Dairy Science Commons^™

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.

Bovine Tuberculosis Control In Western Australia : Past, Present And Future, M R. Gardiner

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

TWENTY YEARS AGO, tuberculosis was a widespread and serious disease in the dairy cattle of Western Australia.

Besides having a marked depressing effect on the economy of the dairying industry, bovine tuberculosis was a constant hazard to humans coming in contact with it.

Mastitis In Western Australian Dairy Cattle, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

IN 1964/65, as a first step towards a State-wide mastitis control programme, the Department of Agriculture undertook a survey of mastitis in West Australian dairy herds.

The survey was designed to obtain a clear picture of the incidence and severity of the disease and is the most comprehensive mastitis survey carried out in Australia.

Coccidiosis Of Calves, W A. Halhead

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

Coccidiosis is one of the commonest causes of calf loss and debility on South-West dairy farms.

Treatment and control are simple once the nature of the disease is understood.

Mastitis : Prevention And Control. 3. Implementing The Mastitis Control Programme, F C. Wilkinson

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

FARMERS who have followed the first two articles in this series should by now have established the recommended milking routine and be familiar with it.

Remarkable Success Of Bovine T.B. Eradication Campaign, J Shilkin

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

Less than 20 years ago Perth dairy herds had the highest T.B. incidence of any Australian capital city and half of the Kalgoorlie cattle had the disease.

Why this was so and how the eradication campaign has reduced the incidence of less than 0.3 per cent, in 128,000 cattle is discussed in this article.

Calfhood Diseases. 2. Respiratory And Nutritional Deficiency Diseases, M R. Gardiner

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

MOST of the common organisms found in the environment of calf sheds and yards may at times be responsible for respiratory infections, to which the young animal is very susceptible.

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.

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.

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.

Marker Dyes In Antibiotics, K Needham, N. Ingleton

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

'For some years the presence of penicillin in milk has been a serious problem for the dairy industry.

When cows are treated for mastitis with antibiotics some residue finds its way into the milk.

Unless the milk from treated cows is withheld for at least 72 hours after treatment this residue enters the bulk milk supply.

Control Of Lice On Cattle, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

THE external parasites, biting and sucking lice (particularly of calves) are the cause of much unthriftiness.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.