Comparative Nutrition Commons^™

Nitrogen Fertilisers And Cereals, M G. Mason

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

FEW aspects of cereal growing have received as much attention in the past 20 years as nitrogen fertilisers.

The recommendations and yield figures presented below are based on numerous trials in the agricultural areas of Western Australia.

Feedlots For Beef In W.A. : Some Guiding Principles, D J. Barker

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

FEEDLOTS are small enclosures where all of the animal's feed is supplied from an outside source. Compared with grazing, feedlotting is an expensive method of beef production.

This article gives a guide to the requirements for establishment and management of a farm feedlot, especially the basic equipment and materials, the type of cattle most suited to feedlotting, rations and feeding techniques.

The author warns that skill and experience are needed to run a feedlot and describes feedlotting as an expensive method of beef raising when compared with grazing.

Further details are available from the author

When Is A Cattle Feedlot Profitable?, J T. Stoate

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

THE current surge of interest in feedlots stems from low coarse grain prices and comparatively low early summer baby beef prices. Cattle raisers sense the opportunity for higher prices by holding the cattle on the farm over summer and autumn, and grain producers see better returns from barley and oats fed to cattle than sold as grain.

This article examines the profitability of cattle feedlots and presents sample budgets for two typical situations—the farmer who produces his own cattle but buys grain, and the cereal grower who produces grain but buys in cattle for finishing in a feedlot.

A ready …

Rates Of Superphosphate For Cereal Grain Production In The Under 20 Inch Rainfall Areas, Walter Jacob Cox

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

EVERY year farmers use large quantities of superphosphate with cereal crops to overcome the inherent phosphate deficiency of West Australian soils.

The increase in the average rate used by farmers reflects the increasing amount of new land being cropped.

Good seasons and favourable economic conditions may also have influenced super rates.

More Sheep Per Acre, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

In the late 1950's agricultural scientists in Western Australia became convinced that much of the improved pasture in the agricultural areas of the State was going to waste.

The results of the early trials resulted in many farm demonstrations of higher carrying capacities on improved pastures in southern agricultural areas.

Good Management For The Springers Pays Dividends, J Y. Langdon

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

This article gives a striking example of the advantages of calving cows in good and rising condition—and explains why condition around calving time is so important.

ALTHOUGH most farmers know that cows calving in good and improving condition will give higher yields than those calving in poor condition, few use this knowledge to improve the production from their cows.

Stocking Rates On Cyprus Barrel Medic In The Northern Wheatbelt, R J. Parkin

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

IN May 1963, some three weeks after germination, a 4th year stand of Cyprus barrel medic was stocked with Merino wethers.

These same sheep are still grazing the area after three years.

Stocking Rate And Wool Production At Kojonup, Davies H. Lloyd, A. W. Humphries

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

RESEARCH workers in several parts of the world have recognised the overriding importance of stocking rate in raising animal production per acre.

This article describes some of the initial work on the effect of stocking rate on wool production and liveweight change in medium-Peppin Merino sheep.

The work was carried out at the C.S.I.R.O. "Glen Lossie" Field Station at Kojonup, Western Australia.

Lot Feeding Of Beef Cattle. 2. Some Cost Factors, W J O Wilkie

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

BECAUSE of the difficulties that have been experienced in making lot feeding pay, it is essential to examine cost factors in some detail.

Pigs Have A Place In The Dairying Areas, P Mcnamara

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

Pig-keeping could become a much more important feature on South-West dairy farms in the future with the enterprise as a definite farm-unit having a considerable effect on income.

There are indications also that the collection of bulk skim milk and whey for pig feeding will increase in the future. This could make way for the efficient specialist operating large pig raising units close to the source of supply.

In this article. Pig Husbandry Adviser P. McNamara, B.A. (Cantab.) examines pig-keeping in the South-West and makes suggestions on the part that pigs can play on the modem dairy farm.

Ewe Nutrition Before And During Mating, H E. Fels

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

Lambing percentages depend partly on the condition of ewes at mating. If it is practicable, ewes should be allowed to gain condition in the months before mating.

Where this is not practical and ewes are in a store or backward-store condition at mating, flushing should improve their fertility.

Weaner Feeding Practices Need Review, W L. Mcgarry, R. J. Lightfoot

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

Many fanners feed large amounts of grain to their weaners over summer and autumn, in the belief that this is necessary for high lifetime production.

The economics of this are open to doubt; in fact, the results of a recent experiment at Wongan Hills Research Station suggested that weaner feeding practices need review.

Why Poor Prices For Pigs?, P C. Beck

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

A rapid increase in pig numbers and an unfavourable export situation have precipitated the present depression in the pig industry. Concentration on quality production and a gradual reduction in numbers should bring back a more stable situation, says Dairy Division pig specialist P. Beck. Big fluctuations in the pig population—the basic cause of cycles of boom and depression in the industry—would be avoided if more farmers adopted a fixed farm level policy towards the industry.