Animal Sciences Commons^™

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Time Of Lambing, W L. Mcgarry, I. K. Scott

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

THE time chosen for lambing depends on many factors, and the final decision rests with the individual flock-owner who has to consider how different times fit in with the overall programme of farm operations; how they will influence the marking percentage, the marketing, the thrift of his sheep and most important, how they influence the profit from his sheep operations.

Pulpy Kidney Is Still A Sheep Killer, F C. Wilkinson

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

ALTHOUGH considerable publicity has been given to methods of control by vaccination, numbers of sheep are lost every year in outbreaks of infectious enterotoxaemia— the disease commonly known as "pulpy kidney."

Cattle Lice : Spray Now For Prevention, F C. Wilkinson

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

ALTHOUGH lice infestation can occur in any season of the year, the heaviest infestations are found during the winter.

This build up of lice infestation normally starts in the autumn but if the cattle are treated by spraying at this period, the majority of the lice are killed and the build up is prevented.

Thus the old saying "Prevention is better than cure" certainly applies with regard to cattle lice.