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

Widely distributed in both Africa and Asia, Bulbuls are a largely tropical group of fruit eating birds ranging in size from that of a house sparrow to a blackbird.

Eleventh Random Sample Laying Tests, 1967-68 : Cages, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

ELEVENTH RANDOM SAMPLE LAYING TEST, 1967-68 - CAGES

POULTRY RESEARCH STATION, WEMBLEY

FOURTH PROGRESSIVE REPORT TO 2nd JUNE, 1968

Common Heliotrope : (Heliotropum Europaeum L.), G R W Meadly

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

THE Borage family, to which common heliotrope belongs, includes several other plants which are troublesome weeds in Australia.

Patersons curse is widespread in several States, yellow burr-weed is a problem in wheat growing areas, particularly in Victoria, and corn gromwell also causes concern to some wheat farmers.

W.A. Dairying : Progress In 42 Years, Maurice C. Cullity

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

From hardship and elementary standards, West Australian dairying has developed into a consolidated industry with larger herds, increased output and high quality production.

The changes he has seen are reviewed by Mr. M. Cullity who retired last month from the position of Chief of the Division of Dairying, after 42 years of service to the industry.

THE history of Western Australia's dairying industry has been a story of struggle against hardship, marketing problems and adverse criticism.

In spite of this the industry has steadily grown and greatly improved its efficiency.