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This Year's Export Lamb Carcass Competition, N Davenport

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

THE Export Lamb Competition will be conducted through the Royal Agricultural Society again this year.

Last year, due partly to the season, entries were well below those of previous years and if this competition is to continue, greater support from breeders is necessary.

I am sure you will agree that such a competition has undoubted value both for producers in recognising the type of lamb required, and also as an advertising medium for the sale of high quality Western Australian lamb on the English markets.

Weeds Of Western Australia : Cape Tulip (Homeria Breyniana (L.) Lewis And H. Miniata Sweet), G R W Meadly

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

SOUTH Africa has provided us with a number of undesirable weeds including doublegee, Berkheya thistle, Guildford grass and stinking roger, but outstanding among the weed introductions from that country are two species of Homeria known as Cape Tulip.

The salmon-coloured flowers and long grass-like leaves are known to farmers in many localities extending from Geraldton to Albany and as far east as Bruce Rock and Merredin. Beyond the metropolitan area the largest infestations occur in the Northam, York, Beverley and Williams districts where thousands of acres of good land are affected.

A Successful Campaign Against The Euro, E H M Ealey, T. M. Richardson

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

RESULTS from a five-year research programme carried out by the C.S.I.R.O. on the Abydos-Woodstock Pastoral Research Station indicated that euros could be controlled in a practical and economic way by the traditional method of water poisoning,

if it was continued for an extended period and carried out over a large area. Smallscale trials supported this claim, but no opportunity had occurred to assess the practicability of a large-scale poisoning operation.

The Fruit Industry In Other Lands. 4. The United States Of America (Continued), Frank Melville

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

COMMERCIAL pear growing was seen only in Washington State where production is in the vicinity of five million bushels or about 12 per cent, of the total fruit production of the State.

Two-thirds of the pears are Bartletts which are used extensively for canning. The other main variety is D'Anjou with lesser quantities of Bosc and Winter Nelis all of which are used for the fresh fruit trade.

In the last six years a serious depletion in tree numbers has occurred due to the inroads of Pear Decline a new disease the cause of which at present is unknown.

Can Heifers Be Fed Too Well?, Laurence C. Snook

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

DURING recent years, emphasis has been given to the results of experiments conducted overseas, which appear to show that when heifers are generously fed, this reduces their ability to produce milk in later life.

As a result, some dairymen now believe that heifer calves should be kept lean rather than in prime condition.

It has become common to hear statements to the effect that generous feeding encourages calves to become "beefy," at the expense of the milk-producing attributes which are essential in a dairy cow.

List Of Registered Stock Foods And Stock Licks 1960-61, H G. Cariss

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

All foods for stock sold in Western Australia are required by the Feeding Stuffs Act, 1928-1951, to be registered annually with the Department of Agriculture.

Rats And Mice And Their Control, C D. Gooding, J. L. Long

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

BEFORE colonisation by the white man, Australia contained over 50 species of rats and mice.

Although several of these native species have been known to breed to plague proportions they are normally slower breeders than the introduced species.

Once settlement had been established on our shores it was only a matter of time before the introduction of more of these pests, occurred probably from the British Isles.

Lupinosis In Sheep. 1. Laboratory Studies, M R. Gardiner, M. C. Nottle

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

IN earlier articles by Bennetts (1957, 1960), the clinical and pathological features of lupinosis, as seen in field outbreaks, were described.

The suggestion was made that the roughage portion of the lupin plants was responsible for the disease.

More recent observations suggest a relationship between parasitism and lupinosis.

48th Annual Feeders Day Progress Report: Improving Beef Production Through Nutrition And Management, W. V. Lamber, E. F. Frolik

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

As we start a new decade it is appropriate to ponder for a moment on where we have been and where we go from here.

The past ten years have seen significant changes in all phases of animal agriculture. Probably the most spectacular changes came in the area of nutrition. During the past ten years significant advances were made in our knowledge on mineral and vitamin nutrition. Additional facts on the old problem of the ratio of concentrates to roughage have been added. Ways of supplementing poor quality roughage to obtain optimum production were learned.

Nebraska Bird Review (January 1960) 28(1), Whole Issue

Nebraska Bird Review

Table of Contents

"Twin nests" of House Wren, picture ... 2

Trees and Shrubs of Value as a Food Source to Migratory and Non-Migratory Bird Life in the Sandhill Region of Central Nebraska ... 3

Summer Birds of Camp Opal Springs, 1958-1959 ... 5

Some Observations of Bird Behaviorisms in and Near Traps and Nets ... 7

Nesting Study of Long-Eared Owls in Box Butte County ... 10

General Notes ... 11

Excerpts from Letters ... 13

The Number Of Daughter-Dam Pairs Needed For Estimating Heritability, L. Dale Van Vleck, S. R. Searle, C. R. Henderson

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

The number of observations required to obtain reliable estimates of heritability has been discussed recently for the method which utilizes the intra-class correlation coefficient. Wearden (1959) has made use of the power function to determine the number of progeny per sire needed to estimate heritability. Tallis (1959), utilizing the formula for the variance of the intra-class correlation coefficient as given by Fisher (1952), has discussed the minimum number of offspring necessary for estimating heritability with a given accuracy.

Classification And Evolutionary Relationships Of The Sea Ducks, Paul A. Johnsgard

Papers in Ornithology

When Delacour and Mayr (1945) revised the classification of the Anatidae, one of their major innovations was the erection of the tribe Mergini, the members of which had in the past (Peters, 193 1) been included in the subfamilies Nyrocinae (=Aythyinae) and Merginae. This separation of the true pochards (Netta and Aythya) from the other diving ducks and the merging of the merganser group into the same tribe with the goldeneyes (Bucephala) and other sea ducks has been accepted by most authorities and incorporated into recent classifications such as those of Kagelmann (1951) and Boetticher ( …

Annual Report: 1960

Cherry County (Nebraska) Extension: Historical Documents

Extension Organization & Program Planning

Two County Extension Offices ...................... 1

Does Your Child Play Different Lately? ......................1

Future "Useful" Adults ...................... 1

Circus Tent Camping ...................... 2

State Chief Visits Tea ...................... 2

4-H Royalty ...................... 2

Cherry County Did Fine ...................... 4

Ceramics Highlight Achievement Day ...................... 5

Been Busy Lately? ...................... 13

Crops

Aquatic Weeds Still Flourish ...................... 5

Livestock

4-H Livestock Judges Busy ...................... 5

Lights - Camera - Action ...................... 6

Real Friends ...................... 7

Cow - Men in the Making ...................... 7

Cattle Still Have Grubs ...................... 8

Healthy Sheep ...................... 8

Soil & …

Tetanus In Farm Animals, C R. Toop

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

THE disease tetanus occurs in practically all of the animals and man.

It is caused by the tetanus bacillus (Clostridium tetani) and results from contamination of wounds and raw surfaces with materials such as earth or dust containing these organisms.

Autumn V Spring Shearing, W L. Mcgarry, I. K. Stott

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

IN the agricultural areas of this State it is customary to shear in the late winter or spring, usually some time between July and September.

In an experiment conducted at Muresk Agricultural College during the past two years it has been shown that shearing in autumn (March) has resulted in more wool being produced with higher returns than when shearing at the conventional time.

The Success Of The Rabbit 'Killer' Trials, A R. Tomlinson

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

SUCCESS well beyond what was anticipated has been achieved in a two year trial of a modified version of the rabbit "killer" method.

In the "killer" method, trained officers are employed to kill rabbits instead of to inspect and supervise the activities of farmers and, in fact, these officers do all the actual work of destruction.

This system was advocated by the W.A. Royal Commission which reported on Vermin Control in this State in 1944, and it was used successfully in New Zealand.

These trials were applied only to poisoning and not to overall destruction measures. The main object was …

Insects And Mites Found Attacking Cereal Crops In Western Australia, Clee Francis Howard Jenkins

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

ONE of the most important factors influencing Western Australian agriculture in the last 20 years has been the development of permanent pastures together with the associated practice of ley farming.

Although the increased use of pasture plants, and particularly subterranean clover, has increased the general fertility of many areas it has also accentuated various problems, including those relating to insect control.

Summer fallow was a strong deterrent to such pests as the red-legged earth mite, the lucerne flea, and webworm and these and several other creatures have shown a tendency to increase under new farming methods.

Government Botanist Retires, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

MR CHARLES AUSTIN GARDNER, West Australian Government Botanist since 1927, retired from active service with the Department of Agriculture on July 5, 1960.

Zamia Palm Poisoning, F C. Wilkinson

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

THE Zamia palm (Macrozamia Reidlei) is a common plant in the jarrah and karri forest country and on the coastal plains and is one of the earliest recorded Australian poison plants.

Brucellosis And Its Control With Strain 19 Vaccine, C R. Toop

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

DAIRY farmers of a generation ago will not need to be reminded of the ravages of contagious abortion or of the need for the continued application of effective control measures.

Fifteen or 20 years ago this disease which we now call Brucellosis was rife throughout the dairying districts of the State and it exacted a heavy toll.

The "abortion storm" was a common occurrence and it was not unusual for 30 per cent., and sometimes considerably more, of the cows in a herd to lose their calves at about the sixth month of pregnancy.

Termites Or White Ants, Clee Francis Howard Jenkins

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

TERMITES are commonly but erroneously called "white ants."

Actually they are more nearly related to cockroaches than to ants, but their general appearance and subterranean habits have given strong support to the popular designation.

They may be divided into two major groups from an economic point of view, viz., wood-dwelling and earth-dwelling termites.

Deferred Grazing : What It May Mean In The Mulga Region, W M. Nunn

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

THE practice of deferred grazing has been written up in American textbooks and has been applied effectively to sections of the cattle range lands of the United States.

Early attempts to apply the principle in eastern Australia were not very successful, and it remained for our Departmental workers in the North-West and Kimberley Divisions to demonstrate the phenomenal results that could be obtained on grasslands in summer rainfall areas.

Wild Life In A Modern Age, Clee Francis Howard Jenkins

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

THE present human population of the earth is estimated at about 2 1/2 thousand million, and reliable sources consider that this figure will be doubled by the year 2000.

Although the pessimistic forecasts of Malthus have not yet come true, it is obvious that the world's food requirements, must lead to increased exploitation of land and other primary resources, with consequent repercussions on all forms of wild life.

Famous Sheep Breeds. 6. The Southdown, J A. Mallett

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

THE chunky, low-set, meaty-carcassed Southdown is a popular breed wherever prime mutton and lamb are appreciated.

Just as the Dishley Leicester was used to improve most of the British longwool breeds, so an infusion of Southdown blood has benefited the majority of the British shortwool sheep whose main role is meat production

Weed Research. 7. Weed Control Around The Yard, Geoffrey A. Pearce

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

MANY farmers and city householders have weed problems around houses and sheds which can be readily overcome by treatment with appropriate herbicides.

The risk from fire through weeds and unslightly growth can easily be removed and an area free of any plant growth can be maintained with little effort for a considerable period.

Hit Rabbits This Winter : It Will Check Breeding And Give More Valuable Feed For Summer Grazing, C Marshall

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

NOW that the current summer "1080" Rabbit Drive is drawing to a close, it is time we considered our future plans.

I am afraid that in the past most farmers have relied far too much on summer control as the complete answer to rabbit destruction and that this reliance has increased considerably following the introduction of "1080" poison, plus the valuable assistance received from the myxomatosis virus.

Galah Poisoning : Kill The "Cocky", John L. Long, F. Vagg

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

NO! Not the one that tills the land, but his enemy, the pink and grey galah (Kakatoe rosei-capilla).

Farmers have usually found the destruction of galahs damaging standing crops and bagged, or stored grain, fairly difficult.

Past methods of boiling grain and adding sweetened substances are rather laborious and require a lot of time.

Now, a quick and relatively simple method is available to farmers, using paraffin oil to adhere poison to the grain.

Selenium : An Essential Trace Element, Laurence C. Snook

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

SELENIUM is one of the rare elements. In most soils it occurs in such minute quantities as to escape attention.

Plants, however, can concentrate selenium in their tissues and, in the U.S.A. in areas where the soils contain more selenium than usual, this facility can result in selenium poisoning in grazing animals.

Fortunately, none of the common soil types in Australia appears to contain enough selenium to affect the quality of the herbage.

Pig Pox : Its Presence In W.A. Is Suspected But Not Yet Confirmed, F C. Wilkinson

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

A PIG-FARMER recently asked for in-information on pig-pox and inquired whether the disease occurs in Western Australia.

The first part of the question is easily answered, as pig-pox is a typical pox disease caused by a virus and resulting in roundish, red areas appearing on the pig's skin.

The disease is in fact very similar to the other more commonly known pox diseases—chicken-pox in the human population, fowl-pox in poultry and cow-pox in cattle.

Meals For Cooler Seasons : A Plain Cushion, H M. Gloster

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

ALTHOUGH March, April and May go to make up the "official" autumn season, the Clerk of the Weather does not always send us typical autumn weather.

Easter has passed however, we can usually expect cooler days and can look forward to the preparation and enjoyment of foods that are richer and more substantial than our hot weather fare.

Here are some suggestions for two universal favourites— roast duck and baked ham.