Sheep and Goat Science Commons^™

Understanding The Importance Of Eperythrozoon Ovis Infection In Sheep, Marc Kabay

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

Assigning priorities for research on sheep diseases relies in part on understanding the prevalence and economic impact of each disease.

Eperythrozoon ovis infection in sheep, for example is a common, but not costly, disease.

The Sheep Lice Detection Test, Peter Morcombe

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

Sheep farmers would agree it is difficult to find sheep lice when carrying out an inspection.

The lice detection test makes this task easier and helps farmers decide how to control lice. The test also helps community liaison groups with eradication of lice infestations in specific areas, and provides data for epidemiologists to monitor changes in prevalence of lice and efficacy of treatments. Tests are much cheaper than flock inspection on the farm.

The present lice detection test was developed by the Australian Wool Testing Authority (A WTA) and introduced as an integral part of the Western Australian Sheep Lice …

What Do Foxes Do At Night?, Peter Mawson, John Long

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

Foxes are often labelled as ruthless killers of lambs, kid goats and poultry. However, studies of the incidence of predation on lambs and kids have shown that foxes generally kill less than 3 per cent of lambs and 3 to 5 per cent of kids,

Are foxes, therefore, killers of lambs and kid goats, or just timid scavengers?

This article provides an insight into the behaviour of foxes in lambing and kidding paddocks at the Department of Agriculture's Avondale Research Station, Beverley, and near Moora, during 1987 and 1988.

Miscellaneous Publication 39/91 - How To Eradicate Virulent Footrot From Your Property. A Farmer's Guide., Dianne Hopkins

Animal production and livestock published reports

The first thing to understand about virulent footrot is that it can occur on any farm in the medium to high rainfall zone.

People often associate footrot with properties managed by inefficient farmers. This is a belief based on fallacy. Many good farmers have found the disease in their sheep, including high profile stud producers.

Footrot can strike anywhere and without warning.

The important thing to remember is, that once it is found, getting to know the disease and understanding it will help you beat it. This manual, the video and your stock inspector will help you eradicate footrot from …

The Effect Of Nitrogen On Pastures And Subsequent Sheep Production., L. Cransberg

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

Trial 89MT1

Location: Mt Barker Research Station

To measure the effect of autumn/winter application on:

1. Pasture growth rates and composition

2. Sheep production using pregnant/lacting ewes.

Trial 89KA6

Management systems for sheep.

Location: Kojonup

To measure the effects of set stocking and strip (rotation) grazing on:

1. Pasture production, composition and quality.

2. Sheep production (liveweight, condition score, wool growth rate, fibre diameter strength and vegetable matter contamination).

Survey Of The Damage Caused To Trees By Goats, Steve Gherardi, Dick Mills, Tim Johnson

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

The damage that goats can cause to trees is one of the major problems associated with their farming in the agricultural areas of Australia. It is also considered one of the main hindrances to the development of the goat industry. The Department of Agriculture s Goat Industry Development Unit surveyed mohair and cashmere producers to determine the prevalence of tree damage and its extent and severity; why producers believed goats damaged trees; and how producers minimised or prevented this damage.

Animal Production From Tagasaste Growing In Deep Sands In A 450 Mm Winter Rainfall Zone, Chris Oldham, Greg Allen, Peter Moore, Bruce Mattinson

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

In 1985, Martindale Pty Ltd, Sir James McCusker's family company, signed a unique research contract with Professor David Lindsay of the University of Western Australia. The aim of the Martindale Research Project was to study ways of increasing farm productivity in the sheep-wheat zone of south-western Australia. A primary focus was the high cost of grain or hay used to fill the autumn feed gap in grazing systems.

However, it was not clear how or if tagasaste might be economically used to replace the grain and/or hay traditionally fed by hand to sheep and cattle in autumn.

Supplementary Feeding Of Weaner Sheep At Esperance, Julian Gardner, Peter Doyle

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

Cereal grains, particularly barley, have been the usual supplement fed to weaner sheep during summer and autumn along Western Australia's south coast. This area is a major barley producer, and weather-damaged and other feed quality grain have a ready use. High protein lupin seed, and to a lesser extent silage, have gained wide acceptance recently as alternative supplements. This article discusses the results of the first two of a series of supplementary feeding experiments at Esperance Downs Research Station.

Management Systems For Sheep., Peter Doyle, L. Cransberg, P. Evans

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

Trial 89KA6

Location: Kojonup

To measure the effects of set stocking and strip (ration) grazing on:

i) Pasture production, composition and quantity

ii) Sheep production (liveweight, condition score, wool growth rate, fibre diameter, strength and vegetable matter contamination).

Getting The Best Out Of Weaner Sheep In The Eastern Wheatbelt, Sally Revell

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

A study of the growth of Merino weaner flocks over summer and autumn in Western Australia 's eastern wheatbelt during 1989 and 1990 has identified efficient weaner management strategies, and provided a basis for future research and extension needs of this area. The average liveweight of several weaner flocks was unexpectedly low at the start of summer. Weaner flocks may need to be supplemented before the start of summer to prevent undue weight loss at this time.

Using Goats To Control Weeds, John Peirce

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

Feral goats are common in the woodland and tall shrubland areas of arid Australia. They survive and reproduce despite regular shooting, capture and droughts. These goats are considered vermin in Western Australia because of their competition with sheep for forage and their reputation as destroyers of vegetation. Research elsewhere, however, has indicated that it is only the uncontrolled grazing by large numbers of goats that causes degradation, in the same way that uncontrolled grazing by sheep can cause erosion. To some people, however, feral goats are a valuable source of income. They have the potential for meat sales, and they …

Phomopsis-Resistant Lupin Stubbles As Feed For Weaner Sheep, Colin Mcdonald, Keith Croker, Jeremy Allen

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

The breeding of sweet, narrow-leafed lupins with increased resistance to Phomopsis leptostromiformis, the fungus that causes lupinosis in sheep, is a breakthrough for the summer nutrition of weaner sheep. The new resistant varieties, Gungurru for the medium (325 to 450 mm) rainfall areas and Yorrel for low rainfall areas (less than 325 mm), were released by the Department of Agriculture in 1988.

This article discusses progress in a four-year project which is examining liveweight and wool production of weaners grazing Gungurru stubbles.

The Productivity Of Western Australia's Wheat And Sheep Industry, Tim Coelli, Ross Kingwell

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

A popular economic lament is that Australian industries and workers are not as productive as they should be. Politicians and economic commentators preach the need for productivity improvement and workplace reform, and criticise inefficiency and lack of endeavour. Can such criticism be fairly levelled at farmers and agricultural scientists? What is productivity and how is it measured? What is the productivity of Western Australia's main agricultural industry — wheat and sheep farming? This article addresses these questions and shows that our wheat-sheep industry can be moderately proud of its productivity record

Differences Between Merino Strains And Studs, Roger Lewer

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

When commercial wool growers select Merino rams they often use the following pattern: the buyers first consider the main strains of Merinos in Western Australia - Bungaree, Collinsville and Peppin. They then study the 550 studs and numerous non-stud ram breeders in this State. Having chosen a breeder, they examine the rams on offer and buy their annual requirements from among these. Until recently, no objective information has been available on the differences between studs and strains in Western Australia's agricultural areas. However, as part of a major study at the Department of Agriculture's Great Southern Agricultural Research Institute, these …

The Role Of Perennial Pasture Species For Increasing Sheep Production In The Medium Rainfall Zone Of W.A., C. M. Saunders

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

Trials: 90AL33, 90AL34, 90ES56, 90ES57 and 90KA100

91KA117, 91KA116,

Locations: Green Range, Esperance, Pingrup, Katanning, Broomhill.

To examine the productivity and persistence of perennial grasses in the 350-800 mm rainfall zone of W.A.

Summer Drenching Of Sheep : New Recommendations For High Rainfall Areas, Brown Besier, Jill Lyon

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

'Summer drenching' has been a highly successful strategy for controlling sheep worms in Western Australia's winter rainfall regions for many years. Drenching to remove worm burdens in summer, when the risk of reinfection by worm larvae is low, is an efficient basis to year-round worm control. The Department of Agriculture recently altered its recommendations for the timing of summer drenches to take account of new findings regarding the survival of worm larvae over summer. It now recommends that sheep farmers give the first summer drench when the pasture is beginning to dry off, in spring in most locations. Experiments atMt …

The Accumulation And Run-Down Of Dieldrin In Wethers Grazed On Paddocks Previously Treated With Dieldrin, Tony Albertsen, Roy Casey, Keith Croker

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

In mid 1987, the organochlorines (O/Cs) DDT, dieldrin, heptachlor and chlordane were deregistered for agricultural and horticultural use in Australia. These chemicals had been used widely, and land on several hundred Western Australian farms, particularly where potatoes had been grown, was contaminated with chemical residues. Livestock grazing pastures on such land was also contaminated, and our beef exports were threatened. In 1988, the Western Australian Department of Agriculture started a two-year project to collect information from sheep which were grazed on land that had previously been treated with O/Cs, particularly dieldrin. The levels of O/Cs in body and wool fats …

New Approach To Control Of Drench-Resistant Sheep Worms On Farms, Di Hopkins

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

Worms cost the Western Australian sheep industry up to $120 million every year, and anthelmintic (drench) resistant worms account for an increasing proportion of this amount. Resistant strains of sheep worms have been found on about 95 per cent of farms tested. This alarmingly high level indicates that all farmers should have a resistance management strategy which includes having a resistance test done on their farms before they drench their sheep. However, only about 20 per cent of farmers have had a resistance test done. Farmers often believe drench resistance is not a problem on their farms, mainly because production …

New Insights Into The Management Of Ewes Over Summer And Autumn, Rob Kelly, Ian Ralph

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

Recent research in Western Australia has provided new information on the effects of liveweight and liveweight change on wool production and quality, as well as lamb survival and growth. Liveweight and liveweight change in sheep reflect the animals' nutritional status, and this in turn directly influences their wool production and reproductive performance. The under-nutrition of sheep not only has an immediate effect on the animal's performance, but the research showed that it also produces a significant carry-over effect on wool and lamb production, even if the ewes have returned to good feed. These findings suggest that for the efficient management …

Bulletin 4152 - Sheep In Western Australia, R J. Suiter

Bulletins 4000 -

Western Australia's sheep industry started in the early 1830s when the first flock-owners grazed their sheep on extensive areas of native vegetation, often by shepherding on unfenced country. Later, farm flocks built up as settlers cleared and fenced land for cultivation, and 'pastoral' or 'station' sheep were confined to fenced areas of native vegetation, leased from the Government.

By 1900, more than 75 per cent of Western Australia's sheep were still classed as 'pastoral', but by 1987/88, the pastoral areas carried only 2 million of the 34.1 million State flock.

Today, many former sheep stations carry cattle, which survive better …

Economic Impact Of Growing Phomopsis-Resistant Lupins, J M. Warren, Jeremy Allen, Wallace Cowling

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

The planting of Phomopsis-resistant lupins will increase net farm income. They will also alter the traditional blend of pastures and cropping, depending on grain and wool prices. In mixed farming areas of Western Australia's southern wheatbelt, they will allow more land to be sown to lupins rather than cereals on farms in which the lack of sheep feed over summer severely restricts wool production.

The benefits of Phompsis-resistant lupins arise from a reduction in sheep deaths due to lupinosis, a longer safe grazing period (free from lupinosis) on lupin stubbles, a decrease in the need for supplementary sheep feed over …

The Sandplain Lupin : Its Nutritional Value And Grazing Management, P W. Morcombe

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

The sandplain lupin or Western Australian blue lupin (Lupinus cosentinii) was introduced to the West Midlands at the turn of the last century. Since that time it has been used as a self-regenerating summer forage for sheep and cattle.

Being deep rooted, it has adapted well to the sandy soils from Perth to Northampton, and plantings now cover more than 100,000 ha.

As few other improved pasture species will persist on these deep sands the sandplain lupin provides an important source of summer feed for grazing livestock. A stand can be grazed throughout summer at stocking rates of 10 to …

Farmers' Estimations Of Sheep Weights To Calculate Drench Dose, R B. Besier, Diane Hopkins

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

Undersosing with drenches is a mojor cause of anthelmintic (drench) resistance in worm parasites of sheep.

When farmers use a drench at less than the recommended dose rate, some worms may survive, and their ability to resist treatment with the chemical involved is passed to their offspring. Over a period of time, matings between worms with different degrees of resistance can produce individuals able to resist the drench at the recommended dose rate or even higher.

Farmers must use adequate dose rates so that worms do not have a chance to survive treatment.

Evaluation Of The Crack Approach For The Control Of Drench Resistance In Sheep Worms, J R. Edwards, Helen Chapman, Jon Dunsmore

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

The Department of Agriculture launched the CRACK approach to worm control in September 1985 in response to finding that anthelmintic (drench) resistant worms were present on 68 per cent of a random selection of Western Australian sheep farms.

The high cost of internal parasites in terms of lost production and drench costs, together with the high prevalence of resistant worms of farms, confirmed that changes were needed to existing parasite control measures in sheep.l

Capretto : A New Meat Industry, R J. Suiter

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

Capretto is the term the Italians use for the meat from a goat upto 20 weeks old. For centuries goat meat has featured on tables from the Mediterranean to asia and the Pacific Islands.

Western Australian premium quality capretto has a dressed weight of between 6 and 1kg. Its pinkish flesh is tender and leaner than sheep meat, so it's ideal for the health conscious.

This article describes a market development programme undertaken by the Department of Agriculture's Goat Industry Development Unit (GIDU) and the Australian Cashmere Growers Association's (ACGA) Meat Marketing Committee to establish a premium market for capretto …

The Grazing Value Of Medicago Murex., C. M. Saunders

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

Trial 88KA92

Location: Potts Road, East Kojonup.

At present, limited information is available on the grazing value of Medicago murex cv. Zodiac on sheep live weights and wool growth. This trial was designed to provide data on the relative performance of sheep grazing Zodiac compared with the recommended subterranean clovers (Junee/Seaton Park) in the > 450mm rainfall zone in WA.

Miscellaneous Production 23/87 - Animal Production In The Spinifex And Shrubland Regions Of Western Australia, D. Burnside

Animal production and livestock published reports

The role of the Rangeland Management Branch is to promote the sustained economic use of the rangeland resource. It provides research and extension services to the pastoral industry, provides advice on the condition of the range resource to Government and provides technical information on rangelands to other rangeland managers. A principal objective to be met in fulfilling that role is the development and promotion of economically efficient place systems that conserve the rangeland resource. At the inaugural Pastoral Soil Conservation Districts Conference in Meekatharra in May 1987, pastoralist delegates emphasized the importance of achieving that objective within the various soil …

New Initiatives In Processing Australian Sheep Skins, P G. Frapple

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

Australia's exports of 313 million preserved sheep and lamb skins were valued at $A261.2 million FOB (free on board) in 1986-87. Just over 40 per cent (13.1 million) of these skins went to France for fellmongering, which is the process of removing wool from skins, leaving a bare pelt suitable for tanning. The balance went to other countries including Yugoslavia, Spain and West Germany, mainly for tanning with the wool on.

Murex Medic Trials And Redlegged Earthmite Impacts, D. Gillespie

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

1. Selection and development of early maturing varieties of murex medic.

Small plot trials were established at six medium and low rainfall sites in autumn 1988. All were hand sown 2Mx3Mplots sown at 50 kg/ha except for the Merredin site which was drill sown at 10 kg/ha.

Locations: Badgebup, Gabalong, Kellerberrin, Merredin, North Quairading, Pingrup.

2. Mid season murex medic evaluation.

Locations: Avondale, Cranbrook, Darkan and New Norcia

This programme aims to identify superior varieties to Zodiac which was released in 1988.

3. Management of murex medic.

Locations: Arthur River

After three years of drought the large grazing trial at …

Control Of Caprine Arthritis-Encephalitis In Goats, T M. Ellis

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

Caprine arthritis-encephalitis, CAE for short, is the name given to a disease complex in goats, one form of which, 'big knee', has been recognized in dairy goats in Australia since the late 1950s. There are many forms of this progressive disease, all of which result in premature culling in milking goats