Other Animal Sciences Commons^™

Horse Problems In The Kimberleys, M R. Gardiner

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

A review of current horse disease and ill-thrift problems in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, with emphasis on the "Kimberley horse disease".

DISEASES and other conditions affecting the health and working capacity of the horse have long had an important bearing on the economy of the cattle and sheep industries of the northern part of Western Australia.

Under present conditions it is impossible to muster stock on the large pastoral leases in the Kimberley districts without the aid of horses, and many other operations would be more difficult if stockmen were denied their services.

Pig Research Projects For W.A, W J O Wilkie

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

The Medina Pig Research Unit now being developed by the Department of Agriculture will be an important addition to pig research facilities in Australia.

The primary function of the unit will be to serve the needs of the pig industry in Western Australia.

In this article, Animal Husbandry Officer W. J. Wilkie, B.V.Sc, discusses some aspects of research to be carried out.

Piglet Anaemia : An Iron Deficiency Disease, F C. Wilkinson

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

PIGLETS are born usually with only about 40 mg. of iron in their bodies and the sow's milk only supplies about 1 mg. of the 7 mg. needed each day by the piglets.

This means that if the piglets do not get additional iron, the body stores soon become depleted and anaemia occurs at about one to three weeks of age.

Vermin Control This Month, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

THE effects of the very wet winter are no longer being felt in vermin control activities in most of Western Australia and they have returned to normal.

Yanchep National Park, Clee Francis Howard Jenkins

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

YANCHEP National Park lies just over 30 miles north of Perth, and was gazetted as an A Class Reserve in 1905.

It covers more than 6,000 acres.

Pigs Have A Place In The Dairying Areas, P Mcnamara

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

Pig-keeping could become a much more important feature on South-West dairy farms in the future with the enterprise as a definite farm-unit having a considerable effect on income.

There are indications also that the collection of bulk skim milk and whey for pig feeding will increase in the future. This could make way for the efficient specialist operating large pig raising units close to the source of supply.

In this article. Pig Husbandry Adviser P. McNamara, B.A. (Cantab.) examines pig-keeping in the South-West and makes suggestions on the part that pigs can play on the modem dairy farm.

Vermin Control This Month, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

AS a service to landholders, the Agriculture Protection Board's Vermin Control Section will publish each month a resume of the main work which is applicable to that month and to advise readers where to obtain further detailed information.

Vermin Control This Month, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

Vermin control activities need to continue to avoid a build up later in the year.

Anticoagulants For The Control Of Rats And Mice, C D. Gooding

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

LATELY there have been many requests for information on suitable poisons to use in baiting rats and mice.

Most enquirers have stated that they "tried a certain brand of bait" and found that the rats only "ate it up and kept coming back for more."

This article on Warfarin—as a rat and mouse poison—is presented to clear up some of the problems of rodent poisoning.

Breeding Pigs For Best Use Of Skim Milk, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

PIG production in conjunction with dairy farming in the South-West can be an efficient and profitable way of using surplus skim milk.

Dingo Control In The Kimberley Region, J J. Freeth

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

With all the recent dramatic developments in irrigated agriculture in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, one is apt to forget the main wealth of the district still lies in its pastoral industry.

Man, in his efforts to obtain a living from the pastoral industry, has to contend with many pests which compete with pastoral activities.

Perhaps the most serious and certainly the most sagacious pest in this region is the dingo.

Wallaby Control In The Kimberleys, C D. Gooding

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

EXPERIMENTS aimed at controlling sandy wallabies along the Fitzroy River frontage were started in 1952 by officers of the Agriculture Protection Board.

This work was undertaken in response to requests for assistance from some of the station owners and managers between Derby and Fitzroy Crossing.

Rabbit Fumigation, C D. Gooding

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

Not all poisons act by absorption from the alimentary tract or through the skin, the fumigants are a big group of poisons used in pest control which act on the animal after being absorbed through the lungs.

FUMIGATION as it is now used in Western Australia is not always an economical way of treating whole farm properties. It should only be used on its own in areas where it is impossible to use other more permanent methods such as warren destruction.

Vermin Control Research In Western Australia 1952-1962, C D. Gooding

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

Ten years ago this month the Agriculture Protection Board of Western Australia began setting up a section within its Vermin Control Branch to tackle some of the scientific aspects of vertebrate pest control.

C. D. Gooding, B.Sc. (Agric), reviews the first 10 years of vermin control research work in Western Australia.

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.

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.

Stress Factors In Pig Raising, P C. Beck

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

THE pig raiser who wishes to attain the best possible growth performance from his pigs must recognise factors other than the basic ones of good nutrition and bredin capacity.

These are "stress factors"—minor factors of husbandry which can greatly damage health and limit the growth rate.

Pigs On The Dairy Farm : Records Show State Of The Business, P C. Beck

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

HOW many pig raisers have even a rough idea of their margin of profit from pigs?

Even in the present time of low returns, the answer is obviously "far too few".

Pigs On The Dairy Farm : Cutting Costs To Meet Low Prices, R A. Bettenay

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

As all dairy farmers know, the market prices of pigs tends to fluctuate, depending on supply and demand, in a manner which is very hard to predict.

At a time when prices are low there are several things which the dairy farmer can do to continue operating, although at a reduced margin.

Food For Thought In Rabbit Poisoning, J W. Leighton

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

SINCE the introduction of the "1080" Poisoning Unit Scheme in 1955 by the Agriculture Protection Board reasonable control of rabbit numbers has been obtained.

Besides this many important side effects have resulted.

Why Poor Prices For Pigs?, P C. Beck

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

A rapid increase in pig numbers and an unfavourable export situation have precipitated the present depression in the pig industry. Concentration on quality production and a gradual reduction in numbers should bring back a more stable situation, says Dairy Division pig specialist P. Beck. Big fluctuations in the pig population—the basic cause of cycles of boom and depression in the industry—would be avoided if more farmers adopted a fixed farm level policy towards the industry.

Virus Pneumonia Of Pigs, J Craig, N. Macintyre

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

THIS disease is widespread in Western Australia and is undoubtedly a most serious source of economic loss to the pig industry.

The effects of virus pneumonia are such that in badly managed herds, widespread pneumonic outbreaks and deaths are common.

By contrast, in well managed herds, there is the more insidious problem of low or nil death rates, accompanied however by an appreciable fall in animal production.

Points On Producing Better Pigs, P C. Beck

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

THERE are many factors to be considered in the production of quality pigmeat which today is the demand of the housewife.

Poor quality means two things, bad advertisement for the industry and low returns to the producer.

Dingo And Fox Baits, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

THE Vermin Control Section of the Agriculture Protection Board has devised an effective method of preparing poison for impregnating dingo and fox baits. The method is recommended where it is not convenient to use commercial 1/2 grain strychnine tablets.

It Pays To Breed Your Own Pigs, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

ONE of the most important decisions to be made by a pig raiser is whether to purchase store pigs which he will fatten for market, or to breed his own stock.

The Argentine Ant In Western Australia, Clee Francis Howard Jenkins

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

IN November, 1954, was commenced one of the most ambitious insect control schemes ever launched in Australia.

The pest concerned was the Argentine ant (Iridomvrmex humilis) and the authorised expenditure was at the rate of £105,000 per annum for five years.

Swine Erysipelas : A Newly Reported Disease Of Pigs In Western Australia, M R. Gardiner

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

RECORDED in Western Australia for the first time last year, swine erysipelas is a potential menace to the pig raising industry.

This preliminary description is given to help farmers recognise its occurrence. I t is not known how widespread the disease might be, and farmers' co-operation is needed to estimate its extent.

Any suspected cases should be reported without delay.

Poisoning Rabbits From The Air, C D. Gooding

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

AERIAL baiting gives spectacular kills of rabbits in country which cannot be effectively treated by conventional means, and has been widely adopted in New Zealand and other States in Australia.

Here Mr. Gooding reports on developments in aerial baiting in Victoria, and suggests practical applications in Western Australia.

The Open Range System Of Pig Farming, S R. Dunstan

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

THERE are several satisfactory systems which can be employed in planning a piggery, but under West Australian conditions, the paddock system has much to commend it.

Grazing admits an animal to the healthy influences of sunlight and stimulates exercise. The digestive processes of the pig are also stimulated and this helps to bring about more efficient utilisation of the feed.

An Improved Method Of Utilising Strychine In The Preparation Of Dingo And Fox Baits, L A. Harrison

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

AT present dingo and fox baits are made from fat or other material attractive to the animal to be poisoned, into which is inserted either alkaloid or soluble strychnine.