Animal Sciences Commons^™

Day-Old Fowl Pox Vaccination, P Smetana

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

FOR many years the standard procedure for fowl pox prevention on West Australian poultry farms has been to vaccinate young stock at 12 weeks of age. Although most farmers have used this system successfully it has a number of weaknesses which can be overcome by day-old vaccination.

A new day-old fowl pox vaccine now on the market has many advantages over the normal vaccine, which is used at about 12 weeks old.

In tests at the Poultry Research Station it gave satisfactory results.

Select On Fleece Weight And Cull The Low Producers, W L. Mcgarry

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

EFFICIENT calling of maiden ewes before they join the breeding flock is an essential part of any policy of flock improvement.

Removal of the low wool producers should be one of the first considerations when culling the flock.

Hints On Chicken Rearing, P Smetana

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

For the next few months poultry farmers will once again be concerned with rearing chickens.

A good brooder, ample space, good sanitation, plenty of water and a balanced feed are still the essentials of successful chicken raising, says P. Smetana, B.Sc. (Agric), Acting Officer-in-Charge of the Poultry Branch.

Weaning And Weaner Management, R J. Lightfoot

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

MOST of Western Australia's Merino flock owners wean their lambs in the months of August, September and October.

Too often this is done indiscriminately to fit in with other operations, or lambs are left on their mothers for long: periods until the ewes are remated.

Selection Of Dairy Heifers, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

THE time is approaching on most dairy farms when a decision has to be made on which of the year's crop of heifers are to be retained.

Replacements are needed not only to keep up herd numbers, but also to increase the average production.

This is herd improvement—surely the aim of all dairy farmers.

Urea For Sheep And Cattle On Dry Feed, Laurence C. Snook

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

Urea can be a valuable supplement for ruminants which have to depend on dry feed low in protein.

It is not a substitute for good quality conserved fodder.

Urea is extremely poisonous if eaten in excess and great care must be taken when feeding it to stock.

There are a variety of ways in which urea can be fed and these are outlined in this article.

The Department of Agriculture's Animal Nutrition Laboratory is now carrying out trials to determine the most convenient and safest method.

Urea is most effective as a fertiliser; when used in this way it results …

List Of Registered Stock Foods And Stock Licks : 1962-63, 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, 1928-1955, to be registered annually with the Department of Agriculture.

For the purposes of the Act, "Food for Stock" includes stock licks, which in turn embrace all preparations claimed to supply or primarily intended to supply mineral matter to stock.

Emphasis On Quality At New Beef Export Floor, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

HYGIENE is the keynote at the new beef treatment section of the West Australian Meat Export Works at Robbs Jetty, which was opened recently by the Minister for Agriculture, Mr. C. D. Nalder.

Lambing Trials At Abydos Research Station, H Suijdendorp

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

ABYDOS Research Station is halfway between Port Hedland and Wittenoom Gorge. I t is in country of granitic origin that is largely covered with spinifex (mainly Triodia pungens) and associated species.

The results of a recent lambing trial at Abydos are discussed below:

Fifth Random Sample Laying Test : 1961-62 : Progressive Report To 2nd Sept., 1962 (36 Weeks), Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

FIFTH RANDOM SAMPLE LAYING TEST, 1961-62

Progressive Report to 2nd September, 1962 (36 weeks)

Ewe Nutrition Before And During Mating, H E. Fels

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

Lambing percentages depend partly on the condition of ewes at mating. If it is practicable, ewes should be allowed to gain condition in the months before mating.

Where this is not practical and ewes are in a store or backward-store condition at mating, flushing should improve their fertility.

A Review Of The 1961-1962 Silage Competition, H G. Elliott

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

FOR the past five years the Australian Dairy Produce Board Pasture Improvement Committee (W.A.) has sponsored a silage competition in the dairying areas.

Judging is done by the officers of the Dairy Division of the Department of Agriculture and prize money totalling £175 is awarded.

Vibriosis : Major Cause Of Infertility In Our Dairy Herds, J Craig

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

VIBRIOSIS is the main cause of infertility in West Australian dairy herds.

Its main feature is repeated return to service, and it can cause heavy financial losses.

The disease can be eliminated from a herd by the exclusive use of artificial insemination, or by the adoption of a "two herd" system.

Cobalt : Its Use To Control Wasting Disease, Laurence C. Snook

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

FOR many years it was assumed that in Western Australia cobalt deficient areas were restricted to a coastal fringe which rarely extended more than 20 miles inland.

This has proved a costly false assumption. During recent years cobalt deficiency has been diagnosed over extensive areas of inland country.

Some Factors Affecting The Composition Of Milk, K Needham

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

FOR many years it has been known all over the world that the composition of milk varies. This variation in quality is considered as a serious problem wherever the dairy industry is established.

Registered Stock Foods : 1961-62, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

The following list of registered stock foods and stock licks is supplementary to the list published in the November, 1961 issue of the Journal of Agriculture.

Grazing To Control Pasture Composition, R A. Bettenay

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

APART from grazing management, there are a number of means by which the farmer can influence pasture composition.

With the exception of grazing, all of these processes involve recurring costs, so it is important to exert the utmost possible control through the grazing animal.

Don't Neglect Those Dry Cows, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

WHEN a dairy cow becomes pregnant she is normally milking and has some months to go before being dried off.

It is usual at this stage for dairy farmers to provide the best feed available.

Keep Your Pigs Cool, P C. Beck

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

CORRECT MANAGEMENT and husbandry of pigs during the hot summer experienced in Western Australia is of the utmost importance if production is to be maintained at a profitable level.

Weaner Feeding Practices Need Review, W L. Mcgarry, R. J. Lightfoot

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

Many fanners feed large amounts of grain to their weaners over summer and autumn, in the belief that this is necessary for high lifetime production.

The economics of this are open to doubt; in fact, the results of a recent experiment at Wongan Hills Research Station suggested that weaner feeding practices need review.

Minerals For Livestock : Shotgun Licks : A Waste Of Money, Laurence C. Snook

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

Think carefully before buying proprietary "shotgun" licks, warns Animal Nutrition Officer Dr. L C. Snook in this article.

Many of these licks contain a variety of minerals not needed by stock in Western Australia, and misleading claims are sometimes made as to their value.

Dr. Snook concludes that only three minerals are needed in this State, and gives a recipe for a cheap all-purpose lick containing them.

Stinkwort : A Troublesome Summer Weed, G R W Meadly

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

ONE of the commonest weeds in Western Australia is stinkwort, a vigorous plant which can be a nuisance in many parts of the State during late summer.

Chemical Poisoning In Animals. 4. Phosphorus, H D. Seddon

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

WHITE OR YELLOW PHOSPHORUS was at one time widely used in poison baits for crows, rats, foxes and rabbits.

Although it has now been largely replaced, it is still an important cause of accidental death by poisoning.

Fourth West Australian Random Sample Egg Laying Test : 1960-1961, P Smetana, F. A. E. Hunt

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

TO help improve the quality of laying stock for poultry farmers in Western Australia the Poultry Branch of the Department of Agriculture conducts annual random sample egg laying tests.

The tests reveal good and bad points in the laying strains available, and their results are a valuable guide to breeders.

Most of the chickens sold in Western Australia are now bred by hatcherymen who participate in the Random Sample Tests.

Tests For The Determination Of Milk Quality, H Maslin

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

Foolproof tests devised to determine the quality of milk delivered to the factories can detect sub-standard milk with accuracy.

They have an important place in helping achieve a high standard of quality in our dairy products.

Rearing Orphan Lambs, Laurence C. Snook

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

Orphan lambs are easy to rear if a few basic principles are understood.

Chronic Respiratory Disease Of Poultry In Western Australia, M R. Gardiner, R. V. Vagg

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

Widespread chronic respiratory disease was revealed in a survey of respiratory infections in Perth metropolitan area poultry flocks.

Most occur in early or midsummer and cause a serious fall in egg production. Return to full lay after the infection is usually slow.

While these infections can cause production losses in flocks which are under heavy stress, none of the more serious forms of chronic respiratory disease was found.

This gives encouragement for future control of the disease in Western Australia.

Chick Management, D F. Hessels

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

A UGUST is the month when most poultry farmers get their chickens. Special attention will be needed in the coming weeks, with nutrition and disease prevention the main considerations.

Skim Milk : The Cheapest Pig Feed, P C. Beck

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

BUTTERFAT production has started on most South-West dairy farms, and although pig prices are not high at present, many dairy farmers have either purchased young stock or bred pigs to utilise their surplus skim milk.

Skim milk is the best feed for pigs on the dairy farm. Properly used in conjunction with other feeds it produces high quality carcasses at minimum cost.

Cull Your Dairy Cows On Production, R A. Bettenay

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

Good production and breeding records are essential to allow effective culling of dairy cows, says Busselton Agricultural Adviser R. A. Bettenay, B.Sc. (Agric.) in this article, in which he outlines points to take into account when culling the herd.