Comparative Nutrition Commons^™

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.

Lupins In Western Australia. 4. Composition And Feeding Value Of The Seeds, John Sylvester Gladstones

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

PREVIOUS articles in this series have discussed the varieties of lupin available in Western Australia, and their cultivation.

This article deals with the composition and feeding value of the seeds.

Surplus Cereal Crops For Sheep Feed, H E. Fels

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

SINCE the introduction of wheat quotas many farmers have considered feeding unsaleable grain to sheep.

The three alternative methods of feeding this grain to sheep are

• as standing crops

• as grain supplements, fed in the paddock

• as grain plus hay, in a feedlot.

Crop Rationing : A Useful Drought Feeding Technique, H E. Fels

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

A TRIAL carried out during the 1969 drought demonstrated that rationing standing crop is a practical method of feeding it to sheep when feed is scarce.

Rationing will be mainly a drought feeding technique for that part of the crop which will definitely be used as sheep feed. Crop that may or may not be needed for sheep would normally be harvested and the grain kept as a contingency allowance.

Urea Block Supplements For Stubble, H E. Fels, R. J. Parkin

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

THERE was a great deal of controversy throughout the summer of Western Australia's 1969-70 drought over the feeding of supplements other than grain to grazing sheep.

This report summarises some of the experiments carried out by this Department to investigate various artificial means of supplementing sheep grazing stubbles and dry summer pastures.

Further details of the experiments can be obtained by contacting the authors.

The results failed to demonstrate economic responses to urea supplements for grazing sheep.

Urea Mixture Formulations, H E. Fels

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

This experiment was done once the experiment above (Urea or Grain Supplements for Stubble) had shown definite but uneconomic responses to a particular mixture of urea, molasses and minerals. The aim was to find whether the response depended on the content of various portions of the mixture, and whether the response to the "shotgun" lick could be explained by the presence of salt, sulphate or cobalt.

Experiments With Urea On Private Farms, R J. Parkin, G. Palmer, A. Haagensen, L. D. White, R. J. Suiter, H. E. Fels

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

Many District Advisers have carried out trials on private farms to test the response to a variety of types of supplementary feeds. This report gives brief details of five such experiments carried out with urea supplements over the last five years. Table 1 summarises the details and results of these trials.

Look After The Tail Enders, B R. Beetson

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

IN Department of Agriculture drought feeding trials last summer, shy feeders lost weight and died while the bigger sheep grew fat. When drafted off and fed separately the shy feeders ate their share and survived the summer.

Hay And Pasture Digestibility Measured In The Laboratory, D N. Tulloch

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

A recently developed " i n vitro" (laboratory) method of determining the digestibility of hay and pastures is giving good results in the Department of Agriculture's Dairy Laboratory.

Superphosphate For Wheatbelt Pastures : Rates Of Application, Walter Jacob Cox

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

BECAUSE Western Australian soils are low in phosphorus, frequent applications of superphosphate are required for both crop and pasture production. The recommended rates are determined from the results of field experiments that test different quantities of super and measure the extra yield.

This article discusses the recommended rates of superphosphate in relation to soil type and superphosphate history. Methods of application and time of topdressing are also discussed.

Tallow As A Substitute For Butterfat In The Diet Of A Young Calf, R. Sprivulis

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

WHILE cow's milk is the best food for a young calf it is also very expensive.

The normal substitute for whole milk is skim milk, but removing the butterfat from cow's milk reduces the dry matter content by 30 per cent and the digestible energy by 50 per cent.

High Stocking Rate On Kikuyu Dairy Pasture : Progress Report On Grazing Trials On Kikuyu-Sub. Clover Pasture At Denmark Research Station, F E. Ryan

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

KIKUYU is one of the most valuable pasture plants on dairy farms in the South-West of Western Australia.

It combines well with subterranean clover and ryegrass if heavily stocked, and pastures managed in this way can be cut for legume-grass hay in the spring. However, relatively little is known of its carrying capacity or potential for production under grazing.

Higher Stocking Rates For Cattle On Irrigated Pasture : A Report From Wokalup Research Station, Maurice C. Cullity

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

The possibility that higher cattle stocking rates than those commonly used could be economical was suggested by the results of a stocking rate trial at Wokalup Research Station

Sheep Management During Drought, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

Experiencing a drought can be likened to fighting a war.

This article looks at alternatives and costs of maintaining the flock during the drought.

Survival Feeding Of Cattle During Drought, D J. Barker, J. T. Stoate

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

TO obtain adequate returns from the grazing of developed land, which has involved considerable capital investment, farmers may carry stock at rates which, though normally satisfactory, are too high in exceptionally poor seasons.

A look at some slternatives and their costs to maintaine the herd in drought.

More Butterfat Per Acre At Denmark Research Station, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

STOCKING rates on dairy farms are generally too low and can be substantially increased, but unfortunately there is no satisfactory measurement to indicate the potential of a particular pasture or environment.

A trial carried out on Denmark Research Station in 1966-67, to obtain information on carrying capacity of a dryland kikuyu-subterranean clover pasture.

A Comparison Of Methods Of Urea Application At Ajana, M G. Mason, R. J. Parkin, H. Patrick

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

Compared with urea application separate from the seed, urea mixed with wheat seed delayed and reduced wheat germination, and reduced wheat yields, especially at high rates of urea.

Yields were higher where the urea was topdressed immediately before seeding than where it was top-dressed either immediately after, or two weeks after seeding.

Home Mixing Or Purchased Feeds?, P Mcnamara

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

FEED is the largest single cost in pig production, so any saving which can be made will be of major importance.

Trials With Urea And Anhydrous Ammonia For Wheat Growing, M G. Mason

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

THE recent subsidy on nitrogenous fertilisers has greatly reduced their price to farmers. This, and farmers' increasing awareness of the benefits of application of nitrogen to cereals, has led to a substantial increase in the use of these fertilisers.

Drilled Versus Topdressed Superphosphate For Cereal Production, A Loutit, P. Stallwood, W. J. Cox

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

CEREAL growers in Australia usually use a drill or combine to apply their seed and superphosphate in one operation.

However, during the last few years, there has been a rapid increase in the amount of super broadcast bafore seeding.

N-P Compound Fertilisers, M G. Mason, W. J. Cox, R. N. Glencross

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

FARMERS were able to buy the two compound fertilisers N-P Compound Fertiliser 28:14 and N-P Compound Fertilser 24:24 in the 1967 season.

Maintenance Phosphorus And Sulphur For Pastures : Progress Report, Walter Jacob Cox

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

PASTURE IMPROVEMENT has been based on topdressing with superphosphate, which supplies sulphur as well as phosphorus.

In the past, all the benefit due to superphosphate was attributed to the phosphorus.

It is only in recent years that the importance of the sulphur has been appreciated.

The Phosphorus Fertilisers : How They Compare, Walter Jacob Cox

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

ALTHOUGH 'double' or 'concentrated' superphosphate was first commercially manufactured in 1872 it was not until the 1950's that it became a major commercial fertiliser. In 1965 it accounted for about 15 per cent, of the world production of phosphatic fertilisers.

Sources Of Nitrogen For Cereals : Their Characteristics And Costs, M G. Mason

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

Generally similar results may be expected from all the sources of nitrogen available for cereal growing.

The unit nitrogen price and the convenience of use of each fertiliser in the particular situation should be taken into account in deciding which fertiliser to use.

THE first point to consider when deciding which nitrogen fertiliser to use for wheat growing is the effectiveness of the nitrogen source in increasing crop yield. Second, the cost per unit of nitrogen must be considered.

The convenience of using a particular source in a particular situation is also important and greater convenience may offset some cost …

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.

West Midlands Development : Fertilizers For The West Midlands, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

FARMING the light lands of the West Midland area would be impossible without fertilisers.

Most light land areas are inherently very low in phosphate and also require nitrogen.

The nitrogen can come from fertiliser for cereal crops, or can be built up by growing appropriate legume pasture plants such as clovers and lupins.

West Midlands Development : Cereals For The West Midlands, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

THE sandplain soils and climate of the West Midlands area are primarily suited to grazing.

However, the place of cereals is receiving a great deal of attention in view of their advantages in the early stages of development, and the need for the diversification of farm production.

Fertiliser Responses With Newly Planted Apple Trees, N H. Shorter

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

AN outstanding response to phosphate and a worthwhile response to nitrogen have been obtained in the Donnybrook area on a new orchard site on the property of Mr. A. Cross of Argyle.

Rates Of Superphosphate For Pasture And Crop Production In The Salmon Gums District, R N. Glencross, W. J. Cox

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

DURING the last few years large areas have been released for cereal and pasture production in the southern part of the Shire of Dundas and the northern part of the Shire of Esperance.

Changes in land use since 1962 are summarised in Table 1.

Nitrogenous Fertilisers For Cereal Production, M G. Mason

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

THE greatest responses to nitrogenous fertilisers can be expected in areas with a relatively long growing season.

In such areas light soils with a low nitrogen status provide the best prospects for addition of nitrogen—provided adequate moisture is available.