Animal Sciences Commons^™

Observations On The Mating Behaviour Of Rams, K P. Croker, D. R. Lindsay

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

TO work efficiently in commercial flocks, rams must mate with and fertilise relatively large numbers of ewes, often over short periods of mating.

The importance of mating behaviour is obvious. Despite this, little is known of the mating behaviour of rams under commercial situations.

A series of experiments in 1968 at Badgingarra Research Station was designed to investigate this and other aspects of mating behaviour.

Urea Or Grain Supplements For Stubble?, H E. Fels

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

Three methods of supplementing sheep grazing stubble were compared at Merredin Research Station in 1970. The stubble used in the experiment was left after harvesting a nine-bushel crop of Gamenya wheat which was a weed-free second crop on new land. The land had never been sown to legumes.

Thirteenth Random Sample Laying Test : 1969-70, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

FOURTH PROGRESSIVE REPORT TO 31 sr MAY, 1970

Average age of birds 305 days or 43 weeks and 4 days

Super Spreader Distributes Snail Baits, G D. Rimes, W. M. O'Donnell

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

THE problem of distributing snail bait on broad acres has been overcome by simple modifications to a conventional super spreader.

Three Beef Raising Systems For Butterfat Producing Properties, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

THREE-QUARTERS of the calves born in autumn on butterfat farms are not required as milking replacements and are thus available for beef production or immediate sale, at about $20 a head.

The profit from selling beef must be compared with that from selling excess calves off their mothers.

Such a comparison is being made by Department of Agriculture Beef Research Officer D. J. Barker in a series of trials at Bramley Research Station, Margaret River.

Sheep : Experimental Basis For Urea Feeding Recommendations, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

Recent scientific reviews have concluded that in spite of the great number of experimental observations recorded throughout the world there is no evidence yet to prove that urea can be used profitably for sheep on low quality roughages in genuine grazing conditions.

An experiment is in progress at Merredin Research Station this season, especially designed to demonstrate a response to urea by sheep grazing wheat stubbles, if such a response is possible.

The Protection Of Primary Production : The Role Of The Agriculture Protection Board Of Western Australia, A R. Tomlinson

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

THE main function of the Agriculture Protection Board of W.A. is, as its name implies, "protection", and, in this case, it is the State's primary production which is being protected from pest animals, birds and weeds.

In general, the Board's activities are centred on the prevention, destruction or management of animals and plants which are troublesome to agricultural or pastoral production, or are capable of being troublesome.

Experiments With Urea On Private Farms, R J. Parkin, G. Palmer, A. Haagensen, L. D. White, R. J. Suiter, H. E. Fels

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

Many District Advisers have carried out trials on private farms to test the response to a variety of types of supplementary feeds. This report gives brief details of five such experiments carried out with urea supplements over the last five years. Table 1 summarises the details and results of these trials.

Thirteenth Random Sample Laying Test : 1969-70, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

THIRTEENTH RANDOM SAMPLE LAYING TEST, 1969-70

SECOND PROGRESSIVE REPORT TO 1st MARCH, 1970 Average age of birds 215 days or 30 weeks and 5 days

Urea Mixture Formulations, H E. Fels

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

This experiment was done once the experiment above (Urea or Grain Supplements for Stubble) had shown definite but uneconomic responses to a particular mixture of urea, molasses and minerals. The aim was to find whether the response depended on the content of various portions of the mixture, and whether the response to the "shotgun" lick could be explained by the presence of salt, sulphate or cobalt.

Two Causes Of Reduced Profit From Pigs, G A L Ward

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

LOSS of condition in a pig affects profits more severely than slow rate of growth.

Two common symptoms, scouring and itching, cause weight loss and are followed by a period of reduced weight gain.

Home Mixing Or Purchased Feeds?, P Mcnamara

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

FEED is the largest single cost in pig production, so any saving which can be made will be of major importance.

The Economics Of Transition In Farming, G D. Oliver

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

UNSTABLE income is a constant farm hazard. In addition to uncertainties like over production, obsolescence, rising costs and changes in consumer tastes which menace manufacturing industries, the farmer also has to contend with yield fluctuations arising from climatic conditions over which he has no control.

The Java Sparrow, John L. Long

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

THE attractive Java Sparrow (Padda oryzivora) with its immaculate grey, white and black plumage is a favourite caged bird both in Australia and abroad.

It represents, however, a species of considerable pest potential to the agricultural interests of this State.

The Use Of Pickled Wheat In Poultry Feeding, P Smetana

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

FEEDING fungicides to poultry can result in harmful effects, to the birds themselves, and to their human consumers.

To prevent such effects it is advisable that wheat pickled with fungicides should not be included in poultry rations.

The Pig's Need For Minerals, N W. Godfrey

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

Only 16 of the one hundred odd chemical elements known are considered to be essential mineral elements for pigs.

As some of these are required in much smaller quantities than others, they are referred to as trace or minor elements, while the remainder are called major elements.

Black-Leg In Cattle, F C. Wilkinson

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

BLACK-LEG is still a serious disease of cattle in the South West coastal region, causing deaths in young cattle.

The disease is characterised by hot swollen muscles, acute lameness and rapid death.

Cattle affected are usually 6 to 12 months old, in fat condition, and grazing on lush pastures.

Can Mastitis Be Eliminated?, F C. Wilkinson

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

Can mastitis be eliminated from a dairy herd? The results of a 12-month continuous study of four commercial herds show that it could be done.

Water Storage Has Not Kept Pace With Stock Numbers : South Stirling Survey Finding, A L. Prout

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

RESULTS of a survey on water storage capacity in the South Stirlings area indicate that farm water storage has not kept pace with increased clearing and stock numbers.

This has resulted in many farmers requesting advice on water conservation projects following two consecutive years of low rainfall runoff.

Shed Lambing In The Esperance Environment, T Marshall, F. F. Dixon

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

Neonatal lamb mortality is often high in Western Australia and losses as high as 33 per cent, have been recorded on private properties in the Esperance area. Surveys by Western Australian Department of Agriculture officers have indicated that more than threequarters of such lamb deaths occur after birth. About half these deaths result from the combined effects of weather and mismothering.

Work in Victoria has indicated that lamb mortality may be reduced by intensive lambing systems such as shedding and this trial was established to see if shedding could reduce lamb mortality in the Esperance environment.

Tallow As A Substitute For Butterfat In The Diet Of A Young Calf, R. Sprivulis

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

WHILE cow's milk is the best food for a young calf it is also very expensive.

The normal substitute for whole milk is skim milk, but removing the butterfat from cow's milk reduces the dry matter content by 30 per cent and the digestible energy by 50 per cent.

Weed Control In Pastures : A Practical Approach For Sheep Areas, Geoffrey A. Pearce

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

IN the past, chemical treatments for the control of weeds in pastures have been costly and severe on pasture, and have had to be repeated over a number of years. The method outlined in this article overcomes nearly all these disadvantages.

Are Bactericides Necessary In Sheep Dips?, M R. Gardiner

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

THE OCCURRANCE of mycotic dermatitis in sheep in Western Australia, although rather unpredictable, is quite frequent throughout the higher rainfall districts.

Efforts have been made for several years to control infection by adding bactericides to dips.

Eye Cancer In Cattle, E P. Meyer

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

THE CONDITION known as eye cancer occurs in all ages and breeds of cattle but is most common in certain strains of the Hereford breed that have non-pigmented or mottled eyes and eyelids.

A yearly incidence of up to 5 per cent can occur in susceptible herds.

Control Of Clover Infertility In Sheep, H G. Neil, H. E. Fels, C. M. Francis

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

A summary of practices recommended for the control of infertility caused by subterranean clover in West Australian sheep.

PROLONGED grazing of green subterranean clover pastures often reduces ewe fertility. In more extreme cases, obvious signs of clover disease occur.

Two Seasonal Wool Problems, A Ingleton

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

CLASSING TENDER WOOL AND SHORT STAPLE WOOL.

High Stocking Rate On Kikuyu Dairy Pasture : Progress Report On Grazing Trials On Kikuyu-Sub. Clover Pasture At Denmark Research Station, F E. Ryan

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

KIKUYU is one of the most valuable pasture plants on dairy farms in the South-West of Western Australia.

It combines well with subterranean clover and ryegrass if heavily stocked, and pastures managed in this way can be cut for legume-grass hay in the spring. However, relatively little is known of its carrying capacity or potential for production under grazing.

Twelfth Random Sample Laying Test : 1968-1969 : Litter, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

TWELFTH RANDOM SAMPLE LAYING TEST,

1968-69-LITTER

POULTRY RESEARCH STATION, WEMBLEY

THIRD PROGRESSIVE REPORT TO 4th MAY, 1969

Swine Fever And African Swine Fever, V W. Smith

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

PIGS may become infected by viruses which also cause disease in other animals (for instance foot-and-mouth disease) but there are two virus diseases worthy of special mention because they cause clinical disease in pigs only.

Coccidiosis In Lambs On The South Coast, A J. Hadlow

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

Outbreaks of coccidiosis among autumn-born lambs on the south coast have approached epidemic proportions this year.

Similar outbreaks are likely among late winter-spring born lambs. This article describes the disease and suggests measures for prevention and treatment.