Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia
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Condition scoring of sheep
No full textCondition scoring sheep is an easy and accurate method of estimating the condition or \u27nutritional wellbeing\u27 of your sheep flock. It requires an assessment of the amount of muscle and fat covering the backbone and the short ribs of each sheep. This gives a picture of the sheep’s store of energy. It is the best method for monitoring pregnant and lactating ewes but is also useful for monitoring the growth of weaners
Hay – essentials for growing a successful crop
No full textExport hay fits into most of the accepted cropping rotations and helps reduce weed seed banks, overcome herbicide resistance, provides a break from traditional chemical regimes and good paddock preparation for the subsequent crop, and is an alternative profitable crop.
Talk to your local hay exporter about their requirements for hay produced for export before sowing oats for export hay. Hay exporters have different requirements, which will affect how you manage your crop
Water quality for livestock
No full textMeasure water quality and quantity to effectively plan and monitor water supplies for livestock. If water quality is poor, livestock may drink less than they need, or rarely, may stop drinking altogether. When animals drink less, they will eat less and lose condition, and if they are lactating, their milk production will reduce or cease.
Water quality for livestock in Western Australia is most affected by water salinity, and the presence of water contaminants such as blue-green algae, organic material, heavy metals and chemicals
Managing frost risk
No full textFrost occurs on clear nights in early spring when the air temperature drops to 2°C or less. Crop damage from frost may occur at any stage of development but is most damaging at or around flowering.
Frost is difficult to manage, and damage will be unavoidable in some seasons. Risk management options proven to reduce frost risk include paddock zoning, crop and variety selection, time of sowing, stubble management and managing inputs. The greatest gains result from in paddock choice/zoning, crop and variety choice, and manipulating the canopy
Feral goat
No full textThe goat (Capra hircus) was one of the first animals to be domesticated, 8 to 10 thousand years ago. Archaeological work indicates the earliest attempts at domestication were in dry hills surrounding the Mediterranean basin. The ability of goats to utilise the coarse browse of mountainous areas made them suitable for domestication, in preference to sheep. With large-scale domestication of goats throughout the world, goats escaped and established feral goat herds on most continents. Overgrazing by goats has caused severe environmental damage, worldwide.
Goats arrived in Australia with the first fleet. They were introduced to many areas by early settlers and spread further by miners and railway gangs, who used them as a source of milk and meat. Goats were introduced into WA in the early colonial era. They were kept for a mohair industry and to provide milk, butter, and meat. They were also used for light haulage and goat racing. In 1870, 50 goats were taken to Shark Bay, WA. By 1894, there were 4500 goats in WA, and by 1905, they were reported throughout the state. Large herds grazed on sheep and cattle stations; these were dispersed when the mohair industry did not develop as hoped. Breeding groups escaped and formed feral herds on many stations. Feral goats were declared vermin in the Upper Gascoyne district in 1928, at Marble Bar and Port Hedland the following year, and Mullewa and Meekatharra in 1954
Rabbit control: 1080 versus pindone
No full textThere are two toxins available for controlling pest rabbits in Western Australia: 1080 and pindone. This factsheet provides a brief summary of the main characteristics of both vertebrate pesticides. 1080 is generally the preferred toxin for rabbit control in Western Australia (WA).
Any attempt to reduce the impact of rabbits on the productivity of any agricultural enterprise (for example, pasture, crops, tree farms, horticulture) should be undertaken as part of a pest management plan.
This strategy should be proactive rather than reactive to a problem. It should also include a long term strategy for dealing with potential rabbit damage, including the removal of any rabbit harbourage, where possible. However, the approach used may need to vary according to each situation. 1080 and pindone products must be used according to their labels and relevant legislation
Rabbit control: warren and harbourage destruction
No full textIf correctly and appropriately undertaken, the destruction of rabbit warrens, or modification of the habitat so it becomes less favourable to rabbits, can be an important and effective part of reducing the impacts of rabbits.
Destruction of warrens can improve the overall effectiveness of rabbit control programs, even though many rabbits live and shelter above-ground under bushes, and in scrub). If undertaken properly, the ripping of rabbit warrens can often provide a relatively permanent and long-term benefit. Similarly, removing or modifying other forms of rabbit-harbourage (for example, removing rock piles) can help, particularly in semi-urban areas or on smallholdings
Pumping groundwater for salinity control in WA
No full textDPIRD recommends that groundwater pumping is used as part of an integrated water and salinity management program.
Groundwater pumping can lower local water tables, recover land for production and reduce the spread of local salinity or to protect high value assets at risk, such as townsites, roads or railway lines. Pump water can be discharged to safe disposal points or used on farm for desalination
Rotary spading to ameliorate soil water repellence
No full textOne-off deep cultivation can reduce the severity of soil water repellence by mixing some of the repellent topsoil into the wettable subsoil and bringing wettable subsoil to the surface.
Rotary spading or deep cultivation increases water infiltration by providing pathways for water entry; diluting the water repellent soil with non-repellent soil; increasing the breakdown of soil organic matter causing water repellence; in some soil types, spading and other deep cultivation can lift subsoil with higher clay content to the surface.
Deep cultivation increases the risk of wind and water erosion. To minimise the risk of erosion, follow the guidelines on this pag
