Other Animal Sciences Commons^™

The Use Of Buffer Zones In Dingo Control, P C. Thomson

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

The aim of dingo control is to protect livestock, not to eliminate dingos from Australia's vast ininhabited areas. However, with labour costs rising, dingo control must become more cost effective.

In this article, P.C. Thomson discusses the "buffer zone" control strategy which involves removing dingos from a strip of country adjacent to stocked land.

Although variations of this strategy have existed for some time, detailed knowledge of dingo behaviour and movement patterns was required to ensure that the concept was soundly based. Much of this information came from a long-term study of dingos carried out in unstocked country and adjacent …

Dingoes And Sheep In Pastoral Areas, P C. Thomson

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

Since 1975, a long-term study of dingoes in the Fortescue River area of northern Western Australia has sought to provide the detailed information necessary to devise efficient dingo management strategies.

Dingoes have been fitted with radio-transmitter collars, then tracked and observed from a specially equipped aircraft. Their movements, breeding, hunting and social behaviour have been monitered in the rugged, spinifex-covered ironstone terrain which represents typicaldingo refuge country, and in neighbouring sheep country.

Although the pastoral and agricultural industry have long recognised the need to control dingoes to protect livestock, particularily sheep, there is little published evidence about the type of …

Rabbits North Of Carnarvon, D R. King

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

In Westeern Australia rabbits are mainly a pest along the south-western coastal parts of the State, but there are populations north of the Tropic of Capricorn. Rabbits after crossing the Nullarbour plain from South Australia and colonising the South-West of the State, were reported to have reached the west coast near Geraldton by 1912 and then spread northwards.

There is little information on the biologhy of rabbits in the northan parts of their range, but pastoralists in some areas are concerned about erosion and damage to vegetation on their stations when rabbits reach high numbers.

The Agricultural Protection Board undertook …

Myxomatosis In Western Australia, D R. King, S. H. Wheeler

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

Since myxomatosis was introduced to Western Australia in the early 1950s rabbit plagues have ceased. However, myxomatosis has not proven to be the whole answer to the rabit problem.

Rabits continue to damage crops and pastures in many areas and resurgences of rabbit populations are reported from time to time.

Drs D.R. King and S. H. Wheeler of the Agricultural Protection Board's research section have been studying the way myxomatosis epidemics occur and spread in rabbit populations in a range of Western Australian environments. This research will provide data for planning effective control strategies intergrating the various control options available …

Effects Of Compudose® Implants On Performance Carcass, Meat Quality Traits And Serum Testosterone In Young Boars (1984), T Timmis, Michael E. Dikeman, Melvin C. Hunt, G Highfill, Jeffrey S. Stevenson, Robert H. Hines

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Implanting boar pigs at 100 lb with 24 mg of Compudose 200® (estradiol 17β) had no significant effect on "boar odor" in meat, rate of gain, feed efficiency, carcass leanness or meat quality traits. The presence of a 7 to 8 mo old gilt in the pen decreased rate of growth in both control and implanted boars, but contrary to our expectations did not increase the incidence of "boar odor".; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 15, 1984

Efficacy Of Ectrin® (Fenvalerate) For Sarcoptic Mange Control In Swine (1984), E L. Wooten, A B. Broce, D S. Pollmann

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A trial was conducted to determine the efficacy of fenvalerate (Ectrin®) for control of sarcoptic mange mites in swine. Artificially infested pigs were treated with two sprayings of Ectrin at 0.05% concentration with 1 wk interval between sprayings. One week after the first spraying, mite numbers and clinical signs of mange had decreased in treated animals but remained elevated in infested-nontreated pigs. Four weeks after the first spraying (3 wk after the second spraying), no mites were found in scrapings from the Ectrin-treated pigs and the amount of scratching and rubbing in those pigs decreased compared with the infested- nontreated …

Digestibility Of Fat Sources By Growing Pigs (1984), De-Fa Li, G L. Allee

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A digestion trial was conducted with 12 crossbred barrows averaging 48 lb to evaluate the digestibility of various fat sources. Fat sources evaluated were soybean oil, a 85% dry fat product composed of animal and vegetable fat, and a 80% dry fat product made by encapsulating choice white grease with casein. The control diet was a 18% crude protein corn-soybean meal diet with 10% cornstarch. Fat sources were added to the basal diet at the expense of cornstarch to supply 8% added fat. A crossover design was used with three pigs per diet in each of two periods. Digestibility of …

Comparison Of Feeding Systems For Finishing Swine (1984), J Vargas Vargas, Robert H. Hines

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Two feeding trials using 240 finishing pigs were conducted to evaluate meal feeding and ad libitum dry and wet feeding. Growth rate was significantly improved by wet feeding in trial 1. Overall, a 5% improvement in growth rate occurred by wet feeding in both trials when compared with meal-feeding or ad libitum dry feeding. Feed efficiency was similar for pigs fed meals, and ad libitum dry or wet diets.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 15, 1984

Time-Restricted Feeding Of Pigs: Social And Feeding Behavior (1984), J Vargas Vargas, J V. Craig, Robert H. Hines

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Twenty finishing pigs were used to evaluate effects of time-restricted feeding on social interactions and feeding patterns of pigs at feeding time. Correlation analysis for pairs of traits, involving feeding activities, social interactions, and rate of gain indicate that more aggressive pigs went first to the feeder, fed more frequently, and gained faster. Although on continuous artificial lighting, timed-fed pigs displayed more feeding and aggressive behavior during day light hours.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 15, 1984

Effect Of Reduced Nighttime Temperature On Nursery Pig Performance (1984), David A. Nichols, Frank Blecha, M Johnston, Robert H. Hines

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A total of 144 weaned pigs were used to evaluate the effect of reduced nighttime temperatures on pig performance. No differences were observed in average daily feed intake, daily gain, or feed efficiency regardless of temperature treatment. These results indicate that constant high temperature may not be required for nursery pigs.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 15, 1984

Performance Of Young Pigs Fed Sorghum Grain Damaged By Lesser Grain Borer Or Fungal Invasion (1984), J C. Dietz, Keith C. Behnke, C W. Deyoe, G L. Allee

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Nutritional quality and physical conditions were used to evaluate grain sorghum damaged by either the lesser grain borer Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) or by nontoxin-producing fungi. Experimental treatments were: 1) control 04.0% moisture), 2) lesser grain borer (LGB) (14% moisture with initial infestation of 4.5 adults/lb of grain) and 3) fungal (Fungal) (15.5% moisture). Control grain was used to formulate a 17% crude protein diet. The remaining dietary treatments were formulated by replacing the control grain with the two damaged grains on a weight basis. Forty-five female Yorkshire and 12 crossbred male pigs, with an average initial weight of 22 lb …

Effects Of Source And Level Of Supplemental Energy On Reproductive Performance Of Sows (1984), S Christianson, G L. Allee, D S. Pollmann, Jim L. Nelssen

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Three feeding trials utilizing 185 sows (149 primiparous and 36 multiparous) were conducted to evaluate the effects of feeding various levels and sources of supplemental energy during lactation and from weaning to rebreeding on sow reproductive performance. Sows fed tallow (5% or 10%) during lactation had reproductive performance similar to sows fed the basal milo-soybean meal diet. Ad libitum feed intake was not affected by the addition of tallow for either the last week of lactation or for the entire three week lactation. However, daily digestible energy (DE) intake was increased with the addition of tallow to diets. Survival rate …

Fat In Late Gestation Sow Diets: Effects On Pig Survival And Growth (1984), G L. Allee, George A. Milliken, Jim L. Nelssen

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

An on-farm experiment was conducted utilizing 140 sows to compare the effect of feeding either fat or additional corn during late gestation on subsequent pig performance. Beginning on day 100 of gestation and until the day of farrowing, sows were fed 6 lb daily of a corn-soybean meal diet top-dressed with either 1 lb of fat or 2.25 lb of corn. Litter size was equalized within 24 hr of farrowing. Feeding fat to sows during late gestation increased (P<.05) the number of pigs weaned per litter by .4 pig compared to feeding additional corn. Sows fed supplemental fat during late gestation weaned heavier litters (P=.06) compared to sows fed extra corn. These results indicate that feeding fat during late gestation to sows with a high energy intake increased pig survival over that obtained when the same calories were provided with corn.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 15, 1984

Successful Induction Of Estrus During Lactation For Sows Separated From Their Litters (1984), Jeffrey S. Stevenson, Duane L. Davis

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Our objective was to determine the effectiveness of inducing estrus during lactation by temporarily separating the litter from the sow during the last week of lactation. Lactating sows were removed daily from their litters for either 1) 3 hr /day (n=20), 2) 6 hr /day (n=39), or 3) 12 hr /day (n=10) during the last 8 days of lactation and exposed to an intact boar for at least 1 hr during the separation period. Litters were weaned from control sows at either 2 (n=13) or 4 (n=15) weeks for comparison of intervals to estrus following complete weaning or temporary separation. …

Interactions Of Copper, Selenium, And Vitamin E For Weanling Swine (1984), A J. Thulin, D S. Pollmann, Frank Blecha, G A. Kennedy, P Whetter, G L. Allee

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

One-hundred and sixty pigs were utilized to evaluate possible interactions between copper (Cu), selenium (Se), and vitamin E (E) on growth and immunity of starter pigs. Copper (260 ppm) added to the diet did not effect Se and/or E utilization for growth, feed efficiency (FE), or immunity. However, addition of 260 ppm of Cu to the diets of starter pigs resulted in an 8% improvement in feed intake (FI) and a 13% improvement in average daily gain (ADG) for the first 2 wk on test. There was no effect on performance due to E additions. However, addition of .3 ppm …

Creep Feeding And Phytohemagglutinin Skin-Test Responses In Pigs (1984), Frank Blecha, D S. Pollmann, D M. Vanwormer

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

An experiment was conducted to determine the influence of creep feeding on cellular immunity in young pigs. Creep feeding from 10 days of age to weaning did not influence phytohemagglutinin skin-test responses.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 15, 1984

Limiting Amino Acids In Sorghum Grain Protein For Adult Female Swine (1984), A J. Thulin, G L. Allee, D S. Pollman

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Two 4 x 4 Latin square designs were used with 16 gilts at 10 mo of age and weighing 341 lb (gravid) and 301 lb (nongravid) to determine the limiting nitrogenous factors in sorghum grain protein for adult gravid (70th day postcoitum) and nongravid swine. Supplementation of the fortified sorghum grain diet with lysine increased (P<.05) nitrogen retention in both nongravid and gravid gilts. A further addition of threonine also increased (P>.05) nitrogen retention in both nongravid and gravid gilts. However, addition of both lysine and threonine to the sorghum diet failed to result in nitrogen retention equal to that observed for the control diet. Percentage of nitrogen digested was higher (P<.05) for the control diet than for the basal diet or the two diets with lysine and threonine added. Blood urea nitrogen was reduced (P<.05) when lysine was added to the basal diet with an additional reduction when threonine also was added to the diet. However, the control diet caused higher blood urea values when compared to both supplemented diets. These results suggest that another amino acid may be limiting in the sorghum grain diet supplemented with both lysine and threonine. These data and other published data demonstrate that lysine and threonine are the first and second limiting amino acids in sorghum grain for adult gravid and nongravid swine.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 15, 1984

Effect Of Insecticide Impregnated Ear Tags On Horn Fly Populations And Suckling Calf Performance, D. Simms, T. Willman, R. Schalles

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Three trials were conducted to determine the effect of insecticide impregnated ear tags on horn fly counts and weight gain of suckling calves. In trials 1 and 2, cow calf pairs on two Kansas ranches were assigned to these treatments: 1) Control - no tag, 2) Cows Only - 1 tag per cow, 3) Calf Only - 1 tag per calf, and 4) Cow and Calf - 1 tag each. Each tag treatment was in a separate pasture. All insecticide tag treatments reduced (P<.05) horn flies on cows and calves in July and August; however, by September the tags were only reducing (P<.05) flies on cows. While the weight gain response to tags was variable, when trials were combined, all tag treatments increased (P<.05) calf gains over controls. Using a single tag per cow was better (P<.05) than a single tag per calf, while tagging both the cow and calf was no better than either single tag treatment. Average fly counts for each pasture were negatively correlated with calf weight gains indicating a strong relationship between fly populations and calf performance. In trial 3, apparent horn fly resistance to the insecticide in the tags resulted in terminating the trial mid-summer. Research in Kansas and other states indicates that horn fly resistance to pyrethroid insecticides is becoming a common problem which means that producers may need to revert to previously used methods of horn fly control.

Effect Of Oxytetracycline Hydrochloride Coating Added To Compudose Implants In Grazing Steers, Lyle W. Lomas

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Adding an oxytetracycline coating to Compudose implants did not change their effectiveness. Implanting with Compudose significantly increased gain of grazing steers an average of 17% compared to non-implanted controls.

Kansas Steer Futurities - The Record On Retained Ownership 1974-1983, C. Lambert, D. Simms, B. Schalles, L. Corah, Gerry L. Kuhl, M. Sands

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Spring born steer calves, weaned and delivered to custom feedlots by Kansas producers, were fed to slaughter weight. Gain and carcass information was gathered on over 5,000 head fed in 53 separate tests since the fall of 1974. Retaining ownership of steers through the feedlot phase has been profitable for producers in six of the last nine years, and in only two years have losses been large. Those same calves, if sold at weaning, would have been profitable in only three of the last nine years, using Kansas Farm Management Association average costs of production. The cattle averaged 59 percent …

Effects Of Low Voltage Electrical Stimulation On Quality Characteristics Of Young Bulls Fed To 14, 16 And 18 Months Of Age., D.G. Gray, John A. Unruh, Curtis L. Kastner, Michael E. Dikeman

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Low voltage electrical stimulation of young bulls at 30 to 45 min after bleeding resulted in a lower muscle pH, higher marbling score, lighter cherry red color and reduced incidence of heat ring formation when compared to non-stimulated controls. Ribeye steaks from electrically stimulated sides were more tender than non-stimulated controls, but bottom round steaks were not different. Our results indicate that low voltage electrical stimulation, incorporated into a continuous slaughter operation as late as 30 to 45 min after bleeding, can improve USDA quality characteristics and tenderness of meat from young bulls.

Consumer Preference Of Beef Rib Steaks From Implanted Steers, Implanted And Non-Implanted Bulls., C.D. Pelton, Dell M. Allen, L.R. Corah, George A. Milliken

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Our research showed that implanting bulls from birth to slaughter made steaks from bulls as acceptable as steers to consumer panels. Implanting bulls from weaning to slaughter resulted in the least desirable consumer panel ratings for all palatability traits measured.

Feeding Bulls-A Practical Evaluation, D. Simms, L. Corah, Gerry L. Kuhl, R. Schalles

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Bull calves on nine Kansas ranches were either castrated and implanted with Ralgro, left intact and not implanted, or left intact and implanted with Ralgro, with performance evaluated through slaughter. Bulls produced leaner carcasses and gained slightly faster and more efficiently than steers. However, based on actual prices received, bulls returned $16.09 less to their owners than steers. Implanting with Ralgro during the suckling phase did not influence any of the traits measured. It is evident that marketing is a major problem which makes bull feeding risky

Urea And Fermentrol® Additives For Forage Sorghum Silage, B. Janicki, K. Bolsen, M. Hinds, H. Ilg

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Adding urea to forage sorghum greatly increased the ensiling temperature, produced a more rapid and extensive fermentation, and resulted in more shrink loss in the silo. Fermentrol®, an enzyme-inoculant additive, had very little affect on the silage temperature or chemical composition, but it did reduce the shrink loss. Calves red urea-treated silage had the poorest performance. Control and Fermentrol® silages each produced about 90 lb of calf gain per ton of crop ensiled, however urea silage produced only 60 lb. All three silages had short bunk lives throughout the trial.

Silo-Best® For Sorghum Silages, K. Bolsen, H. Ilg, M. Hinds

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Silo-Best lowered the ensiling temperature and increased the dry matter recovered from the silo by over 5 percentage units (82.3 vs. 77.3%). Calves fed the control silage gained faster and consumed more feed, but those fed treated silage were slightly more efficient. The more efficient gain and lowered shrink loss for Silo-Best silage gave 6.4 extra pounds of calf gain per ton of crop ensiled.

Effect Of Sorghum Type And Harvest Date On Silage Feeding Value, R. Smith, K. Bolsen, H. Ilg, M. Hinds, J. Dickerson, J. Hoover, Ronald V. Pope

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Five silages produced in 1982 were evaluated in two growing trials using 96 steer calves. Forage sorghum silage (heading) was assigned a feeding value of 100. Based on comparative rates and efficiencies of gain, feeding value for the grain sorghum silage averaged 107.5 in Trial 1. The non-heading forage sorghum silage had a value of 64.6 in Trial 1 but only 40.2 before freezing and 31.4 after freezing in Trial 2. The poor values for the non-heading silages were due, in part, to very low feed intakes. There was no advantage in harvesting the non-heading sorghum after a freeze. Rolling …

Effects Of Rapid And Delay Silo Filling And 1177® Silage Inoculant On Performance Of Growing Cattle Fed Corn And Sorghum Silages., K. Bolsen, H. Ilg, M. Hinds, George A. Milliken, J. Hoover

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Eight concrete stave silos (10 x 50 ft) were used in two trials to evaluate rapid (24 to 36 hr) and delay (15 days) filling, each with our without 1177® silage inoculant. Corn silage was used in Trial 1; forage sorghum in Trial 2. The delay-fill silages had a dry matter (DM) range of 34.4 to 39.9% in Trial 1 and 24.2 to 29.6% in Trial 1. All eight silages were well preserved with the four delay-fill silos having lower total fermentation acids than their rapid-fill counterparts. With corn silage, the rapid-fill silos had higher silage DM recoveries than the …

High Moisture Corn Ensiled With Urea For Cattle Finishing Rations, B. Young, R. Smith, K. Bolsen, H. Ilg

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Dry rolled corn, ensiled high moisture corn, and high moisture corn that was rolled and ensiled with urea or left whole and ensiled with urea were compared in two cattle trials. Dry corn gave the poorest cattle performance; rolled, ensiled high moisture corn gave the best. When corn was left whole, adding urea prior to ensiling increased dry matter losses in the silo and produced a butyric acid fermentation. Urea increased the bunk life of the ensiled high moisture corn.

Silage Additive Update: 1984, K. Bolsen, M. Hinds, J. Brethour

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Numerous commercial silage additives, whose manufacturers claim will improve silage quality, are available to Kansas farmers and ranchers. We believe that these claims must ultimately be documented with farm-scale research. To date, Manhattan and Ft. Hays farm-scale silo results clearly indicate that a few silage additives do improve silage quality and are cost-effective. Several of them have consistently reduced "in silo" losses. But results probably will not be favorable with all additives under every farm condition. Nor will research results obtained with one commercial product in our trials also apply to other products on the market, however similar in ingredient …

Single Vs. Reimplant Programs For Finishing Steers, Jack G. Riley, Ronald V. Pope

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Finishing yearling beef steers were used to compare various implant programs in a 167-day trial. All implant programs increased daily gain ranging from 6.6 to 25.4% over non-implanted controls and improved feed efficiency ranging from .5 to 13.9%. Steers implanted with Ralgro® initially and reimplanted 75 days later with Synovex-S gained the fastest and most