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THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [ I, III
Observations have also been made in the field on one property where administration of
postassium permanganate in the drinking water has been extensively employed, but it was not
possible to find evidence that the drug had any effect whatever in controlling infection with
stomach worms, while the abandonment of drenching with other proved drugs has led to a
recrudescence of the parasitic infection on this property.
The Council, therefore, considers it necessary to warn pastoralists against abandoning tried and
reliable methods of treatment for stomach worms and other parasites recommended by it or the
State Departments of Agriculture, and in the place of such reliable methods substituting the
administration of drugs in drinking water or in the form of licks. The adoption of such unsound
methods as last mentioned, while attractive superficially, will merely lead to much unnecessary
expense, and will allow stomach worm infection again to become serious on properties whereby
regular drenching its gravity is being steadily reduced. Further experiments are now being
conducted in order to determine whether it is possible to develop some method of treatment as an
auxiliary to existing methods for the control of internal parasites, and which may combine some of
the features hoped for from the use of the drugs specified and others. [I. C. R.]
The Influence of Frequency of Cutting on the Productivity, Botanical and
Chemical Composition and the Nutritive value of " Natural" Pastures in Southern
Australia.—J. GRIFFITHS DAVIES, B.Sc., Ph.D., Agroslologist, & A. H. SIM, B.Sc.,
B.Ag. Sc., Chemist.
(Progress report on co-operative investigations at the Waite Agricultural Research Institute.)
(From Pamphlet No. 18 of the Commonwealth of Australia Council for Scientific and
Industrial Research.)
CONCLUSIONS.
(1) The highest yield of dry matter is obtained from a natural pasture by allowing the herbage to
reach maturity. More frequent cutting tends to reduce the yield, fortnightly cuts seriously
depressing the dry matter produced per acre. Pasture cut three times during the season yieldel
approximately 94 per cent. of the yield obtained from one cut, and produces herbage of higher
nutritive value and lower fibre content than mature herbage.
(2) During the greater part of the season, rainfall is the most important factor governing the
yield from fortnightly cuts. There is a lag in the effect of rainfall on yield. The yield of a given
fortnight being greatly influenced by the rainfall during the preceding fortnight.
(3) Throughout the season, temperature exerts a profound modifying influence, and during July
seriously limits the growth of the pasture. Towards the end of the season both temperature and
rainfall become limiting factors to growth.
(4) Severe defoliation is demonstrated to reduce the yield of the erect species, whilst certain
rosette speceis, e.g., Erodium botrys give a higher yield per acre when the pasture is cut at fortnightly
intervals.
(5) The calcium content of the herbage is high. This is attributed to the high proportion of
species rich in lime that constituted the herbage from all series.
(6) The different frequencies of cutting do not appreciably influence the lime content of the
herbage.
(7) The highest production of lime per acre is obtained when the pasture is cut at intervals of
6-8 weeks.