Dairy Science Commons^™

Thirsty Cows Are Poor Milkers, S R. Dunstan

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

THE HOT summer weather is not far away, and now is a good time for the whole milk producer to attend to those points which will ensure that milk production is maintained at a high level during this period.

Is Your Water Supply Safe?, D C. Mickle

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

THERE can be no doubt in anyone's mind that the need for a clean, safe and adequate water supply is essential for the production of high quality milk and cream.

It naturally follows, that, even though every possible care has been taken in an endeavour to produce clean, germ-free milk and cream, contamination by bad water can render these efforts void.

Let's Look At Dairying, Maurice C. Cullity

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

FOR several years there has been a lot of gloomy forebodings about the future of the dairying industry.

It has been said that there is a drift from dairying; the industry is declining; or even that it is finished.

Cheese : As I Know It, E W H Maslin

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

IT is probable that cheese was made accidentally in the first instance, by the carrying of milk in the stomachs of animals, when the milk clotting enzymes of the stomach converted the liquid milk into a junket or a solid mass.

A Crush For Tuberculin Testing Of Cattle, A L. Ripper

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

ALWAYS a useful asset on any farm where livestock are kept, a strongly-constructed crush is essential where tuberculin testing makes it necessary to deal with dry stock, bulls and young animals that have not been previously handled.

The crush described in this article was specially designed for tuberculin testing, but will serve equally well for vaccinating, branding, de-horning or any operation where restraint is necessary.

Hay For The Dairy Herd : Quality Or Quantity?, F E. Ryan

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

CONSERVATION of hay on dairy farms has increased in recent years but so far emphasis has been on quantity rather than quality and in some districts paddocks are closed up very early to increase yields per acre of hay.

Recent trials have shown that late closing of hay paddocks on dairy farms gives higher quality hay, more winter grazing and a better balanced pasture. The gain in quality more than compensates for any drop in yield.

Selecting A Herd Sire, R A. Bettenay

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

THERE is now ample evidence that most of the differences in production between herds are determined by feeding and management, with differences in genetic merit playing a relatively minor role.

It seems that the quickest way to increase production is by improved feeding, whilst in some herds much production is being lost by faulty milking techniques.

Let's Look At Herringbone Dairies, R A. Bettenay, F. Fielder

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

THE first of the modern type herringbone dairies in Western Australia was constructed by Mr. F. Tucker of Ruabon, in 1957.

Since then there has been strong interest in this system, and there are now at least six such sheds operating in the district between Ludlow and Augusta. Many more are being constructed.

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

Identicial Twins : A Valuable Aid To Animal Husbandry Research, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

A T a recent field day at Wokalup Research Station a set of identical twins was shown as being the start of a project to build up a herd or number of such, for research and extension work.

Saving Labour In Feeding Calves, R A. Bettenay

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

PRESENT day values are such that no farmer can afford not to dispose of his calves to the best advantage.

With the lighter breeds this might still mean vealing all bull calves within a week of birth, but with heavier breeds it is now more economical to keep all calves until they are at least six to eight months old.

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.

Record Keeping On Dairy Farms, R A. Bettenay

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

FARMING today is very much a business venture and the successful farmer is the one who is not only capable of doing the manual work, but who also has the ability to plan the work routine and determine which of the possible avenues is likely to bring the greatest financial return.

For this, and many other reasons, simple but adequate records must be kept by all dairy farmers.

Many types of records should be kept but if a routine is followed, a few moments' work each evening will suffice to keep things up to date.

Foster-Mothering Of Calves, Maurice C. Cullity, K. W. Simes

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

"SAVE those calves" is a slogan which has been used frequently in propaganda to reduce the slaughter of heifers when it is thought that the supply of replacement animals to our dairy herds might be unduly low.

Although there is no fear of this at present, the wastage of calves both heifers and bulls, in Western Australia is unduly large.

The Problem Of Low Solids-Not-Fat In Milk, Laurence C. Snook

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

TO the consumer of milk, the solids-not-fat fractions is of prime importance.

This contains the protein, the minerals and the milk-sugar which collectively make milk such a valuable and palatable food.

If we wish to encourage increased consumption of milk as a health food it is essential that quality must be maintained and if possible improved.

Producers and distributors must always remember that if maximum sales are to be obtained, the needs of the consumer must remain paramount.

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.

Bracken Poisoning In Cattle, P B. Lewis

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

THE ingestion of bracken fern causes the death of numbers of young cattle in the South-West of Western Australia every year.

Early experimental work in the United Kingdom demonstrated that bracken contained an anti-Vitamin Bl factor called thiaminase which was thought to be the cause of the poisoning, but later work indicated that a bone marrow poisoning, not yet chemically identified, was responsible.

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.

Can Heifers Be Fed Too Well?, Laurence C. Snook

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

DURING recent years, emphasis has been given to the results of experiments conducted overseas, which appear to show that when heifers are generously fed, this reduces their ability to produce milk in later life.

As a result, some dairymen now believe that heifer calves should be kept lean rather than in prime condition.

It has become common to hear statements to the effect that generous feeding encourages calves to become "beefy," at the expense of the milk-producing attributes which are essential in a dairy cow.

Zamia Palm Poisoning, F C. Wilkinson

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

THE Zamia palm (Macrozamia Reidlei) is a common plant in the jarrah and karri forest country and on the coastal plains and is one of the earliest recorded Australian poison plants.

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.

Cutting Costs In Calf Rearing, N A. Scott

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

RAISING calves as herd replacements and as a sideline to provide added income is becoming increasingly popular.

This is particularly noticeable since the inception of the Artificial Breeding Scheme whereby farmers are at liberty to breed herd replacements from their most productive cows and use semen from beef breeds for the poorer types.

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.

Milk Fever (Hypocalcaemia) Of Cows, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

THE condition known as milk fever is almost essentially a disease of highly productive adult milking cows at the time of calving.

It is characterised by a low blood calcium level causing a sudden general depression of consciousness of the cow and muscular paralysis.

Without treatment most cases result in the death of the cow.