Veterinary Pathology and Pathobiology Commons^™

Some Basic Facts About Primary Blowflies, N Monzu

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

Research has begun on blowfly species attacking sheep in Western Australia. Already this research has indicated the importance of a species in Western Australia which is not a problem in the Eastern States.

Future management of sheep flocks to minimise fly strike may require recognition of the differences between blowfly species. This article gives a description of the primary species - those which can initiate strikes.

Parasites Of Channel Catfish In Illinois Hatcheries, Charles Dale Meryman

Masters Theses

Ninety channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) were trapped during September 1973 through April 1974 at three hatcheries located at Worden, Centralia, and Kinmundy, Illinois. All were examined for parasites and 87 were parasitized. The trematodes Azygia angusticauda and Neascus sp. were found in the gastrointestinal system and Cleidodiscus floridanus and Dactylogyrus sp. were attached to the gills. Five cestode genera, including Bothriocephalus sp., Corallobothrium giganteum, Eubothrium sp., Haplobothrium sp., and Proteocephalus ambloplitis were present. Rhabdochona sp. was the only nematode found. Protozoans; Costia sp., Myxobolus sp., Scyphidia macropodia and Trichodina discoidea and one kind of glochidium were observed. …

Cancer Eye Of Cattle, M R. Gardiner, J. L. Anderson, D. E. Robertson

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

Cancer of the eye and eyelids is mainly a disease of cattle, although it occasionally occurs in most species of animals and in man. It is the most common cancer in cattle, especially in certain breeds.

Sheep Fertility In Western Australia, R J. Lightfoot

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

Why do one-quarter of the ewes that are joined in W.A. fail to lamb? Sheep and Wool Adviser Dr. R. J. Lightfoot analyses the eight stages in sheep reproduction, explaining the causes and possible prevention of infertility at each stage.

Effects Of Mastitis On Milk Yield And Composition, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

EVERY DAIRY farmer knows how much he spends on the treatment of cows affected with mastitis, but the actual loss in production is more difficult to estimate.

As part of the current mastitis research programme the Department of Agriculture's Animal and Dairying Divisions surveyed 37 dairy herds with a believed high incidence of mastitis.

Can Mastitis Be Eliminated?, F C. Wilkinson

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

Can mastitis be eliminated from a dairy herd? The results of a 12-month continuous study of four commercial herds show that it could be done.

Eye Cancer In Cattle, E P. Meyer

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

THE CONDITION known as eye cancer occurs in all ages and breeds of cattle but is most common in certain strains of the Hereford breed that have non-pigmented or mottled eyes and eyelids.

A yearly incidence of up to 5 per cent can occur in susceptible herds.

Lamb Mortality On Agricultural Research Stations, K P. Croker

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

Progress report of a study of lamb losses in experimental flocks on Department of Agriculture research stations in the agricultural areas.

THE major barrier to increased production by the West Australian sheep and wool industry is the shortage of sheep in the agricultural areas of the State, and much research has been directed towards overcoming this shortage.

Swine Erysipelas, G C De Chaneet

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

SWINE ERYSIPELAS, first diagnosed in Western Australia in 1960, has become a source of considerable loss to the pig industry.

Most losses have resulted from carcass condemnation at abattoirs because of arthritis caused by the erysipelas organism.

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.

How To Care For Orphan Lambs, Stanley M. Dennis

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

WITH the current high price and shortage of sheep in W.A., farmers might consider the bother of artificially rearing orphan lambs more worthwhile than before.

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.

Calfhood Diseases. 1. Gastro-Intestinal Diseases, M R. Gardiner

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

CALFHOOD disease may be divided for convenience into three main categories:

• Those affecting the gastro-intestinal tract, including diseases of an infectious nature and those arising as a result of infestation by worms (parasitism).

• Those affecting the respiratory system, including lungworms.

• Those resulting from nutritional deficiencies, especially vitamins and minerals.

Why Did These Lambs Die?, Stanley M. Dennis

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

INVESTIGATIONS over the past two years have shown that most lamb deaths in Western Australia occur during the first three days of life, that is, in the critical neonatal period.

Most of the lambs died between 24 and 72 hours after birth.

Congenital Abnormalities In Sheep, Stanley M. Dennis

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

More than 60 forms of abnormality have been found in lambs in Western Australia and in some flocks the proportion of particular abnormalities has been as high as 8 per cent, of lambs born.

In this article Dr. Dennis discusses the causes of abnormalities and reports progress of a Statewide survey of congenital abnormalities.

Starvation/Mismothering : A Major Cause Of Lambing Losses, Stanley M. Dennis

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

RESULTS of the preliminary survey into the infectious causes of perinatal lamb mortalities carried out last year by the Department of Agriculture showed that starvation/ mismothering was the most important single cause of death.

Tales From Dead Lambs : Results Of A Survey Of Lambing Losses, Stanley M. Dennis

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

During the past year the Animal Health Laboratory has been conducting a preliminary survey into the infectious causes of abortion in sheep and perinatal lamb mortalities. This work was prompted by:

* The diagnosis of vibrionic abortion for the first time in Western Australia in 1961, and

* The estimate that 30 per cent, of all ewes mated in Australia each year may fail to produce a viable lamb that survives to marking time.

This enormous lamb wastage is due to a variety of causes and the role of infectious agents has yet to be evaluated.

Liver Cirrhosis : A New Poultry Disease, P Smetana

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

A new poultry disease which is apparently peculiar to Western Australia is causing losses in some commercial poultry flocks in this State.

The cause of the disease has not been isolated and no reliable treatment can yet be recommended.

The Control Of Infectious Abortion In Sheep, Stanley M. Dennis

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

Infectious abortion con be an important cause of lambing losses in some flocks.

In this article Senior Veterinary Pathologist Dr. S. M. Dennis describes the symptoms of infectious abortion diseases and gives some recommendations for their control.

Lice On Cattle, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

Lice can cause serious financial losses through reduced growth rates and loss of production in beef and dairy cattle.

This article describes the main species and recommended control measures.

Recent Advances In Lupinosis Research, M R. Gardiner

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

BECAUSE of the important role which lupins play in light land development, flock losses from the effects of lupinosis must inevitably continue to be a matter of serious concern.

However, research carried out during the last four years has considerably advanced our knowledge of the fundamental nature of this disease and of the way in which it may be prevented or controlled.

Acetonaemia In Dairy Cows, F C. Wilkinson

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

ACETONAEMIA is a common disease of newly calved cows in the dairying districts of Western Australia.

Affected cows practically dry off and lose a lot of body condition; these are the main causes of loss to the owners.

Pullorum Tested Poultry Flocks : 1963, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

PULLORUM disease has been virtually eliminated from breeding and hatchery poultry flocks in Western Australia by the annual blood-testing of all birds and the destruction of reactors.

Only 222 reactors were found in a total of 170,474 birds tested this season—an incidence of infection of only 0.13 per cent.

Oxalate Poisoning. 1. The Effect Of Oxalate-Containing Plants On Ruminants, M R. Gardiner

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

Poisoning by plants which contain salts of oxalic acid may be a more common cause of stock losses in Western Australia than was previously thought.

This article describes the effects of these plants on ruminants and outlines an experiment in which the toxicity of soursob was examined.

An article in next month's Journal of Agriculture will describe the most important oxalate-containing plants found in Western Australia.

Chronic Respiratory Disease Of Poultry In Western Australia, M R. Gardiner, R. V. Vagg

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

Widespread chronic respiratory disease was revealed in a survey of respiratory infections in Perth metropolitan area poultry flocks.

Most occur in early or midsummer and cause a serious fall in egg production. Return to full lay after the infection is usually slow.

While these infections can cause production losses in flocks which are under heavy stress, none of the more serious forms of chronic respiratory disease was found.

This gives encouragement for future control of the disease in Western Australia.

Mycotic Dermatitis (Lumpy Wool) And Fleece Rot Of Sheep, J Shilkin

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

Matted and sometimes discoloured specimens of wool are often received at the Department of Agriculture during seasons of heavy rainfall.

Two similar but quite distinct diseases are recognised as having caused this condition.

They are mycotic dermatitis (lumpy wool) and fleece rot. Both conditions damage the fleece and render affected sheep susceptible to blowfly strike.