Life Sciences Commons^™

Recording Figures Are No Check On Factory Returns, R A. Bettenay

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

MANY dairy farmers who use Grade Herd Recording are in the habit of comparing their Grade Herd Recording results with returns obtained from a factory.

Where the two returns show some discrepancy the inference drawn always appears to be that whichever credits the herd with the lower return is at fault—either "the recorder is not doing the job properly" or "the factory is robbing the farmer of his just returns."

Fence Out Those Rabbits, J C. Rowbotham

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

THERE is probably no more distressing sight to orchardists' eyes than two or three hundred young fruit trees that have been damaged by rabbits.

Recommended Wheat Varieties, 1966, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

THE State Wheat Advisory Committee has prepared recommendations for wheat varieties for 1966 sowings.

Dead Lambs : A Dead Loss, Stanley M. Dennis

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

During the past year the Animal Health Laboratory has continued its survey into the causes of abortion in sheep and perinatal lamb losses.

This article records the results of this work.

LAMBS and specimens from lambs were submitted to the Animal Health Laboratory from 229 properties situated in 121 areas in this survey during 1964.

Post-mortem examination was carried out on 1,422 lambs and specimens from 61 lambs were also examined.

Gorteria : A Recently Recorded Weed, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

A NUMBER of our major weed pests including Cape t u l ip and double gee are native to South Africa.

It is not surprising, therefore, that Gorteria, recently recorded for the first time in Western Australia, also comes from that country.

Dairy Farming In The Busselton-Margaret River District. Part 4. Pasture Production, R A. Bettenay

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

If deteriorated pasture and underdeveloped pasture in the Busselton-Margaret River district could be improved to the standard of the present highly productive pastures stocking rates could be improved by more than 50 per cent.—final article in a series reporting the results of a survey of farm practices in the district.

Calfhood Diseases. 1. Gastro-Intestinal Diseases, M R. Gardiner

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

CALFHOOD disease may be divided for convenience into three main categories:

• Those affecting the gastro-intestinal tract, including diseases of an infectious nature and those arising as a result of infestation by worms (parasitism).

• Those affecting the respiratory system, including lungworms.

• Those resulting from nutritional deficiencies, especially vitamins and minerals.

Weed Control In Irrigation Channels, Geoffrey A. Pearce

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

Probably the major task involved in maintaining drainage and irrigation channels is the regular removal of weed growth.

The cost of hand chipping a standard head channel is approximately 10s. per chain.

The use of suitable chemicals could reduce this cost considerably.

Kimberley Research Station Progress Report, 1964 : Introduction, W M. Nunn

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

THE Ord Irrigation settlement has recently planted its second commercial crop of cotton.

Research and planning toward the development project has been systematic over the last 20 years and has included hydrological surveys and dam-site investigations by the Public Works Department soil and topographical surveys by both the Department of Agriculture and C.S.I.R.O., and concerning farming methods both by research station investigations and by pilot farming.

Mastitis : Its Prevention And Control. 1. The Udder In Health And Disease, F C. Wilkinson

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

This is the first of a series of four articles on mastitis which will appear in consecutive issues of the Journal of Agriculture.

This is an introductory article describing the cow's udder in health and disease.

Puccinellia : Outstanding Saltland Grass, C V. Malcolm, S. T. Smith

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

"Puccinellia" is a tussocky perennial grass with an outstanding ability to survive salty and waterlogged conditions.

Considerable areas of saltland in Western Australia are suited to its growth.

Seed is now available commercially and in this article the conditions to which the grass is suited are described and establishment and management methods are suggested.

Fatique In Caged Layers, P Smetana

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

Pullets found immobilised on the floors of their laying cages may only be suffering from the easily-treated "cage layer fatigue" and should be checked for this before being disposed of as affected with the incurable fowl paralysis.

The Cost Of Achieving Egg Yolk Colour, P Smetana

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

The W.A. Egg Marketing Board has decided to increase its egg yolk colour bonus from Id. to 3d. a dozen from April 5, at the same time raising the qualifying colour standard.

This article presents an interesting study of the methods and costs of achieving deeper yolk colours.

Kimberley Research Station Progress Report, 1964 : Oil Crops, D F. Beech, M. J. T. Norman, W. R. Stern

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

INVESTIGATIONS on the adaptation of a range of oil crops to the Ord River environment have been in progress since the early years of the Station.

Mastitis : Prevention And Control. 2. Principles Of Mastitis Control, F C. Wilkinson

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

MASTITIS is a major cause of financial loss in over half our dairy herds.

Losses result from treatment costs, milk discarded, permanent loss of milk production, culling, lowering of solids-not-fat content and loss of butter-fat production.

Mastitis CAN be controlled. This article outlines the basic principles of mastitis control in the milking shed.

Seed And Pasture Rates For New Dairy Pastures, F E. Ryan

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

THE success or failure of pasture establishment on new land often depends on the interaction of rate of seeding and rate of superphosphate application.

Every year large areas of virgin land are cleared and sown to pasture in the higher rainfall areas, and all-too often the new pasture is not as successful as it should be because too little super is applied, and, in some cases, too little seed.

Why Did These Lambs Die?, Stanley M. Dennis

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

INVESTIGATIONS over the past two years have shown that most lamb deaths in Western Australia occur during the first three days of life, that is, in the critical neonatal period.

Most of the lambs died between 24 and 72 hours after birth.

Congenital Abnormalities In Sheep, Stanley M. Dennis

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

More than 60 forms of abnormality have been found in lambs in Western Australia and in some flocks the proportion of particular abnormalities has been as high as 8 per cent, of lambs born.

In this article Dr. Dennis discusses the causes of abnormalities and reports progress of a Statewide survey of congenital abnormalities.

Predators : Lamb Killers Or Scavengers, Stanley M. Dennis, C. D. Gooding

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

PREDATORS, particularly foxes and crows, have long been considered by many farmers in Western Australia to be a serious cause of lamb losses during the first week of life.

Results of the post-mortem examination of 2,179 lambs carried out by the Animal Health Laboratory over the past two years, however, throws considerable doubt on this belief.

These examinations revealed that 34 per cent, of the lambs showed mutilation by predators but only about 2 per cent, actually died as a result of predator attacks.

Slime Moulds [Replaced By Farmnote 114/77], Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

DURING autumn and spring, yellow or grey masses of slimy or powdery material suddenly appear on the blades of lawn grass and other low-growing plants and render them unsightly.

The organisms responsible are known as slime moulds.

The Baconer Carcass Competition : A Guide To Better Quality Pigs, P Mcnamara

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

TO PROMOTE the ever-increasing trade with Britain and encourage quality production, the Australian Meat Board sponsored the 1937 All Australian Baconer and Pork carcass competition.

Good Facilities Help T.B. Testing, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

Owner co-operation is needed for the smooth working of the tuberclin testing of cattle, compulsory in the South-West Land Division.

This article describes suitable facilities for the testing and how they operate.

Mastitis : Prevention And Control. 4. The Mastitis Control Programme Continued, F C. Wilkinson

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

PREVIOUS articles in this series have described mastitis and the principles of mastitis control, and suggested how a control programme may be established.

This article outlines the routine measures which should be maintained for continuation of the programme.

Weed Control : Watsonia, Onehunga Weed, Western Australia, Geoffrey A. Pearce

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

Suggested controls for two persistent weeds.

Plant Nutrition In Western Australia, George Henry Burvill

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

PLANT nutrition is of great practical importance in Western Australia.

Without a well developed fertiliser industry and research and experiments to guide farmers in appropriate fertiliser use the State's agriculture would be very restricted.

Thimet For Woolly Aphis Control, G D. Rimes

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

THE woolly aphis Eriosoma lanigerum (Hausm) has been known as a serious insect problem in Western Australia since the early days of apple growing.

It was distributed on nursery stock to most parts of the world in the early days of horticulture.

Clover Disease Of Sheep In Western Australia, A B. Beck, M. R. Gardiner

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

DURING the past five years there has been a marked increase in the incidence of breeding abnormalities of sheep associated with the grazing of subterranean clover pastures.

This complex of diseases first became a major problem in Western Australia in the years following 1940 and eventually became known as "clover disease".

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.

The Control Of Stock Medicines, J Shilkin

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

WHILST it is generally known that medicines sold for human use are the concern of the various health authorities throughout Australia and that many precautions are taken to ensure that these are both safe and efficient, it may not be so widely known that the sale of preparations for both internal and external use in stock is controlled for the same purposes by the veterinary authorities.

Lot Feeding Of Beef Cattle. 3. Facilities Required For A Feed Lot, W J O Wilkie

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

MANY THINGS must be considered in planning a feed lot.

The site must be well chosen, fencing, gates and yards must be adequate for the cattle carried and feeding and watering facilities should be of a high standard.

Other things to consider are the provision of shelter and shade for the cattle and buildings for feed storage and other purposes.