Animal Sciences Commons^™

The Dehorning Of Cattle, J Shilkin

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

THE dehorning of cattle, both dairy and beef, has many advantages.

Breeders of stud cattle frequently claim that removal of the horns spoils the appearance of show animals and stress that the practice is cruel.

Whilst both these statements may, to some extent, be true, the advantages of the practice far outweigh any disadvantages.

Virus Pneumonia Of Pigs, J Craig, N. Macintyre

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

THIS disease is widespread in Western Australia and is undoubtedly a most serious source of economic loss to the pig industry.

The effects of virus pneumonia are such that in badly managed herds, widespread pneumonic outbreaks and deaths are common.

By contrast, in well managed herds, there is the more insidious problem of low or nil death rates, accompanied however by an appreciable fall in animal production.

Post Dipping Lameness In Sheep, I J. Miller

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

LAMENESS can be a most distressing feature at any time of the year, bat when It coincides with the early onset of hot weather and fall-off in nutritive level of the feed, results may have a far reaching effect on the flock.

Points On Producing Better Pigs, P C. Beck

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

THERE are many factors to be considered in the production of quality pigmeat which today is the demand of the housewife.

Poor quality means two things, bad advertisement for the industry and low returns to the producer.

It's Dipping Time, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

ANNUAL dipping is compulsory within six weeks of shearing.

Here are the main points to keep in mind for successful and trouble-free dipping.

It Pays To Breed Your Own Pigs, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

ONE of the most important decisions to be made by a pig raiser is whether to purchase store pigs which he will fatten for market, or to breed his own stock.

Pullorum Tested Poultry Flocks : 1961, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

THIS year's pullorum tests of poultry flocks have revealed the lowest incidence of reactors since the tests began. Results are recorded below.

Drugs For Worm Control. 1. Sheep Drenching Trials With Mk 360, M R. Gardiner, J. Craig

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

DRENCHING sheep with drugs designed to eliminate parasites has become an established practice in the higher rainfall districts of Western Australia.

has been tested in many trials, and their is little doubt that drenching sheep clinically affected with worms—the so-called "tactical" drench—is valuable and necessary.

However, there is usually less general acceptance of the value of "strategic" drenching— the prevention of clinical parasitism by giving the drug at certain specific times, pre-determined by a knowledge of the numerical rise and fall of the various parasites within the animal body.

Swine Erysipelas : A Newly Reported Disease Of Pigs In Western Australia, M R. Gardiner

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

RECORDED in Western Australia for the first time last year, swine erysipelas is a potential menace to the pig raising industry.

This preliminary description is given to help farmers recognise its occurrence. I t is not known how widespread the disease might be, and farmers' co-operation is needed to estimate its extent.

Any suspected cases should be reported without delay.

Chemical Poisoning In Animals. 3. Prussic Acid, H D. Seddon

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

HYDROCYANIC or prussic acid poisoning is a serious and not uncommon ailment of ruminants, and may be a cause of rapid death when pasture plants capable of developing dangerous levels of the poison are being grazed.

Can Worms Be Controlled By Correct Feeding?, Laurence C. Snook

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

THE extensive losses which result from the ravages of internal parasites are a matter of serious concern.

Livestock owners realise this all too well and welcome advice concerning control measures which can be adopted. Unfortunately, it is not possible to give clear cut advice on the subject.

Much publicity is given to the use of drugs which will expel the worms. Various systems of strategic drenching have been developed.

It is well to remember, however, that drenching is only one of many methods which can be used to control worm infestation.

In this talk attention will be concentrated on experimental …

Some Notes On Worms In Sheep In Southern Western Australia, I W. Parnell

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

DURING the last fifty or more years several surveys have been made of the worm parasites which occur in southern Western Australia.

In the 'fifties, thanks to the stimulus of Mr. H. McL. Gordon, supported by Dr. H. W. Bennetts, observations were made on the sequence of the infestations in autumn-born weaners in the country stretching from Moora to Cranbrook and Bridgetown, and later near Geraldton and Esperance.

Poultry Diseases In Western Australia, I. J. Miller, P Smetana

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

POULTRY diseases constitute a major factor in losses sustained by the industry.

It is the aim of this article to provide a ready source of information to assist the poultry farmer in understanding the common disease conditions that he is likely to encounter and to suggest possible means of control and treatment.

49th Annual Feeders Day Progress Report: Improving Beef Production Through Nutrition And Management, E. F. Frolik, A. W. Epp

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

The science of nutrition has come into its own in the last few years. Greater recognition of the value of protein, the identification of new nutrients and the awareness of the importance of nutrition to health have been part of this trend.

In this new era in nutrition, beef has been found to be one of our most nutritious foods. Not only does it contain a generous amount of protein, but its protein is of high quality, too. In addition, beef supplies important minerals such as iron and phosphorus, which contribute to healthy blood and sturdy bones. The essential B …

Chemical Poisoning In Animals. 2. Lead, H D. Seddon

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

LEAD is the most frequent cause of poisoning in farm animals, especially of cattle.

All animals and man are susceptible to large doses, but small repeated doses may accumulate to toxic proportions in the body.

Cattle and sheep are more susceptible to poisoning and are more likely to have access to sources of lead.

Antibiotics And Sterilisers In The Dairy Industry, K Needham, N. Ingleton

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

A S a consequence of the rapid advances made in all aspects of technology there are an ever increasing number of preparations becoming available to the dairy farmer, to assist both in the control of disease in his crops, pastures and animals and to maintain and enhance the quality of his dairy products.

These are—antibiotics, sterilisers, detergents, various weedicides and pesticides

It's Marking Time, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

Many thousands of lambs will be marked this month! When marking, remember:—

Sarcoptic Mange Of Pigs, H D. Seddon, F. C. Wilkinson

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

THIS parasitic disease appears to be much more common than is usually recognised; for, while severe cases with chronic skin lesions are readily seen, light infestations, especially on coloured pigs often go unnoticed.

When it is realised that even lightly infested pigs require twice as much feed to make one pound gain in live weight as do uninfested pigs, then early recognition and treatment of the disease becomes an obvious economical necessity.

Swine Brucellosis: How You Can Eradicate It

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Swine brucellosis is a bacterial disease that affects swine, other domestic animals, and humans. Severe exposure causes the disease in cattle, dogs, cats, and poultry. The disease can spread from one species of animal to another, and from animals to humans. However, it does not normally spread from one human to another, or from humans to animals. The disease costs the swine industry about $10 million a year. Losses due to human infection cannot be estimated. Although human brucellosis, or undulant fever, is difficult to diagnose-especially in mild cases-a total of 892 cases were documented in the United States in …

Vibrionic Dysentery Of Pigs, M R. Gardiner

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

VIBRIONIC DYSENTERY of pigs, also known as porcine vibriosis and swine dysentery, has been recognised for many years in the U.S.A. It was first reported in Australia in 1938, in South Australia, and later in both Victoria and New South Wales.

This brief description of a disease recently diagnosed for the first time in Western Australia is given so that breeders have some chance of recognising it in their herds. Suspected cases should be reported without delay.

Antibiotic Residues In Milk : The Farmer's Responsibility, N Ingleton

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

THE LEVEL of antibiotic residues in commercial milk supplies has been steadily increasing over the past few years.

These residues find their way into the bulk milk as a result of milk from cows under antibiotic treatment for mastitis or other infections being included in the bulk milk for sale.

Pinkeye In Sheep : Some Timely Comments, F C. Wilkinson

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

DURING the summer months, it is almost inevitable that numbers of sheep in Western Australia will suffer from contagious ophthalmia—or pinkeye, to give the disease its more popular name.

As it can be quite a distressing disease which can cause severe setbacks, most flock owners, knowing that medicaments are available for the treatment of pinkeye, will feel that they should do something for the affected animals.

Teaser (Vasectomised) Rams : A Management Advantage, W L. Mcgarry, I. K. Stott

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

WITH normal late spring-early summer matings (October-December) teaser rams, correctly used, will give a more concentrated lambing.

This has been shown under Western Australian conditions in trials conducted at the Wongan Hills Research Station.

In one experiment a group of 100 ewes which had one per cent, of teasers for 14 days before the fertile rams went in, dropped 42 lambs in the first two weeks of lambing, compared with 17 lambs from 100 ewes that were not teased.

The use of teasers in all Research Station flocks is now routine practice.

Brucellosis Can Cause Contagious Abortion In Cattle And Undulant Fever In Man, F C. Wilkinson

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

WHEN the cow, shown in the accompanying photograph, was purchased it had a small fluid-filled lump on the left knee.

The swelling did not appear to be painful but gradually increased in size until it assumed the proportions shown in the picture.

It was a typical case of "big-knee," one of the less common manifestations of Brucellosis—the disease commonly known as contagious abortion—and a blood test of the animal confirmed the diagnosis.

Diseases Of Goats, J Shilkin

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

MANY of the diseases of goats are common to sheep and cattle, and, as in these species, correct feeding, hygiene and general care and management will assist in the avoidance of serious ailments.

In this article an attempt will be made to advise goat-owners on the diagnosis of the more common ailments, and suggestions as to treatment will be offered where possible.

It should be appreciated however that where veterinary assistance is obtainable it is preferable to first-aid treatment. A qualified veterinarian has access to newer and more efficient methods of treatment than are available to the layman.

Free Feeding For The Control Of Rabbits, C Marshall

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

IN common with most other farm work, the control of rabbits calls for a high degree of skill, patience and perseverance.

There is no short cut to success, and if results are required we must be prepared to give of our best.

Failures of control works are experienced at various times, and the reasons can generally be traced back to something we have failed to do or some short cut we have tried to take.

However, we should not lose heart from one failure. During normal farming procedure, if a farmer's crop fails he does not give up planting in …

Vibriosis, F C. Wilkinson

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

AN all-too-common problem on dairy farms is the failure of cows to conceive at times which will ensure their calves being born at the desired season—when the cows can take full advantage of the flush of green feed or, in the case of wholemilk producers, at a time when the milk is most needed to maintain their quotas.

There are of course many causes of sterility in cattle but in a survey carried out by veterinarians D. Roberts and M. Sier in 1957, it was shown that vibriosis was the main cause in 75 per cent of the herds investigated.

A Survey Of The Incidence Of Lupinosis In Sheep In The Dandaragan District In 1959, H G. Neil, W. J. Toms, C. M. Ralph

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

FOLLOWING widespread losses of sheep grazing on dry lupins, a survey of flockowners' experience with the disease was made by the Department of Agriculture in one of the districts most affected.

The idea of a survey originated from discussions with the President, Mr. K. E. Jones, and several other members of the Dandaragan Pasture Improvement Group.

The information obtained from the survey has provided a valuable factual basis for the design of laboratory and field experiments.

Lamb Marking, I K. Stott

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

LAMB marking is the most severe of the various ordeals which sheep are called upon to endure during their lifetimes—yet it is an operation, or rather a series of operations, to which the average fiockowner gives but little care and thought.

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.