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Katanning Research Station Showcase: Projects And Initiatives, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Animal production and livestock research reports

An overview of current projects run from Katanning Research Station.

Katanning Research Station is a sheep, pasture and cropping research hub. The digital agriculture technologies and management systems are designed to lift productivity and lower greenhouse gas emissions. The research includes the:

• genetics (breeding values) of feed intake efficiency in sheep
• impact of feed supplements and forage combinations on methane production of sheep
• evaluation of novel pasture species to develop livestock systems of green feed year round
• saltland rehabilitation program that aims to halt and reverse salinity (surface water management and groundwater drainage), and provide out-of-season feed (the planting of …

Otoliths Of South-Western Australian Fish: A Photographic Catalogue, Chris Dowling, Kim Smith, Elaine Lek, Joshua Brown

Fisheries Research Reports

Due to the species-specific nature of otoliths and given they are often the only part of the fish preserved when fish die, otolith catalogues can be used in numerous applications, such as diet studies in fish eating animals, including pinnipeds, fish and sea birds; archaeological purposes such as reconstructing indigenous people’s diets from otoliths found in middens or evolutionary history of fish species by comparing fossilized otoliths. Given the unique mixture of subtropical and temperate fish, including many endemic species that occur off the southwest corner of WA having a catalogue for this area is extremely important for people working …

Fisheries Management Paper No.283 - Abalone Resource Of Western Australia Harvest Strategy 2106 - 2021, Department Of Fisheries Western Australia

Fisheries Management Papers

Harvest strategies for aquatic resources managed by the Western Australian Department of Fisheries (the Department) are formal documents prepared to support the decision-making processes required to ensure the management of these resources are consistent with the principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD). The objectives of ESD are reflected in the objects of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994 (FRMA) and Section 9 of the Aquatic Resources Management Act, which will replace the FRMA once proclaimed.

The publication of these strategies is intended to make the decision-making considerations and processes for the management of specified aquatic resources publicly transparent and provide …

Fisheries Management Paper No 274 - Finfish Resources Of The Peel-Harvey Estuary - Harvest Strategy 2015-2020 (Version 1.0), Department Of Fisheries, Western Australia

Fisheries Management Papers

WEST COAST ESTUARINE MANAGED FISHERY (AREA 2)

Harvest strategies for aquatic resources managed by the Western Australian Department of Fisheries (the Department) are formal documents prepared to support the decision-making processes required to ensure the management of these resources are consistent with the principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD). The objectives of ESD are reflected in the objects of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994 (FRMA), Section 3, and the draft Aquatic Resources Management Bill 2013 (ARMB), Clause 9, which will replace the FRMA once enacted.

The publication of these strategies is intended to make the decision-making considerations and processes …

Fisheries Management Paper No.273 - Blue Swimmer Crab Resource Of The Peel-Harvey Estuary Harvest Strategy, 2015-2020. Version 1.0, Department Of Fisheries, Western Australia

Fisheries Management Papers

Harvest strategies for aquatic resources managed by the Western Australian Department of Fisheries (the Department) are formal documents prepared to support the decision-making processes required to ensure the management of these resources are consistent with the principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD). The objectives of ESD are reflected in the objects of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994 (FRMA), Section 3, and the draft Aquatic Resources Management Bill 2013 (ARMB), Clause 9, which will replace the FRMA once enacted.

The publication of these strategies is intended to make the decision-making considerations and processes for the management of specified aquatic resources …

Fisheries Management Paper No.266 - Exmouth Gulf Prawn Managed Fishery Bycatch Action Plan 2014-2019. Version 1.0, Department Of Fisheries, Western Australia

Fisheries Management Papers

Bycatch is described as the part of the catch which is returned to the sea (usually referred to as non-retained or discarded) either because it has no commercial value or because legislative requirements preclude it being retained. Thus, this Bycatch Action Plan (BAP) includes unmarketable finfish and invertebrate species, along with endangered, threatened and protected (ETP) species, such as marine mammals, reptiles and some elasmobranchs.

It is Government policy to minimise bycatch in all commercial fisheries. This BAP details a program of actions to address bycatch issues in the Exmouth Gulf Prawn Managed Fishery (EGPMF), in accordance with the EGPMF …

Fisheries Management Paper No.245 - Aquaculture Of Coral, Live Rocks And Associated Products. Aquaculture Policy, Department Of Fisheries, Western Australia

Fisheries Management Papers

Aquarium enthusiasts use corals, live rock and associated products (e.g. live sand) for display and to maintain healthy water quality conditions in their marine aquariums. There is a large and growing market for these products. While the wild harvest fisheries for aquarium products in Western Australia are sustainably managed, output is capped, so increased product is needed to meet the market demand. With a trend towards the capping of wild harvest and additional pressures, such as the introduction of Marine Parks and other marine protected areas, the aquaculture of these products is set for industry development and expansion.

The large …

Shark Bay Prawn And Scallop Fisheries. Draft Review Report, Department Of Fisheries Western Australia

Fisheries Management Papers

In recent times, the Department of Fisheries has received representations from both sectors about the ongoing interaction of the fisheries and their respective management settings. As a result, a decision was made to comprehensively review the fisheries, taking into account matters of fishery sustainability and gear interactions, together with industry economics and market considerations. The review has also addressed research requirements to ensure an appropriate scientific basis for decision-making into the future.

Ewe And Wether Trials - Tools For Benchmarking Your Sheep Genetics, Lock Butler

Bulletins 4000 -

Research and sheep productivity trial results demonstrate a huge variability in genetic productivity between flocks. For example a range of up to 2 kg clean fleece weight, 5 microns, 55 percentage points in lambing percentage and 20 kg live weight, can lead to big differences in gross margin between flocks.

There is an opportunity for genetic improvement, depending on your current ram source or sires performance. For example, Western Australian (WA) Wether Trial results suggest half the WA flocks could improve clean fleece weight per head by half a kilogram or more. The trial results suggest that this could occur …

Better Flock Benchmarking From Wether Trials, David Windsor, Bronwyn Clarke

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

Genetic links between wether trials put in place by Agriculture Western Australia's Wool Program are helping farmers benchmark the productivity of their flocks on a statewide basis. David Windsor and Bronwyn Cklarke report on the progress to date.

Achievements In Wool 1997, Agriculture Western Australia

Animal production and livestock published reports

The Wool Strategy Group, which I initiated in 1993, and Agriculture Western Australia's Wool Program are strategic partners working together with industry to develop and market this State's wool industry.

Wool is Western Australia's second most important agricultural industry, with a current export value of $643 million. It has the potential to return to a billion dollar industry in the next five years and the industry needs to be strongly focused on producing what the market requires to take advantage of this.

The Wool Strategy Group, led by Chairman Mr Philip Gardiner, and the Wool Program, have established an international …

Breeding For Improved Feed Conversion Efficiency, Alan Lymbery

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

Alan Lymbery reports on a trial that has started at Vasse Research Atation to investigate the impact of genetic improvement on feed conversion efficiency on costs of production.

Breeding Sheep For Worm Resistance, John Karlsson, Johan Greeff, Julia Harris

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

Sheep production os one of Western Australia's most important agricultural industries. However, it is faced with the serious threat of sheep worm populations becoming increasingly resistant to the available drenches.

Although it's not a 'quick fix' solution, part of the long term answer may be selection for sheep with greater resistance to worms.

Sheep And Wool Industries Need To Improve Their Performance, Rob Kelly, Tim Marshall

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

Today in Western Australia, sheep are run at slightly higher stocking rates, are achieving greater lambing percentages (up JO per cent) and higher wool cuts per animal ( up 0. 6 kg greasy) than in the 1960s. When all components of production are considered, the productivity of sheep fanns has increased by 2. 7 per cent per year over the past 35 years.

The challenge of the next decade is to achieve substantially greater rates of improvement than for past years if the sheep and wool industries are to maintain their significant place in Western Australian agriculture.

Breeding Better Malting Barleys, Ross Gilmour, Allen Tarr, Stefan Harasymow

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

Development of new barley cultivars in Western Australia has substantially improved the grain yield and quality of the State's barley crop. This has increased returns to barley growers and enhanced Western Australia's reputation in export markets as a major supplier of barley for malting and feed.

The State exports more than 200, 000 t of malting barley, 60, 000 t of barley malt and 150, 000 t of feed barley each year.

The major challenge for the future is to develop new, high yielding cultivars with improved malting quality.

In this article, the authors discuss the achievements of the past; …

The Wokalup Beef Cattle Selection Experiment, Alan Lymbery, Mick Carrick, Patrick Donnelly

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

The aim of the Department of Agriculture's long-term beef cattle selection experiment at Wokalup is to examine the effects of selection for faster-growing cattle on biological traits that may influence the productivity of a commercial beef herd. Selection lines were established from Hereford and multibreed cattle in 1977. Twelve years of selection have produced an increase in growth rate to weaning of about 120 g per day in both lines. About 40 per cent of this increase is the result of permanent genetic improvement.

We plan to compare these characteristics in cattle from the selection lines with cattle that have …

Bulletin No 4187 - Choosing Commercial Beef Bulls, David Barker

Bulletins 4000 -

This bulletin provides a method of placing realistic differences in value on young bulls offered for sale.

The prices paid for young bulls are often based on superficial appearance alone, and this has important financial implications for the purchaser. Different characteristics have either large or small effects on the net value of progeny produced. They are dependent on such factors as: the variability of different characteristics in cattle; differences in reliability of the assessment; the extent to which the characteristic is passed on to the progeny; the effect of the characteristic on realized net value of the progeny; the effect …

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 …

Preliminary Agronomic Evaluation And Characterization Of The Genetic Resources Of Trifolium And Ornithopus Species., R. Snowball

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

Trial 91MD13

Location: Medina Vegetable Research Station

To evaluate and characterize new and old collections of Trifolium and Ornithopus species.

To regenerate lines to provide sufficient seed of high quality for long term storage in the Australian Trifolium Genetic Resource Centre (ATGRC).

Breeding Field Peas In Western Australia, T N. Khan

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

Field peas have grown dramatically in popularity in western Australia in the past five years, with the planted area increasing from a mere few hundred hectares to about 70,000 ha in 1988. This growth may continue, as more than 700,000 ha of agricultural land is potentially suitable for growing field peas.

However, any such growth of the pea industry will require new cultivars with improved yield, adaptation and quality characteristics to meet local and export demands. The Department of agriculture therefore decided to start a selection and breeding programme to support the pea industry.

The Feral Goat Herd Of Faure Island, W H J Clarke

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

For just on a century there has existed on Faure Island, off the mid Western Australian coast, a herd of white feral goats.

The fleece of these animals, while similar in appearance to Angora mohair, has characteristics which somewhat resemble the luxury fibre cashmere, in that it comprises a fine dense undercoat, which sheds in early spring, as well as the hairy outcoat typical of all goat breeds except the Angora.

As there is little, if any, shedding in second or subsequent crosses, it would appear that the mating of Faure Island feral goats with traditional Angoras (or off-spring of …

Meat From The Dairy Herd, R A. Bettenay

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

Beef raising is a profitable sideline for many West Australian dairy farmers and gives their farming operation flexibility and versatility.

With suitable management and feeding the weight gains and consumer acceptance of dairy beef allow it to compete strongly with beef from other sources.

The breeds most common on W.A. dairy farms are well suited to beef production.

Thirteenth Random Sample Laying Test : 1969-70, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

SLXTH PROGRESSIVE REPORT TO 1st NOVEMBER, 1970 AVERAGE AGE OF BIRDS 459 DAYS OR 66 WEEKS

POULTRY RESEARCH STATION, WEMBLEY

FINAL REPORT TO 500 DAYS

Fourteenth Random Sample Laying Test : 1970-71, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

FIFTH PROGRESSIVE REPORT TO 29th AUGUST, 1971 AVERAGE AGE OF BIRDS. 397 DAYS, OR 57 WEEKS

Fourteenth Random Sample Laying Test : 1970-71, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

THIRD PROGRESSIVE REPORT TO 2nd MAY, 1971 AVERAGE AGE OF BIRDS 278 DAYS OR 39 WEEKS AND 5 DAYS and

FOURTH PROGRESSIVE REPORT TO 30ft MAY, 1971 AVERAGE AGE OF BIRDS 306 DAYS OR 43 WEEKS AND 5 DAYS

Fourteenth Random Sample Laying Test : 1970-71, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

POULTRY RESEARCH STATION, WEMBLEY REARING RESULTS AT HOUSING (21 WEEKS AND 3 DAYS) and

SECOND PROGRESSIVE REPORT TO 28th FEBRUARY, 1971 AVERAGE AGE OF BIRDS 214 DAYS OR 30 WEEKS AND 4 DAYS

Prime Lamb Production In Western Australia : A Review Of The Development Of The Prime Lamb Industry In Western Australia, R J. Suiter

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

PRIME LAMB production in Western Australia has evolved into an industry based almost entirely on the local market.

This has not always been the case. In the 1930-40 era a substantial proportion of the State's prime lamb production was exported to the United Kingdom.

During this era the industry was equally dependent on exports and local market.

Choosing Your Lambing Time, T Marshall

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

SHEEP, pastures and labour are the major resources of the sheep enterprise but their productivity is greatly affected by the timing of operations associated with them.

This article discusses how the lambing time can be chosen to get maximum use from each resource.

Thirteenth Random Sample Laying Test : 1969-70, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

FOURTH PROGRESSIVE REPORT TO 31 sr MAY, 1970

Average age of birds 305 days or 43 weeks and 4 days

Thirteenth Random Sample Laying Test : 1969-70, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

THIRTEENTH RANDOM SAMPLE LAYING TEST, 1969-70

SECOND PROGRESSIVE REPORT TO 1st MARCH, 1970 Average age of birds 215 days or 30 weeks and 5 days