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The Outlook For Wool, Lamb And Beef, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

WOOL and fat lambs have been traditional products of farms in the wetter parts (20 inches of rainfall and above) of Western Australia's agricultural areas.

The prices for both these products are causing corncern and some farmers have already changed to beef production.

This article discusses the future prices for wool, fat lambs and beef.

Report On Trials Conducted In 1978 And 1969 By Plants Research Division And Wheat And Sheep Division, J W. Gartrell

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

In the late 1920's the seven million acres of virgin land

between Hyden and Salmon Gums were considered for settlement under

the "3,500 farms scheme" because it constituted "practically the

only large area of wheat lands in a suitable climatic zone not then

settled in Australia" (Teakle 1939).

Sheep Programmes For Esperance Settlers With Limited Finance, R J. Doyle, G. D. Oliver

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

FARMING in the Esperance region has now passed through the phase of experimentation into the phase of consolidation.

But not all new settlers are prosperous.

On occasions, a lifetime ambition to own and operate a farm has ended in failure because the settler has been forced through economic circumstances to give up his block.

Too often this follows the unequal struggle of trying to develop a block with too little capital.

Worms In Sheep. 2. Seasonal Variations In Worm Burdens, R W. Butler

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

The first article in this series described the worms which commonly infest sheep in Western Australia and the symptoms caused by heavy infestations.

This article outlines the effects of seasonal changes on worm burdens in sheep.

AS a basis for planning a worm control programme it is essential to have information on the seasonal changes in worm burdens and on the factors which control these.

In this article, the more important of these are considered.

Special Field Days For Merino Breeders, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

More than 200 Merino stud breeders attended special stud breeding and fertility field days arranged for them by the Department of Agriculture recently.

Breeders attending represented some 40 per cent of the State's Merino studs.

Stocking Rates On Cyprus Barrel Medic In The Northern Wheatbelt, R J. Parkin

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

IN May 1963, some three weeks after germination, a 4th year stand of Cyprus barrel medic was stocked with Merino wethers.

These same sheep are still grazing the area after three years.

Do You Know This Disease [Scabby Mouth], F C. Wilkinson

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

This sheep is showing rather severe lesions of "scabby mouth" a disease widely distributed in both the pastoral and agricultural areas.

Sheep Or Beef Cattle?, G D. Oliver

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

THE present sustained high meat prices and the moderately low wool prices have caused many farmers to think again about the relative profitability of sheep and beef cattle.

With synthetic fibres continuing to threaten the wool price a changeover from sheep to beef cattle must be seriously exercising the minds of many woolgrowers.

Warning : Footrot Threatens South-West Sheep Industry, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

DURING the past few months footrot has appeared in sheep in the South-West in an area extending from Busselton southwards to Kudardup.

This area has only recently been stocked with sheep which have been purchased from many sources.

It is probable that there were a few "carriers" amongst these introduced sheep, and that under the favourable conditions of the South-West the infection was able to develop and spread and then to declare itself in clinical form.

Classing Your Own Clip, J Reilly

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

One of the most important activities in the Australian wool industry is the preparation of the clip for sale.

Many growers class their own clips and due to this practice they can reduce production costs.

Reproductive Wastage And The Sheep Shortage In Western Australia, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

WESTERN AUSTRALIA has an acute shortage of sheep.

It is estimated that about seven million extra sheep are needed to stock existing pastures fully; meanwhile the carrying capacity of the State's pastures is increasing at the rate of three million sheep a year.

Continuous Grazing On Rose Clover At Northampton, R J. Parkin

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

BECAUSE of its upright growth habit, it is often thought that rose clover may require some form of specialised grazing management.

It has also been said that the sheep find the plant and in particular the seed head, undesirable in the dry stages.

However, more recent observations refute this (Bailey 1966). The present commonly-grown strains of rose clover are later flowering generally than the medics or Geraldton subterranean clover and stay green later in the season.

Alive-Stiff-Dead [Tetanus], F C. Wilkinson

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

Only 12 hours before this photograph was taken the lamb pictured was alive and healthy.

When examined it was very stiff and unable to stand. A few hours later it was dead.

More Sheep Per Acre, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

In the late 1950's agricultural scientists in Western Australia became convinced that much of the improved pasture in the agricultural areas of the State was going to waste.

The results of the early trials resulted in many farm demonstrations of higher carrying capacities on improved pastures in southern agricultural areas.

Stocking Rate And Rate Of Superphosphate In A Higher Rainfall Area, P P. Mann, B. J. Gorddard, R. N. Glencross, E. N. Fitzpatrick

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

In its virgin state the area carried a forest association of red-gum and jarrah, and the soils are typical of large areas in the south-west of Western Australia.

These gravelly soils have a high requirement for phosphate during their first years under pasture, and this trial was designed to investigate the relationship between rate of phosphate, stocking rate and pasture production over a number of seasons.

A Sick Ewe Why? [Pregnancy Toxaemia], F C. Wilkinson

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

THIS dazed-looking ewe was seen wandering aimlessly around with an unsteady gait.

Three other ewes had died after a similar sickness lasting about four days.

Two more sheep in the flock of 350 ewes were also sick. One of them was down with its head on one side.

Down And Out [Pulpy Kidney Disease], F C. Wilkinson

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

Two days previously the weaner mob had broken through a gate into a hundred acre paddock in which an excellent green oat crop was growing.

The owner had not been particularly worried because the oats needed grazing. When however, he went to check the water troughs and found 17 weaners dead, he became perturbed.

Vibriosis In Sheep, Stanley M. Dennis

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

OVINE VIBRIOSIS or vibrionic abortion, a serious disease of breeding ewes, has been known for almost 50 years and has been reported from most of the important sheep breeding areas of the world.

It is capable of causing serious economic loss.

A Sheep Management Calendar For Lambing On Green Feed, H E. Fels, J. A. C. Smith

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

The calendar contained in this article has been drawn up by officers of the Wheat and Sheep Division as a guide to farmers who plan to adopt July-August lambing.

The article also summarises the advantages and complications of later lambing (as opposed to the conventional autumn lambing) and discusses farm management programmes to deal with the problems in various districts.

Sheep Can Be More Profitable In The Wheatbelt, G T. Halpin, P. Nelson

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

TRADITIONALLY, wheatbelt farmers have looked upon sheep as being subsidiary, or at best, complementary to their main activity, wheat growing.

Because there has been a mistaken belief that clover would not grow, these farmers have depended upon native grasses and crop remains (stubble) for sheep feed, a practice which has put a limit to the number of sheep a property could support.

Sheep Breeding Problems In W.A. : The Industry's View, Stanley M. Dennis

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

IN 1963 a short questionnaire was distributed to farmers and pastoralists seeking information about sheep breeding problems and lamb losses.

This was a fore-runner to the Department of Agriculture survey into the causes of abortion and lamb mortality which is reported elsewhere in this issue.

Time Of Lambing At Esperance, R J. Doyle

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

ESPERANCE is one of the few places in Western Australia at which experiments over three years have shown a definite improvement in number of lambs produced to marking, as a result of lambing in the August-September period.

Weed Control : Cotton Fireweed, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

COTTON FIREWEED is a native perennial plant which has developed as a serious weed in the south coastal areas.

Being a perennial it makes quick, active growth following summer rains and rapidly outgrows annual pasture plants.

Have You A Lambing Problem?, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

Here are the steps you should take if you have or suspect a breeding problem in your flocks.

How To Identify Twin-Born Lambs, G T. Halpin, P. Nelson

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

IN the past few years it has become widely accepted that the ability to produce twin or multiple lambs is a heritable characteristic.

This means that breeding from sheep born as twins should give more multiple births and higher lambing percentages than breeding from sheep born as single lambs.

Sharpening And Care Of Mulesing Shears, A L. Jones

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

THIS year will probably see more sheep mulesed in Western Australia than ever before.

It is not surprising, therefore, that some improvements have been made to the standard mulesing shears.

New modified shears make mulesing easier —but they must be properly sharpened.

More Light On Lamb Losses : Third And Final Report Of A Survey Of Lamb Mortalities In W.A, Stanley M. Dennis

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

DURING the past three years the Department of Agriculture's Animal Health Laboratory carried out an investigation into the causes of perinatal lamb losses.

This article records the results of this work.

Congenital Abnormalities In Sheep In Western Australia, Stanley M. Dennis

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

IN every flock of sheep an abnormal or deformed lamb is seen from time to time.

But in some flocks in some years the incidence of these abnormal lambs is higher than usual.

Urinary Calculus Disease Of Sheep In Western Australia, M R. Gardiner

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

THE formation of concretions in the urinary tract of rams and wethers is one of the most persistent causes of loss of sheep in Western Australia, and has been so for many years.

Dead Lambs : A Dead Loss, Stanley M. Dennis

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

During the past year the Animal Health Laboratory has continued its survey into the causes of abortion in sheep and perinatal lamb losses.

This article records the results of this work.

LAMBS and specimens from lambs were submitted to the Animal Health Laboratory from 229 properties situated in 121 areas in this survey during 1964.

Post-mortem examination was carried out on 1,422 lambs and specimens from 61 lambs were also examined.