Dairy Science Commons^™

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.

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.

More Butterfat Per Acre At Denmark Research Station, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

STOCKING rates on dairy farms are generally too low and can be substantially increased, but unfortunately there is no satisfactory measurement to indicate the potential of a particular pasture or environment.

A trial carried out on Denmark Research Station in 1966-67, to obtain information on carrying capacity of a dryland kikuyu-subterranean clover pasture.

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.

Feeding Urea To Dairy Cows, R A. Bettenay

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

IT has been known for some years that the ruminant animal, through the agency of microflora in the rumen, has the ability to use urea as a source of nitrogen, and to convert some of this to protein.

Good Management For The Springers Pays Dividends, J Y. Langdon

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

This article gives a striking example of the advantages of calving cows in good and rising condition—and explains why condition around calving time is so important.

ALTHOUGH most farmers know that cows calving in good and improving condition will give higher yields than those calving in poor condition, few use this knowledge to improve the production from their cows.

Meadow Hay For The Dairy Herd, F E. Ryan

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

CONSERVATION is the basis of progress in dairy farming and the major form is meadow hay, but unfortunately relatively few dairy farmers give enough attention to the quality and quantity of this important feed.

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.

Animal Husbandry Research At Bramley, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

A progress report of animal husbandry investigations at the Bramley Animal Husbandry Research Station, Margaret River.

BRAMLEY RESEARCH STATION is four miles north of Margaret River.

The average annual rainfall of 45 inches falls mainly in the winter, providing a seven-month growing season which starts in March or April.

The June-July period is excessively wet, causing extensive waterlogging of the soils.

Rules Of The Western Australian Pure Bred Dairy Cattle Production Recording Scheme, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

REVISION of these rules was necessary because of the amalgamation of the field work with that of Grade Herd Recording.

Adjustments have been made to facilitate more expeditious handling of records in the Department's Head Office.

Other minor changes have been made to bring the rules into line with present day practice.

Rearing Dairy Calves, R A. Bettenay

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

ON Western Australian dairy farms the wastage rate of dairy cows is probably more than 20 per cent, and this, coupled with the tendency towards bigger herds, means that well over half of the heifer calves born should be reared for herd replacements.

Recording Figures Are No Check On Factory Returns, R A. Bettenay

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

MANY dairy farmers who use Grade Herd Recording are in the habit of comparing their Grade Herd Recording results with returns obtained from a factory.

Where the two returns show some discrepancy the inference drawn always appears to be that whichever credits the herd with the lower return is at fault—either "the recorder is not doing the job properly" or "the factory is robbing the farmer of his just returns."

Seed And Pasture Rates For New Dairy Pastures, F E. Ryan

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

THE success or failure of pasture establishment on new land often depends on the interaction of rate of seeding and rate of superphosphate application.

Every year large areas of virgin land are cleared and sown to pasture in the higher rainfall areas, and all-too often the new pasture is not as successful as it should be because too little super is applied, and, in some cases, too little seed.

Breeding Records For Dairy Cattle, P B. Lewis

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

A N Y business needs records to show up inefficiencies and to indicate where and/or when danger points are being reached.

One record which can be of much use to the dairy farmer is the cow breeding record.

Grade Herd Recording, 1963-64, Maurice C. Cullity

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

A review of Grade Herd Recording during the 1963-64 season.

THERE was a substantial increase in the number of cows which were recorded in 1963-64 compared with 1962-63 (23,520 and 22,635 respectively).

This season's figure represents 20.4 per cent, of all cows in the dairying districts.

The number of cows which completed lactation and therefore whose yields were included in the averages, rose from 17,258 to 19,011.

Does Herd Recording Help Farmers Improve Husbandry, Maurice C. Cullity

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

THE proportion of the dairy herds throughout Australia that are being production recorded is low.

This is particularly surprising when the large amount of propaganda encouraging farmers to herd test is considered.

Udder Preparation For Milking, W G. Robinson

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

REGULAR routine methods of preparing the udder for milking hare long been recognised as essential for good "let down" of milk.

The biggest problem so far has been to combat the spread of disease, in particular mastitis from udder to udder by the milker's hands or the udder washing cloths.

Grade Herd Recording : 1962-63, Maurice C. Cullity

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

A poor season coupled with a 16 per cent, increase in the number of cows tested during 1962-63 led to a drop in the average yields of cows in the Grade Herd Recording Scheme.

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.

Meadow Hay, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

rriHE nutritive value of pasture is high in early spring and remains so until early flowering.

After this the protein content falls rapidly, the fibre content rises and the plants become more lignifled and their digestibility reduced.

Identical Twins, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

THE response to the Department's appeal for identical twin calves has been gratifying, and so far this year five sets have been located and collected.

In view of the rare occurrence of identical twinning, this indicates excellent co-operation from dairy farmers.

Relation Of Heart Girth To Weight In Holsteins And Jerseys, H. P. Davis, W. W. Swett, W. R. Harvey

Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station: Historical Research Bulletins

Body weight is the one measurement most extensively used to evaluate growth, condition, and value for beef, and as a basis for calculating feed requirements for cattle. Weight can be determined readily by scales but unfortunately scales of a capacity adequate for weighing cattle are not always available. Thus there is a real need for a basis of estimating weight from some body measurement that can be obtained easily and at a minimum of cost and time. It is the aim of this study to utilize additional data now available to increase further the accuracy and reliability of estimating weight …

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.

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.

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.

Comparative Measurements Of Holstein, Ayrshire, Guernsey, And Jersey Females From Birth To Seven Years, H. P. Davis, I. L. Hathaway

Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station: Historical Research Bulletins

Body measurements are important for a proper understanding of how growth takes place in animals. Unfortunately, few growth data other than for weight have been published concerning dairy cattle. This is a report of measurements of females in the University of Nebraska dairy herd made as part of a long-time growth study. During the period 1922 to 1942 each animal born into the herd was weighed and measured at regular intervals. Presented here are the data for weight, height, length, width, depth, girth and hide thickness for females of the Holstein, Ayrshire, Guernsey, and Jersey breeds. The average body measurements …

A Note On Chronic Footrot Of Dairy Cattle

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

With the advent of treatment with ™ sodium sulphamezathine for footrot of dairy cattle, many of the troubles associated with this condition have largely been overcome.

However, the importance of early treatment is sometimes overlooked and Fig. 1.—Chronic footrot caused the ragged growth of new bone shown in the two lower pictures. At the top are the bones of a healthy foot from an animal of similar size. some farmers are inclined to blame the drug when treatment has been commenced after the animal has been affected for some time and a cure does not result. Why treatment is not …

Disease Of Dairy Cattle - Warts And Eye Cancer, J Craig

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

Papilloma or warts are by no means uncommon in dairy cattle in Western Australia. In maturing cows, they usually occur on the udder, while in young stock they may be found on the head, neck, and shoulders. In bad cases, a large proportion of the body area may be covered with the warts, forming large cauliflower- like masses which often bleed easily.

The Influence Of Length Of Storage Of Bovine Semen On Conception Rate Under Field Conditions, A. B. Schultze, H. P. Davis, C. T. Blunn, M. M. Oloufa

Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station: Historical Research Bulletins

It is the purpose of this study to determine whether under conditions of routine handling in artificial breeding associations there is a decline in semen fertility from day to day and also to determine the magnitude of this decline. Tabulation of such data will not only be of value in determining the effect of frequent semen collection on the over-all artificial breeding results but will also serve as a basis of comparison in investigational work directed toward increasing the efficiency of artificial breeding.