Sheep and Goat Science Commons^™

Sheep Updates 2015 - Ravensthorpe, Bruce Mullan, Kate Pritchett, Kimbal Curtis, Chris Wilcox, Mike Hyder, Leigh Sonnerman, Lynne Bradshaw, Geoff Lindon, Katherine Davies, Joe Young, Stephen Lee, Ian Robertson, Lucy Anderton, Hayley Norman, Ed Barrett-Lenard, Jackie Jarvis, Ben Patrick

Sheep Updates

This session covers fourteen papers from different authors:

1. The Sheep Industry Business Innovation project, Bruce Mullan, Sheep Industry Development Director, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia

2. Western Australian sheep stocktake, Kate Pritchett and Kimbal Curtis, Research Officers, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia

3. Wool demand and supply - short term volatility, long term opportunities, Chris Wilcox, Principal of Poimena Analysis

4. Lifetime management for maternal ewes, Mike Hyder, Research Officer, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia

5. National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) for sheep and goats - what is the NLIS database? Leigh Sonnermann, …

Sheep Updates 2007 - Part 4, Dean Thomas, Dominique Blache, Dean Revell, Hayley Norman, Phil Vercoe, Zoey Durmic, Serina Digby, Di Mayberry, Megan Chadwick, Martin Sillence, David Masters, R. Silberstein, F. Byrne, P. G. H. Nichols, J. Young, L. Aitkins, M. G. Wilmot, A. J. Rintoul, T. Lambert, D. R. Mcclements, P. Raper, P. Ward, C. Walton, T. York, David Pethick, David Hopkins, Malcolm Mcphee, D. B. Savage, J. V. Nolan, I. R. Godwin, A. Aoetpah, T. Nguyen, N. Baillie, C. Lawler, Ken Geenty, John Smith, Darryl Smith, Tim Dyall, Grant Uphill, John Young, Michael Paton, John Dorrian

Sheep Updates

This session covers eight papers from different authors:

GRAZING

1. The impact of high dietary salt and its implications for the management of livestock grazing saline land, Dean Thomas, Dominique Blache, Dean Revell, Hayley Norman, Phil Vercoe, Zoey Durmic, Serina Digby, Di Mayberry, Megan Chadwick, Martin Sillence and David Masters, CRC for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity, Faculty of Natural & Agricultural Sciences, The University of Western Australia, WA.

2. Sustainable Grazing on Saline Lands - outcomes from the WA1 research project, H.C. Norman^1,2, D.G. Masters^1,2, R. Silberstein^1,2, F. Byrne^2,3, P.G.H. Nichols …

Sheep Updates 2005 - Part 6, Sarah Pugh, Giles Glasson, Ed Barrett-Lennard, Hayley Norman, Matt Wilmot, Meir Altman, Kelly Pearce, Sally Phelan, David Masters, Nadine Eva, Brad Wooldridge, Stephen Gherardi, Lucy Anderton, Gonzalo Mata, P. Sanford, J Young, Tim Wiley, Richard Quinlan, Chris Oldham, Mike Hyder, Mandy Curnow, Samantha Giles, Andrew Thompson

Sheep Updates

This session covers seven papers from different authors:

PASTURES/GRAZING

1. New annual pastures - quality and quantity for fodder conservation?, Sarah Pugh and Giles Glasson, Department of Agriculture Western Australia

2. Saltland Pastures: Dispelling some Myths, Ed Barrett-Lennard^1,3, Hayley Norman^2,3, Matt Wilmat^2,3, Meir Altman,³, Kelly Pearce^2,3, Sally Phelan⁴, David Masters^2,3, ^1. Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, ² CSIRO Livestock Industries, Floreat, WA, ³. CRC for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity ⁴. Saltland Pastures Association

3. Pastures: Putting profit back into sandplain, Nadine Eva, Department …

Agribusiness Sheep Updates - 2004 Part 3, Ken Hart, Keith Croker, Rob Davidson, Mario D'Antuono, Evan Burt, Tanya Kilminster, Diana Fedorenko, Darryl Mcclements, Robert Beard, Sandy Turton, Martin Atwell, Robert Beard

Sheep Updates

Posters Can Merino Ewes be Teased to Synchronise Oestrus for a Summer/Autumn Mating? Ken Hart, Keith Croker, Department of Agriculture Western Australia, Rob Davidson, School of Animal Biology, University of Western Australia. Mario D'Antuono, Department of Agriculture Western Australia Damara Sheep: Now Looking Domestic Evan Burt and Tanya Kilminster, Department of Agriculture Western Australia Production and Water Use of Lucerne and French Serradella Under Three Sowing Rates Diana Fedorenko1,4, Darryl McClements1,4 , Robert Beard3,4 1Department of Agriculture, 3 Farmer, Meckering, 4CRC for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity. E-SHEEP - Individual Animal Management is here Sandy Turton & Martin Atwell, Department …

Sheep Updates 2003 - Pastures, Ed Barrett-Lennard, Hayley Norman, Robyn Dynes, David Masters, David Henry, Stephen Gherardi, Graham Donald, Asoka Edirisinghe, Chris Oldham, Richard Smith, Joanne Sneddon, Mike Hyder, Andrew Thompson, Kazue Tanaka, Roy Latta, Chris Matthews, Brad Nutt, Angela Loi, Tim Wiley

Sheep Updates

This session covers seven papers from different authors: 1. Pastures for saline land, Ed Barrett-Lennard 1Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Hayley Norman, Robyn Dynes and David Masters CSIRO Livestock Industries, Centre for Mediterranean Agricultural Research, Floreat Park, 2. Feeding value - the essential link between pastures and animals CSIRO Livestock Industries, Centre for Environmental and Life Sciences 3. ‘Pastures from space’ - how do we do it, how well do we do it and what do producers think about it? Stephen Gherardi Department of Agriculture Western Australia Graham Donald Asoka Edirisinghe Dave Henry CSIRO Livestock Industries Chris Oldham Department of …

Sheep Updates 2003 - Wool, Richard Coole, Stephen Gherardi, Chris Oldham, K. Curtis, J. Stanton, Johan Greeff, Chris Oldham, Mike Hyder, Beth Pagamoni, Andrew Thompson, Tom Plaisted, Kazue Tanaka, Mike Ferguson, Darren Gordon, Andrew Peterson, Peter Sommerville

Sheep Updates

This session covers six papers from different authors:1.‘Pastures from space’ - an opportunity to increase the profitability of sheep production Richard Coole Farmer Kojonup W.A. Stephen Gherardi Chris Oldham Department of Agriculture Western Australia 2. K. Curtis Department of Agriculture WA J. Stanton Department of Agriculture WA and Curtin University 3. Is selection of ewe hogget replacement on measurement profitable? Johan Greeff Department of Agriculture of Western Australia 4. Optimising the nutrition/grazing management of ewe flocks Chris Oldham Mike Hyder Beth Paganoni Department of Agriculture of Western Australia Andrew Thompson Department of Primary Industries, Hamilton, Victoria Tom Plaisted Kazue Tanaka …

Lupin Stubbles : Getting The Best With Weaner Sheep, Keith Croker, Colin Mcdonald, Jeremy Allen

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

Sweet lupins are now grown on about a million hectares in Western Australia each year. If half of the State's seven million weaners were grazed as recommended on half of the lupin stubbles, it could generate about $15 million from reduced supplementary feeding, greater wool production and other advantages. But correct management is important, particularly knowing when to take weaners out. Research by the Department over the last five years is now indicating how this should be done.

How Sustainable Is Grazing Sheep On Annual Pastures In The Woolbelt?, Don Mcfarlane, Richard George

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

Low wool prices have reduced the profitability of producing wool from clover-based annual pastures in the south-western woo/belt. The heavy reliance on one commodity is economically unsustainable for many farmers. But we should also consider how ecologically sustainable the practice is.

Shallow-rooted annual pastures contribute to widespread salinity in the area, annual legumes are acidifying the soils and making them water repellent, and bare, detached soils from heavy grazing cause sheet and rill erosion during autumn storms. In addition, stock are degrading remnant vegetation and destroying the soil's structure.

To counteract this degradation, the woo/belt needs more perennial pastures and …

Sheep And Wool Industries Need To Improve Their Performance, Rob Kelly, Tim Marshall

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

Today in Western Australia, sheep are run at slightly higher stocking rates, are achieving greater lambing percentages (up JO per cent) and higher wool cuts per animal ( up 0. 6 kg greasy) than in the 1960s. When all components of production are considered, the productivity of sheep fanns has increased by 2. 7 per cent per year over the past 35 years.

The challenge of the next decade is to achieve substantially greater rates of improvement than for past years if the sheep and wool industries are to maintain their significant place in Western Australian agriculture.

How Arsenic Residues Get In Wool, Tony Martin, Robin Jacob, Marion Davies, Peter Rutherford

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

Wool can become contaminated with arsenic in various ways, and several different sources may each contribute to any individual arsenic residue problem.

• dipping sheep in an arsenical dip ( now illegal),

• dipping sheep in a non-arsenical dip in a contaminated dipping facility

• penning sheep on soil with high levels of arsenic before shearing.

Other possible sources include running sheep on land contaminated by gold mine tailings or exploration sites, and allowing sheep access to sites on the farm where arsenical compounds have been dumped, for example, rubbish dumps or sites where dip/sump sludge has been dumped.

Farmers …

Choosing A Calcium Supplement For Sheep Fed Cereal Grains, R L. Peet, Michael Hare

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

Sheep fed cereal grains as an energy source over summer usually need added calcium because cereal grains are generally low in calcium (for example, 0.03 per cent calcium compared to 0.26 per cent phosphorus), and there may not be a natural source such as clover, weeds, leafy stubble or edible bush in the paddock.

The safestt and most effective calcium supplement is finely ground limestone added to the feed, but some farmers have used other sources of calcium such as gypsum and superphosphate in this manner.

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.

Simplified Sheep Skin Tanning, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

Most people would agree that a white sheepskin rug adds a touch of luxury to any home.

The following method will produce dressed, woolly sheep skins with chemicals and equipment available to any householder.

Sheep : Experimental Basis For Urea Feeding Recommendations, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

Recent scientific reviews have concluded that in spite of the great number of experimental observations recorded throughout the world there is no evidence yet to prove that urea can be used profitably for sheep on low quality roughages in genuine grazing conditions.

An experiment is in progress at Merredin Research Station this season, especially designed to demonstrate a response to urea by sheep grazing wheat stubbles, if such a response is possible.

Sheep Drenching Programms, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

Drenching of sheep to prevent build-up of worm infestations is commonly practised on many properties in the agricultural districts of Western Australia. This is called strategic drenching.

The Effects Of Shearing Time And Stocking Rate On Wool Production, R J. Lightfoot

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

THE results of the first experiment comparing "autumn" versus "spring" shearing over a two-year period were published in 1960.

In this experiment the autumn-shorn ewes cut heavier greasy fleeces (even though they also reared considerably more lambs) with less tender wool, resulting in a higher average return per head from this group.

The autumn-shorn wool carried more seed, was less attractive and contained relatively more pieces than did the spring-shorn wool.

Set Stocking Has A Place In Soil Conservation Farming, J E. Watson

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

Set stocking of sheep at increased stocking rates is rapidly becoming popular with farmers in the agricultural areas of Western Australia.

But will set stocking increase soil erosion hazards? It should do just the reverse, according to Soil Conservation Adviser J. E. Watson, B.Sc, who claims that set stocking has a place in soil conservation farming.

Cobalt : Its Use To Control Wasting Disease, Laurence C. Snook

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

FOR many years it was assumed that in Western Australia cobalt deficient areas were restricted to a coastal fringe which rarely extended more than 20 miles inland.

This has proved a costly false assumption. During recent years cobalt deficiency has been diagnosed over extensive areas of inland country.

Select On Fleece Weight And Cull The Low Producers, W L. Mcgarry

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

EFFICIENT calling of maiden ewes before they join the breeding flock is an essential part of any policy of flock improvement.

Removal of the low wool producers should be one of the first considerations when culling the flock.

Drought Feeding Of Sheep, Laurence C. Snook

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

WHEN this talk on drought feeding of sheep was suggested conditions were very serious over large tracts of pastoral country.

Many stations had not received a worthwhile rain for over 12 months and it appeared that grazing animals would have to be fed if they were to survive.

Requests have been received for advice on the cheapest way to keep sheep alive. Drought feeding in any form is a gamble. There is always the risk that the stock will eventually die despite the consumption of much costly feed.

It follows that if an effort is to be made to save …