Comparative Nutrition Commons^™

Sheep Updates 2007 - Part 2, Ian Mcfarland, Catherine Stockman, Anne Barnes, David Pethick, Jenny Davis, Brett Thompson, Ron Leng, Sally Pieruzzini, Elizabeth Jackson, Mohammed Quaddus, Nazrul Islam, John Stanton, Melanie Dowling

Sheep Updates

This session covers six papers from different authors:

CONCURRENT SESSIONS

FINISHING LAMB AND BEEF

1. Precision Feedlot Lamb, Ian McFarland, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia

2. Feeding sheep under high heat load did not decrease intake of feedlot rations, Catherine Stockman, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia & Murdoch University, Anne Barnes, Murdoch University David Pethick, Murdoch University

3. Taking the stress out of fifishing lambs and cattle - EasyFeed solutions, Jenny Davis, Brett Thomson, Milne AgriGroup, Welshpool WA, Ron Leng, Emeritus Professor, University of New England, Armidale, NSW

WOOL

4. DAFWA …

Sheep Updates 2007 - Part 5, Bindi Murray, John Karlsson, Johan Greeff, Carolina Viñoles Gil, B. L. Paganoni, K. M. M. Glover, J. T. B. Milton, G. B. Martin, Hugh Dove, Bill Mckiernan, John Wilkins, Paul Greenwood, Linda Cafe

Sheep Updates

This session covers six papers from different authors:

GENETIC IMPROVEMENT

1. Breech Strike Resistance: Selecting for resistance traits reduces breech strike, Bindi Murray, John Karlsson, Johan Greeff, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia

2. Breeding Merino Sheep for Worm Resistance increases profit in a Mediterranean Environment, John Karlsson and Johan Greeff Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia

FEEDING

3. Embryo lasses were not increased when Merino ewes that had lost weight were supplemented with lupins, C. Viñoles Gil, B.L. Paganoni, K.M.M. Glover, J.T.B. Milton & G.B. Martin, School of Animal Biology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, …

Sheep Updates 2006 - Part 3, Karen Venning, Andrew Thompson, Mike Hyder, Sue-Ellen Shaw, Kelly Hill, Ron Mctaggart, Gus Rose, Carolyn Kabore, Mandy Curnow, P. R. Kenyon, S. T. Morris, D. M. West, N. R. Perkins, G. L. Pinchbeck, Ralph Behrendt

Sheep Updates

This session covers six papers from different authors:

GRAZING

1. Making better use of clover, Karen Venning and Andrew Thompson, Department of Primary Industries, Victoria

2. Grazing systems demonstration to optimise pasture utilisation and stocking rate, Mike Hyder, Sue-Ellen Shaw, Kelly Hill and Ron McTaggart, Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia.

3. Know your audience to increase their rate of practice change - Lifetime Wool as an example, Gus Rose, Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia, Carolyn Kabore, Kazresearch

REPRODUCTION

4. Lifetime Wool - Ewe Management Guidlines, Mandy Curnow, Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia

5. …

Sheep Updates 2003 - Posters, Maxine Brown, Gaye Krebs, Diana Fredorenko, Kathryn Edgerton-Warburton, Evan Burt, Nazrul Islam, Roy Butler, L. G. Butler, S. R. Brown, M. F. D'Antuono, J. C. Greeff, Ken Hart, Tanya Kilminster, Rachel Kirby, M. E. Ladyman, A. C. Schlink, I. H. Williams, P. E. Vercoe, Anyou Lui, Karen Smith, Martin Bent, Matthew Young

Sheep Updates

This session covers eleven papers from different authors:1 Sheep production on annual stubbles/pastures vs lucerne Maxine Brown Gaye Krebs Muresk Institute, Curtin University Diana Fedorenko Kathryn Egerton-Warburton Centre for Cropping Systems, Department of Agriculture Western Australia 2. The value chain of the Lake Grace livestock industry Evan Burt Nazrul Islam Department of Agriculture Western Australia 3. Native pastures, Dorper sheep and the 2002 drought Roy Butler Department of Agriculture Western Australia 4. Commercial sheep breeders can improve their sheep breeding program using wether trials L.G. Butler, S.R. Brown, M.F. D’Antuono, J.C. Greeff Department of Agriculture 5. Western Australia Linked ewe …

Sheep Updates 2003 - Meat, Lucy Anderton, Rob Davidson, Keith Croker, Robin Jacob, Rachel Kirby, Steve Meerwald, John Milton, David Pethick

Sheep Updates

This session covers seven papers from different authors: 1. Economic analysis of using terminal sires in a self replacing Merino flock Lucy Anderton, Department of Agriculture Western Australia, Katanning 2. Is the mating of ewe weaners an option for increasing the numbers of lambs in WA? Rob Davidson University of WA, Crawley and Keith Croker Department of Agriculture Western Australia, South Perth 3.Dehydration of lambs at the time of slaughter Robin Jacob, School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Murdoch University 4.Feeding prime lambs for slaughter Rachel Kirby, Outback Solutions 5. Live sheep export R&D Steve Meerwald, Wellard Rural Exports 6. …

Sheep Updates 2003 - Pastures, Ed Barrett-Lennard, Hayley Norman, Robyn Dynes, David Masters, David Henry, Stephen Gherardi, Graham Donald, Asoka Edirisinghe, Chris Oldham, Richard Smith, Joanne Sneddon, Mike Hyder, Andrew Thompson, Kazue Tanaka, Roy Latta, Chris Matthews, Brad Nutt, Angela Loi, Tim Wiley

Sheep Updates

This session covers seven papers from different authors: 1. Pastures for saline land, Ed Barrett-Lennard 1Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Hayley Norman, Robyn Dynes and David Masters CSIRO Livestock Industries, Centre for Mediterranean Agricultural Research, Floreat Park, 2. Feeding value - the essential link between pastures and animals CSIRO Livestock Industries, Centre for Environmental and Life Sciences 3. ‘Pastures from space’ - how do we do it, how well do we do it and what do producers think about it? Stephen Gherardi Department of Agriculture Western Australia Graham Donald Asoka Edirisinghe Dave Henry CSIRO Livestock Industries Chris Oldham Department of …

Sheep Updates 2003 - Plenaries, Ashley Mercy, David Scobie, Neil Buchanan, Kevin Bell, John Milton, Graeme Martin, Bob Hall, Maurie Stephen, Rob Woodgate

Sheep Updates

This session covers eight papers from different authors:1. Biosecurity in the sheep industry will improve production and profits Ashley Mercy, Department of Agriculture, Western Australia 2. Easy care sheep David Scobie, AgResearch, PO Box 60 Lincoln, 8152, New Zealand 3. Targeting the market’s requirements - live sheep exports Neil Buchanan, Manager Animal Health Operations, Primary Industries & Resources, South Australia 4. Setting flock breeding objectives Kevin Bell, Sheep Management and Production Consultants, Kojonup WA 5. Future feeding of sheep in Western Australia John Milton and Graeme Martin, The University of Western Australia 6. Recipe for getting back into Sheep Bob …

Crop Updates 2002 - Lupins, Amelia Mclarty, Bob French, Laurie Wahlsten, Martin Harries, Paul Blackwell, Mike Collins, Bill Crabtree, Geoff Fosbery, Angie Roe, Matt Beckett, Abul Hashem, Nerys Wilkins, Geoff Thomas, Ken Adcock, Debbie Thackray, Jenny Hawkes, Roger Jones, Brenda Coutts, Manisha Shankar, Mark Sweetingham, Bevan Buirchell, Nichole Burges, Dominie Wright, Susan J. Barker, Jairo A. Palta, Neil C. Turner, Matt Evans, Brett Glencross, John Curnow, Wayne Hawkins, Jon C. Clements

Crop Updates

This session covers twenty four papers from different authors:

LUPIN INDUSTRY ISSUES AND RESEARCH DIRECTIONS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Amelia McLarty LUPIN CONVENOR DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

VARIETIES

1. Evaluation of lupinus mutabilis in Western Australia, Bob French, Laurie Wahlsten and Martin Harries, Department of Agriculture

2. Adaption of restricted-branching lupins in short-growing season environments, Bob French, Laurie Wahlsten, Department of Agriculture

ESTABLISHMENT

3. Moisture delving for better lupin establishment, Dr Paul Blackwell, Department of Agriculture

4. Lupins, tramlines, 600mm rows, rolling and shield spraying … a good result in a dry season! Paul Blackwell and Mike Collins, Department of Agriculture

5. Lupin …

Crop Updates 2000 - Cereals Part 2, Debbie Thackray, Jenny Hawkins, Roger Jones, Dominie Wright, Peter Carlton, Jat Bhathal, Robert Loughman, K. Jayasena, J. Majewski, S. Kelly, G. Holloway, N, Venn, D. Diepeveen, Brenda Shackley, Darshan Sharma, Wal Anderson, Mohammad Amjad, Vanessa Dooley, Peter Burgess, Ashley Bacon, Frances Hoyle, Keith Devenish, Mathew Appelbee, Mohommed Hamza, Steven Mccoy, Steven Penny

Crop Updates

This session covers twenty papers from different authors:

DISEASE

1. Forecasting aphid and virus risk in cereals, Debbie Thackray, Jenny Hawkes and Roger Jones, Agriculture Western Australia and Centre for Legumes in Mediterranean Agriculture

2. Cereal Diagnostics, Dominie Wright, Agriculture Western Australia

3. The economic returns from spraying for leaf rust in the central wheatbelt in 1999, Peter Carlton, Trials Coordinator, Elders Limited

4. Impact and Management of Yellow Spot and Leaf Rust in the Northern Agricultural Region, Jat Bhathal and Robert Loughman, Agriculture Western Australia

5. Leaf disease management in wheat and barley in the southern …

Weaning Kimberley Cattle Pays Off, D Pratchett, Stuart Young

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

Research results show that weaning Kimberley calves when they reach 140kg liveweight is one way of increasing herd productivity by changing management practices. However, removing the bulls from the breeding herd, rather than running them with the cows ywear round as is the practice, does not increase branding percentage.

Analysing Feeds For Cattle, Sheep And Goats, D J. Barker

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

The Department of Agriculture's Feed Evaluation Unit at Bunbury provides a service for farmers and allied industries on a fee-for-service basis, and conducts analyses for research officers, advisers and organisations such as the University ofWestern Australia. It also analyses feedstuffs for Departments of Agriculture in other States.

The Unit analyses about 5000 samples each year. The work load is high because no other laboratory in Western Australia provides the same service. Results are recorded on a computer which makes it easy t6o retrieve results of analyses of particular types of feedstuffs or froma particular owner or district.

Wool Staple Strength, I G. Ralph

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

The staple strength of western Australia's wool has come under scruitiny since additional wool measurements to those of yield, fibre diameter and vegetable matter began throughout the Australian 985-86 wool selling season.

In 1980, the Sale by Additional Measurement Trial conducted on the September-October wool sales at Fremantle showed a range in staple breaking forcesfrom 10 to 70 Newtons per kilotex, with an average breaking force of between 30 and 35 N/ktex, A third of the lots offered for sale had a staple breaking force of less than 26 N/ktex, a value which, according to the Australian Wool Testing Authority, …

Pigs May Need More Protein, N W. Godfrey

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

Results of trials indicate that meatmeal based rations of 18 to 20 per cent protein may improve carcase quality and give better returns.

Profitability Of Finishing Cattle On Grain : Recent Research Results, W J. Ryan

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

Some thoughts on how to finish beef cattle in time for the autumn-winter period.

Low Protein Rations Halve Bacon Pig Profits, N W. Godfrey

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

For many years the department of agriculture has recommended that pig producers include meat meal or other protein concentrate in pig rations based on cereal grains. However, it is still common for pigs to be raised on cereal grains with little or no protein added.

Recent trials at the Department of Agriculture's Medina Pig Research Station have demonstrated the losses which can result from feeding pigs on low-protein cereal rations.

Nitrogen For Pastures, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

The use of nitrogen (N) fertilisers on cereals has long been recognised and accepted as an economic farm practice. It is only more recently that the use of fertiliser nitrogen has been considered for pasture and fodder production, mainly on wholemilk and butterfat farms in the South-West. The high quality feed produced may be substituted for concentrates or conserved fodder. Large increases in seasonal production have been reported.

Because nitrogen fertiliser is expensive, has a short-term effect, and can affect the clover content of pastures, a series of field experiments were conducted in 1973 to examine the role of nitrogen …

Lot Feeding Sheep In Sheds, H E. Fels, B. Malcolm

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

The need to gather and hold sheep for slaughter or live shipment led a West Australian company!, with the Department of Agriculture, to investigate the use of sheds for short term lot feeding of sheep. Preliminary examination suggested that feedlot sheds connected by a sheep footpath to the abattoirs, railway or saleyards could be cheaper as well as more practicable than continued use of holding paddocks.

The first week or two are commonly the most difficult in lot feeding sheep or cattle. Long-term indoor lot-feeding is a normal practice in some overseas countries but we did not know whether untrained …

Nitrogen On Rapeseed, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

Experiments comparing the responses of wheat and rape to nitrogenous fertilisers were planted at 26 sites from Geraldton to Esperance in 1971.

In spite of hail damage and poor emergence of rape at some sites, meaningful results were obtained in 18 cases.

Farm Grazing Levels, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

Stocking rates in many dairying areas are so low that the Division has established nine grazing level demonstrations in various areas.

Their aim is to demonstrate that higher stocking rates are practical on existing farms.

Nitrogen Fertilisers And Cereals, M G. Mason

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

FEW aspects of cereal growing have received as much attention in the past 20 years as nitrogen fertilisers.

The recommendations and yield figures presented below are based on numerous trials in the agricultural areas of Western Australia.

Grain Finishing Of Beef Cattle Grazing Dry Pasture Or Stubble, D J. Barker

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

WHEAT quotas, poor wool prices and the availability of cheap grain on the farm have stimulated interest in grain finishing of cattle for out-of-season beef production. For many years, Animals turned off in the autumn-winter period have brought better prices than those sold in summer, at the end of the pasture flush.

Feeding grain supplements to cattle on dry pasture or stubble requires less capital than feedlotting and saves the cost of handling and processing roughage.

This article gives the essentials for grain supplementation of dry pasture or stubble but warns that grain finishing is unlikely to be profitable outside …

Feedlots For Beef In W.A. : Some Guiding Principles, D J. Barker

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

FEEDLOTS are small enclosures where all of the animal's feed is supplied from an outside source. Compared with grazing, feedlotting is an expensive method of beef production.

This article gives a guide to the requirements for establishment and management of a farm feedlot, especially the basic equipment and materials, the type of cattle most suited to feedlotting, rations and feeding techniques.

The author warns that skill and experience are needed to run a feedlot and describes feedlotting as an expensive method of beef raising when compared with grazing.

Further details are available from the author

When Is A Cattle Feedlot Profitable?, J T. Stoate

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

THE current surge of interest in feedlots stems from low coarse grain prices and comparatively low early summer baby beef prices. Cattle raisers sense the opportunity for higher prices by holding the cattle on the farm over summer and autumn, and grain producers see better returns from barley and oats fed to cattle than sold as grain.

This article examines the profitability of cattle feedlots and presents sample budgets for two typical situations—the farmer who produces his own cattle but buys grain, and the cereal grower who produces grain but buys in cattle for finishing in a feedlot.

A ready …

Dairy Calves Can Safely Be Fed Once A Day, R A. Bettenay

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

THE sale of milk rather than butterfat has increased greatly in the past few years and less than half the dairy farmers in Western Australia now own cream separators.

Feeding whole milk once a day can be successful for raising dairy calves, even in winter when calf rearing is most difficult.

A recent experiment at Wokalup Research Station showed that satisfactory weight gains can be achieved if liquid milk is fed only once a day from a very early age. Trial calves gained I lb a head a day over the 12 weeks of the experiment.

Once-a-day feeding greatly reduces …

Dairy Beef Shows Healthy Profits, D J. Barker

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

The October, 1970, issue of the Journal of Agriculture included results from the first year of a dairy beef production trial at Bramley Research Station.

This report presents results from the trial's second year, during which two levels of pasture utilisation were tested. The trial is now in its third year.

Tender Wool Can Be Avoided, I G. Ralph

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

THE production of tender wool which will not stand the tension and friction of the combing process can be reduced by an alteration in sheep management practices.

This is the finding of research carried out by the Sheep and Wool Branch of the Department of Agriculture over an eight-year period.

Once A Day Calf Feeding, R A. Bettenay

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

Trials at Wokalup Research Station in 1970 proved that calves could be successfully reared with once a day liquid milk feeding, providing a high protein meal was continually available.

This trial was carried out to see if the high protein meal was essential for the success of the once a day feeding system.

Thinking Of Pigs To Raise Your Income?, P Mcnamara

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

WHEAT quotas and low wool prices have caused many farmers to look to pigs to consume homegrown grain and to lift their incomes. However, with sow numbers at a record level, is it possible for a wheatbelt farmer to raise pigs profitably?

Because of his access to cheap grain, the wheatbelt farmer may be able to make a good profit on each pig sold. This could make pigmeat production a useful sideline on the farm, providing the farmer produces only lean pigs. There is no market for overfat pigs.

This article gives some hints on production of pigs on cereal …

Three Beef Raising Systems For Butterfat Producing Properties, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

THREE-QUARTERS of the calves born in autumn on butterfat farms are not required as milking replacements and are thus available for beef production or immediate sale, at about $20 a head.

The profit from selling beef must be compared with that from selling excess calves off their mothers.

Such a comparison is being made by Department of Agriculture Beef Research Officer D. J. Barker in a series of trials at Bramley Research Station, Margaret River.

Feeding Urea To Cattle, D J. Barker

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

RUMINANTS normally obtain the protein they require by digestion of the organisms that inhabit the forestomach (rumen), not by direct digestion of the dietary protein they chew up and swallow.

The organisms break down the dietary protein and then rebuild proteins in the form of more organisms.