Animal Sciences Commons^™

Objective Measurement And The Stud Breeder, B R. Beetson

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

The movement towards sale of wool by certificate and sample highlights the significance of objective measurement in the Merino stud breeders' selection of his top rams.

This article suggests how stud breeders should use the Department of Agriculture's Flock Testing Service to gain genetic progress in wool producing ability without loss of visual buyer appeal.

Studs' use of the service will be evaluated in 1974.

New Cattle Breeds : How Do We Use Them?, J L. Anderson

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

Traditionally, beef production in Australia has been based on a few of the many breeds that developed in the United Kingdom. Pedigree breeding was used to maintain these breeds and was probably a sound policy, when combined with selection on performance, to maintain and concentrate merit in stud herds.

Emphasis on pure breeding has caused many prejudices against the practices of mixing and selection which were the original bases of breed formation.

Despite the adaptation of British breeds to the various environments in Australia there was, and still is, continuous interest in introducing other breeds of cattle to improve beef …

Selenium And Sheep Health, B J. Gabbedy, A. J. Hadlow

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

For many years selenium was known to the livestock industries only because of its toxic properties. Some soils, particularly in the United States of America, were so high in selenium that many animals died after grazing plants on these soils.

In 1957 it was discovered that selenium supplements could prevent a number of diseases and, from that time, selenium has been regarded as an essential trace element.

White muscle disease (WMD) was first recognised in sheep in Western Australia in 1960 and has occurred each year since.

Beef In W.A., Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia

Bulletins - 3000 - 3999

There are four major regions of beef production in Western Australia, each suited to its own type of husbandry. In such a large area, climate plays an important part in limiting production off pasture and this is reflected in the different patterns of production that have emerged from the accumulated experience of working in these areas.

Farm Operations Management, H E. Fels, A. W. Hogstrom

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

The main defence of Australian farmers against the cost-price squeeze has been to increase productivity. The tendency is to run more and more stock per man and to grow more crop per man.

Some farmers run unusually large numbers of animal units per man-year.

The operations of 16 such farmers over one year were examined to find out whether it had been profitable for them to reduce labour inputs to such an extent.

Lot Feeding Sheep In Sheds, H E. Fels, B. Malcolm

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

The need to gather and hold sheep for slaughter or live shipment led a West Australian company!, with the Department of Agriculture, to investigate the use of sheds for short term lot feeding of sheep. Preliminary examination suggested that feedlot sheds connected by a sheep footpath to the abattoirs, railway or saleyards could be cheaper as well as more practicable than continued use of holding paddocks.

The first week or two are commonly the most difficult in lot feeding sheep or cattle. Long-term indoor lot-feeding is a normal practice in some overseas countries but we did not know whether untrained …

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.

Sheep Liver Copper Levels, J W. Gartrell

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

Introduction.

Our knowledge, and consequently our advise to farmers on the needs for copper fertilizers in the wheatbelt have been largely based on thoses of plants - cereals in particular. For one thing, definitive experimentation is easier with cereals than sheep.

Discussion.

Interpretation.

Appendix.

Management Policies For Increasing Sheep Turnoff, T Marshall

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

An increase in the proportion of mated ewes in West Australian flocks could increase the number of sheep available for sale, without greatly affecting total sheep numbers or reducing farm income. This would help overcome a critical sheep shortage.

Objective Measurement Of Wool : Criteria, Methods And Materials, A Ingleton

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

An outline of some of the technical aspects of the objective measurement of wool—processes that will mean major cost savings to the wool industry.

Clover Disease : What Do We Know And What Can We Do, T Marshall

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

A review of 30 years' study and practical experience of clover disease in Western Australia—and a summary of current recommendations for reducing problems in sheep grazing pastures based on oestrogenic subterranean clover.

Trends In Milking Systems, G W. Scott

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

Twice daily milking is an essential task for the dairy farmer and the speed of milking influences the time available to him for other work and to the cows for extra grazing.

Modern milking systems can greatly contribute to these requirements by allowing the owner-farmer to handle a greater number of cows unaided, or in other situations to release labour from the shed for other work.

The following review leads from the better known basic sheds to the most modern types.