bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Distribution of parasitic nematodes in vineyards in central and north-eastern Victoria
Authors: Harris AR
Published: March 2005

A survey of 16 1 vineyards in central and north-eastern Victoria determined the distribution of plant parasitic nematodes, particularly Xiphinema index, a vector of grapevine fanleaf virus. From the North-Central and Geelong Vine Disease Districts respectively, 185 and 3 soil samples were collected between 1978 and 1982. Fifteen genera of stylet-bearing nematodes were found, and those of known or suspected economic importance were Helicotylenchus (found in 24% of samples), Pratylenchus (21%), Xiphinema ( 13%), Criconemella (8%), Longidorus (7%) and Paratrichodorus (2%) . X. index was found in three samples from two vineyards, both within 10 km of Rutherglen in north-eastern Victoria. Neither Meloidogyne javanica nor Tylenchulus semipenetrans were detected, although both are common in other viticultural areas of Victoria.
Effects of copper therapy on steers in the brigalow region of central Queensland
Authors: Plasto AW , Kennedy TP , O'Bryan MS , Wright GS
Published: March 2005

Steers grazing improved pasture on brigalow country in central Queensland were found to have low blood and liver copper levels. Copper therapy at approximately 12-week intervals and later 6-week intervals between February 14, 1977 and November 27, 1978 increased the liveweight gain of animals by 29 kg (P < 0.05) over that of untreated controls. Blood and liver copper levels and ceruloplasmin activity were increased (P<0. 01) by treatment but did not reach satisfactory levels until two treatments at 6-week intervals were given.
Comparison of the yield, nitrogen and phosphorus content, and rust infection (Puccinia coronata) of irrigated ryegrass swards in south-eastern Queensland
Authors: Lowe KF , Bowdler TM , Ostrowski H , Stillman SL
Published: March 2005

Thirteen ryegrass (Lolium spp.) cultivars and three mixtures of cultivars were evaluated in a series of experiments over four years at two sites in south-eastern Queensland. Stands were sown at 30 kg/ha of viable seed and fertilized with 50 kgN/ha at sowing and after each defoliation. After an establishment period of 6-8 weeks, stands were defoliated every 21 d. Lolium multiflorum cv. Midmar was the highest yielding or equally highest yielding cultivar in three of the four years. Its forage production was better distributed over the full growing season (April- December) and its foliage was less affected by leaf rust (Puccinia coronata Corda) than any other single cultivar. L. rigidum cv. Wimmera was the best cultivar for early season production (before June) and the perennial cultivars (L. perenne cv. Kangaroo Valley and [L. multiflorum x L. perenne] x L. perenne cv. Grasslands Ariki) and cv. Midmar were superior late in the season (September-December). There was little difference in the performance of the other annual (L. multiflorum) cultivars before September. Grasslands Tama gave poorest late season yields. The only mixture that yielded more than its individual components was the Grasslands Tama/Grasslands Ariki combination. Its yield and the distribution of that yield were equivalent to cv. Midmar. Midmar had slightly lower nitrogen levels in the foliage than the other cultivars, but differences were not substantial. The relative ranking of ryegrass cultivars for resistance to rust was Midmar > Kangaroo Valley and Grasslands Ariki > Richmond and Tetila > Grasslands Manawa and Grasslands Paroa > Grasslands Tama, Wimmera, Tetrone and Tetralite.
Problems in the accurate recording of lambing data
Authors: Alexander G , Stevens D , Mottershead B
Published: March 2005

Continuous observations of a Merino flock comprising representatives from 15 strains or studs, lambing together in a drift system, showed that data on litter size and identity of offspring obtained at once-daily inspections were likely to be incorrect for 12% of ewes producing singles, 30% producing twins and 60% producing triplets. Correspondingly, the pedigree data for approximately 9% of single lambs, 15% of twins and 24% of triplets would be incorrect and the litter size data incorrect for another 3, 15 and 36% of singles, twins and triplets respectively. These potential errors were due to failure of ewes to keep their litters together, desertion of lambs, and lamb 'stealing' by ewes about to lamb. The use of an examination of afterbirths to resolve doubts about litter size is presented it1 an appendix. Of lambs separated from their mothers, 43% of singles, 34% of twins and 9% of triplets were reared to weaning by foster ewes; the others died. At least 19% of twin-bearing ewes in each of the main strain groups became separated from at least one twin, indicating that failure of ewes to keep their litter together during the first day or so after birth is a characteristic of Merino sheep generally. These results have important implications for the collection of lambing data in sheep breeding and husbandry experiments aimed to increase fecundity.
Supplements for Merino weaner sheep grazing mature pastures in summer and autumn
Authors: Foot JZ , McIntyre JS , Heazlewood PG
Published: March 2005

Two grazing experiments were conducted to study the short term effects (up to the following shearing in November) on Merino weaner sheep of supplementing senescent perennial ryegrass-subterranean clover pasture with oaten grain, lupin grain and soya bean meal from January to the beginning of April. In the first experiment, weaners grazed hay aftermath or mature uncut pasture. The supplements given daily were: none, oaten grain 0.28 kg/sheep, lupin grain 0.24 kg, soya bean meal 0.15 kg, soya 0.10 kg + lupin 0.08 kg, lupin 0.16 kg +soya 0.05 kg. The second experiment was designed to produce a response curve, relating the amount of lupin grain supplement (0-0.35 kg/sheep in 50 g increments) offered daily to weaners on hay aftermath, to their growth and wool production. A further group was given 0.25 kg oaten grain/sheep. In the first experiment, the difference between pastures was apparent in liveweight at the end of supplementation in early April (24-8-22.0 kg), liveweight in August (31 SO-29.2 kg), wool growth during supplementation (0.89 and 0.70 kg) and greasy fleece weights (4.2 and 3.8 kg) (hay aftermath and uncut pasture respectively). Supplemented groups were 2-3 kg heavier than unsupplemented ones but differences between groups given different supplements were not significant except those between lupin and oat fed weaners on hay aftermath at the end of supplementation. Fleece weights were not significantly affected by the type of supplementation but animals on predominantly soya bean meal supplements had higher greasy fleece weights than the controls. Liveweights at the end of supplementation in experiment 2 did not respond to increased amounts of lupin grain above 0.2 kg and there was no significant response in wool growth to increments of lupin grain. Liveweights at shearing were significantly different only in groups offered the largest (0.35 kg) and the smallest (0.05 kg) amounts of lupin grain. Sheep in the control group were lighter than all others except those given the smallest amount of lupin grain. The only significant difference in greasy fleece weights (0.7 kg) was between those from control sheep and sheep given the highest level of supplementation. In both experiments there was evidence of substitution of oaten grain for pasture, but this did not significantly reduce liveweights or fleece weights relative to those of sheep in groups receiving the same amount of energy in lupin grain. Final liveweights were influenced as much by liveweights at the start of the experiments as by the type or amount of supplement offered to the weaners in summer.
Nutritional evaluation of triticale grain as an animal feed
Authors: Radcliffe BC , Egan AR , Driscoll CJ
Published: March 2005

Nine advanced lines of triticale were grown at seven sites in South Australia. None of them differed significantly from Warimba wheat in nitrogen, ash or crude fat content, their neutral detergent fibre contents were 6-28% higher than wheat, and eight of them had significantly higher total lysine content than wheat. Two triticale lines, T507 (Coorong) and X75-832P, were compared with Warimba wheat in a sloperatio assay with rats. Despite the higher lysine content of these two triticale diets, the rats failed to increase growth rate, and no significant differences were observed between test diets.
Effects of different stocking intensities in early life on the productivity of Merino ewes grazed as adults at two stocking rates. 1. Wool production and quality, lamb growth rate, and size and liveweight of ewes
Authors: Langlands JP , Donald GE , Paull DR
Published: March 2005

Ewe lambs born to Merino ewes grazed at 10 or 20 sheep/ha were weaned at three months (L-, H-) and randomized to low or high stocking rate treatments (-L, -H) until 15 months old. Ewes from each of the four groups (LL, LH, HL and HH) then grazed at 10 or 20 sheep/ha until nine years old. Liveweight in early adult life and some body dimensions were reduced by a low plane of nutrition during rearing. The differences in liveweight declined with time and were not significant after 2% years in ewes stocked as adults at 10/ha or after 5% years in ewes stocked at 20/ha. Wool production and growth rates of lambs were reduced when ewes were stocked at the high stocking rate, but were not affected by rearing treatment. Wool production per sheep was about 30% greater at the lower stocking rate but about 33% less when expressed on a unit area basis. Fibre diameter and fleece length were reduced by a high stocking rate in adult life but were not affected by rearing treatment. Yield was not affected by stocking rate at any time. A number of subjective assessments of wool quality were also recorded; quality declined at a high stocking rate but was not affected by rearing treatment. Trends in wool production and quality with age of ewe are reported.
Effects of grazing management on the botanical composition of a lucerne pasture in south-eastern Queensland
Authors: Leach GJ , Dale MB , Ratcliff D
Published: March 2005

The influence of six grazing and three mowing treatments on the botanical composition of lucerne (Medicago sativa cv. Hunter River) pastures was studied at the end of a six-year experiment on black earth in southern Queensland. Rest intervals of 32-60 d were combined with grazing durations of 4, 8 or 16 d, or with mowing. Sheep were used for grazing at a year round rate equivalent to 20/ha. Frequency of occurrence of all species and their relative herbage yield contribution were estimated in autumn and spring of the last two years. Seventy-four species were recorded, but only 17 occurred in more than 5% of grazed quadrats. Survival of lucerne, the only sown species, was good (Leach 1979a); it occurred in about 70% of quadrats but its relative yield ranged from 8 to 75%. Chloris gayana was the principal volunteer perennial grass, especially in treatments grazed for short periods (4 d) where its frequency ranged from 26 to 49% and the corresponding relative yield totals from 26 to 33% in the final spring. The volunteer species most characteristic of particular treatments were Dichanthium spp. and Chloris virgata in autumn, and Malvastrum coromandelianum, annual Medicago spp. and Trifolium repens in spring. Grazing duration or mowing influenced botanical composition more than changes in resting interval. This mainly reflected the intensity of utilization rather than grazing duration per se. Opportunities for controlling volunteer species through grazing management will be limited by compensatory responses between species. However, management should aim to ensure adequate grazing of both the lucerne and the volunteer species.
Superphosphate requirements for maintenance of cattle production from grass-clover pastures in a subtropical environment
Authors: Cohen RDH , Havilah EJ , O'Neill GH
Published: March 2005

Maintenance dressings of superphosphate were applied at 500,250, 125 or 0 kg/ha each year between 1972 and 1976 to a carpet grass (Axonopus affinis)-white clover (Trifolium repens) pasture in a subtropical environment at Grafton, New South Wales. The pasture had previously received a total of 1500 kg superphosphate/ha in four annual dressings between 1968 and 1972 and was in the maintenance phase, in contrast to the development phase, of fertilizer requirement. The topdressed pastures were grazed by weaner Hereford steers for 12 months during each of five years 1972 to 1977. Two stocking rates (1 .67 and 2.5 steers/ha) were applied in 1972 to 1974 and three (1.67, 2.5 and 3.3 steers/ha) in 1974 to 1978. The effects of superphosphate maintenance rate and stocking rate on dry matter and nitrogen in the available herbage components were small and inconsistent and suggested large residual effects of previously applied superphosphate. The effect of superphosphate maintenance rate on phosphorus in the available herbage components was more consistent but was also small and did not appear to influence pasture or animal production. Reduced maintenance dressings of superphosphate decreased (P< 0.05) annual liveweight gains of steers during only two of the five years, 1974-75 and 1975-76. The effect, which was small and dependent on stocking rate and seasonal conditions, indicated large residual effects of previously applied superphosphate which could be used to advantage when low beef prices preclude the application of maintenance dressings of superphosphate. Liveweight change was related to available herbage components (P<0.05) but the nitrogen content and digestibility of the herbage selected by cattle fistulated at the oesophagus provided more precise estimates of liveweight change. Superphosphate influenced steer liveweight change through its effect on pasture quality rather than quantity.
Effects of crop residue incorporation on soil porperties and growth of subsequent crops
Authors: White PJ
Published: March 2005

A field study was carried out on four black earths to identify major factors influencing soil and plant growth traits when crop stubble was removed from or incorporated in the seedbed. The aim of the experiment was to identify important variables for further research. Wheat (Triticum aestivum), barley (Hordeum vulgare), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) were used as both stubble species and test crops. A range of stubble quantities (596-11080 kg/ha) and qualities (C:N, C:P and C:S ratios of 24-148, 125-1600, and 182-1000 respectively) and periods of incorporation (up to 67 d) were involved. Data were analysed by paired t-tests and regression with combinations of factors. The technique used is discussed and its limitations examined. Due to logistical constraints, randomization was restricted, stubble removal technique was varied and a rotary hoe was used instead of conventional tillage machinery. Nitrate nitrogen (0- 10, 10-20 cm) was depressed when stubble was incorporated and this was related to the stubble C:N ratio. The effects on ammonium nitrogen (0-10 cm) and phosphorus (0-10 cm) were unclear. Stubble quantity was not well correlated. The importance of environmental factors during incorporation was unclear. During the inter-crop period, soil water content at 0-6 cm was significantly increased for up to 4 d after rainfall or irrigation when stubble was incorporated, and this was related to stubble quantity. It is suggested that stubble incorporation increased the volume of large soil pores which were filled by rain but subsequently dried rapidly. Likely short and long term effects of stubble incorporation on soil water are discussed. Incorporation of stubble did not consistently affect plant emergence or seedling vigour. Patchy stands in commercial crops may be due to isolated pockets of stubble formed by inadequate spreading of trash after harvesting or cultivation. Significant depressions of plant growth occurred later at sites 1 and 2 (wheat and barley) but not at sites 3 and 4 (sorghum and sunflowers). These depressions were primarily related to soil nitrate nitrogen (0-10, 10-20 cm) which was depressed by the wide C: N ratio of added stubble. Plant growth was positively correlated with stubble quantity at sites 2 and 3, and this was related to the sulfur and phosphorus contents of the stubble, respectively.
Growth, yield and nitrogen requirements of winter sown cereals grown after cotton or summer fallow in the lower Namoi Valley, New South Wales
Authors: McDonald GK , Sutton BG , Ellison FW
Published: March 2005

Three winter cereals (wheat varieties Songlen and WW 15, triticale variety Satu) were grown after cotton or summer fallow under three levels of applied nitrogen (0, 100 and 200 kg N/ha) at Narrabri, New South Wales. The cereals were sown on August 7, 1980 and growing season rainfall was supplemented by a single irrigation. Leaf area, total shoot dry matter production and ears per square metre were lower after cotton than after summer fallow, while grain yields of cereals sown immediately after cotton were 33% lower than those sown after fallow. Adding nitrogen increased leaf area, dry matter and grain yields of crops grown after cotton and fallow, but significant increases were not obtained with more than 100 kg/ha of applied nitrogen. Crops grown after cotton required an application of 100 kg N/ha for leaf and dry matter production at anthesis to equal that of crops grown after fallow with no additional nitrogen. The corresponding cost to grain yield of growing cotton was equivalent to 200 kg N/ha. The low grain yield responses measured in this experiment (1 8 and 10% increase to 100 kg N/ha after cotton and fallow, respectively) were attributed to the combined effects of late sowing, low levels of soil moisture and loss, by denitrification, of some of the applied nitrogen. The triticale, Satu, yielded significantly less than the two wheats (1 99 g/m2 for Satu c.f. 255 and 286 g/m2 for Songlen and WW 15, respectively), and did not appear to be a viable alternative to wheat in a cotton rotation.
Comparative effects of black and green gram (mung beans) and grain sorghum on soil mineral nitrogen and subsequent grain sorghum yields on the Eastern Darling Downs
Authors: Doughton JA , Mackenzie J
Published: March 2005

A field trial was carried out on a black earth (Waco series) at Cambooya on the Eastern Darling Downs to compare the effect of black gram, green gram, grain sorghum and a summer fallow on soil mineral nitrogen (NO3-N + NH4-N) and the yield of grain sorghum grown in the following summer. The initial sorghum treatment severely depleted soil mineral nitrogen to 120 cm; even after a 173-d fallow, there was still 34 kg/ha less nitrogen present than initially in this treatment. Black and green gram also reduced levels of soil mineral nitrogen during crop growth, but these recovered to exceed pre-trial levels by 29 and 42 kg N/ha, respectively, after a winter fallow. The fallow treatment accumulated 100 kg N/ha of mineral nitrogen between January and October, but mineralization was markedly reduced from August to October. Sorghum grown on all plots in the second summer responded markedly to prior treatments, and grain yields and responses to nitrogen applied at 0, 34 and 68 kg N/ha reflected mineral nitrogen levels at planting. Yields of sorghum grain obtained without fertilizer after black gram, green gram and fallow were 8333, 7477 and 9663 kg/ha, respectively, compared with 4658 kg/ha after sorghum. Prior crops of both grams increased sorghum yield as much as a fertilizer application of 68 kg N/ha.
Low-temperature induced floret sterility in the rice cultivars Calrose and Inga as influenced by nitrogen supply
Authors: Heenan DP
Published: March 2005

An experiment in temperature-controlled glasshouse chambers at Yanco Agricultural Institute examined floret sterility in lnga and Calrose rice induced by low temperature and high nitrogen level. Low temperature (12�C) ,for 4 d during microsporogenesis and anthesis produced considerable sterility in both cultivars; lnga was more sensitive than Calrose. Sensitivity was greatest when florets from the mid-section of the panicle were passing through the early microspore phase of pollen development. At both stages, the amount of low-temperature induced sterility was increased by high nitrogen supply. In the absence of low temperature, high nitrogen levels induced sterility in lnga only.
Resistance and tolerance of grape rootstocks to South Australian populations of root-knot nematode
Authors: Stirling GR , Cirami RM
Published: March 2005

Twenty-three grape rootstocks and four commercial varieties were screened in pots for resistance to populations of root-knot nematode from the Barossa Valley, Riverland and Southern Vales regions of South Australia. Four species (Meloidogyne arenaria, M. hapla, M. incognita and M. javanica) were present in the Barossa Valley population, while the other two populations contained only M. hapla and M. javanica. The Barossa Valley population multiplied better and produced more galls than the other populations, but the resistance of each rootstock relative to others was similar for all three nematode populations. The most resistant rootstocks were Ramsey, Dog Ridge, Freedom, Schwarzmann, 16 16, K51-32 and K51-40. Rootstocks with high or moderate nematode resistance in pots also showed good resistance in three field trials. The tolerance of each rootstock to root-knot nematode was evaluated by comparing root growth in the presence and absence of the nematode. Rootstocks with the best nematode resistance were also the most tolerant. Although variations in pathogenicity are often observed between species of Meloidogyne and within populations of the same species, we concluded that nematode resistant grape rootstocks would be useful against the range of pathogenic variation in the nematode likely to be encountered in South Australia.
Measurement and prediction of harvest maturity of Jonathan apples for storage
Authors: Faragher JD , Brohier RL , Little CR , Peggie ID
Published: March 2005

Methods have been developed to measure the latest maturity at which Jonathan apples can be harvested for long term cold storage without unacceptable losses from disorders and softening. Maturity at harvest was measured by ethylene production rate, loss of green ground colour of the skin, and flesh firmness. The levels of these maturity measures were related by regression analysis to the levels of breakdown, brownheart (flesh browning) and softening which developed after storage. From these relationships, values of ethylene production, ground colour, and firmness, which measured the latest safe harvest maturity for storage without unacceptable losses, were calculated. Such values were determined for storage for seven months in controlled atmosphere and 3.5 months in air, for several orchards and for apples of different sizes. In addition, we determined methods to predict when the latest safe harvest maturity would occur. The time from the date of first appearance of the stem cavity (T-stage) was the most accurate index from which to predict the time of last safe harvest maturity. These times were 98- 119 d, depending on crop load, storage treatment, season and orchard. The date on which ripening started, as measured by increase in ethylene production rate, or loss of green ground colour of skin, could also be used to predict harvest. However, these latter changes often occurred too close to harvest date to be practically useful for prediction.
Evaluation of techniques for estimating the yield of irrigated pastures intensively grazed by dairy cows. 2. The rising plate meter
Authors: Stockdale CR
Published: March 2005

A semi-automatic rising plate meter, the Ellinbank Pasture Meter (EPM) was used to estimate herbage yields of the three most common types of irrigated pasture intensively grazed by dairy cows in northern Victoria. While there were only small differences in precision between the pasture types, yields of pre-grazed pastures were measured more precisely than yields of post-grazed pastures. The EPM also estimated pre-grazing yield more precisely than a visual assessment technique, while the two techniques were similar for estimating post-grazed herbage. A number of factors, including dry matter content of the herbage, botanical composition, season, and lodging due to trampling were shown to influence pre- and post-grazing regressions. It was concluded that pooled regressions were therefore unsuitable for research purposes unless the pooling was for a relatively short period only. Pre- and post-grazing data can be pooled for periods of up to two months to allow the estimation of pasture growth rates at various points of time between grazings. An alternative method of obtaining yield estimates has been proposed in which it is not necessary to develop a regression. This method relies on cutting quadrats in each plot that are representative of the yield and composition of the plot. While this method can circumvent some of the problems associated with the factors that influence the yield-height relationship, severe lodging due to trampling of the sward may preclude the use of the EPM regardless of method.
Short and long term effects of feeding supplements of oats, wheat and lupin grain on the production of ewes lambing in autumn
Authors: Kenney PA , Roberts GB
Published: March 2005

Four groups, each of about 40 Border Leicester x Merino ewes due to lamb in May, 1978, were held on bare ground and hand-fed poor quality hay, either alone or with oat, wheat or lupin grain at 270 g dry matter/head.d, from two weeks before until six weeks after lambing. A fifth group of ewes grazed separately on green pasture. After hand-feeding ceased in July 1978, ewes from all five groups grazed together and were re-joined with rams in November-December. Increases in wool production (90-230 g greasy fleece), milk production (9-23 ml/h) and growth of lambs (20-4 1 g/d) resulted from feeding supplements to the hay-fed ewes. Ewes fed oats and lupins performed best and, compared with those fed wheat, produced fewer fleeces with major faults (8 and 12% vs 29%, respectively) and less milk (58 and 62 ml/h vs 49 ml/h, respectively). At the end of hand-feeding, the ewes were 18-23 kg lighter than those that had been at pasture, but by the time joining took place in November-December, the difference was only 4-8 kg. Ewes fed hay alone mated 8-12 d later and lambed 5-9 d later (May 1979) than ewes in all other groups. Also, 6% of the ewes fed lupins or allowed to graze pasture during lambing in 1978 were barren in 1979, compared with 25% of barren ewes in all other treatments. It was concluded that wheat, in contrast to lupins and oats, was an inadequate supplement for lambing ewes consuming only low quality roughage.
Gypsum labelled with tritiated water as a marker for estimating supplement intake by individual sheep fed in groups
Authors: Dove H
Published: March 2005

Three experiments were conducted to evaluate gypsum, labelled in its water of crystallization with tritiated water (TOH), as a marker substance for estimating the intake of solid supplements by grazing ruminants. The TOH-gypsum was prepared by mixing plaster of Paris with TOH and was then incorporated into pelleted supplements of sunflower meal (SFM) or rapeseed meal (RSM). All gypsum specific activity could be recovered by 48 h extraction with 0.02 M NaEDTA, but not 48 h extraction with water. When known levels of labelled SFM were fed to housed lambs, the mean difference between known and estimated intake was 4% or 28 g/d. The slope of the regression relating these intakes was not significantly different from 1 0. In the second experiment, the same lambs were offered labelled SFM outdoors, from communal troughs, at daily rates of 400 or 1000 g/head. In the first group, mean intake estimated from the marker was 2% or 8 g/d different from that estimated from trough measurements. In the second group, spillage and trampling of supplements was observed, and intake estimated using the marker was only 88% of that estimated from trough measurement. Variability between animals in intake was high and ranged from 336 to 1302 g/d over the two feeding levels. Accuracy of the marker method was confirmed in a third study with Merinos grazing wheat stubbles at two stocking rates, supplemented with 325 g/d of SFM or RSM. Those offered RSM ate very little, but intake was accurately detected down to levels of less than 30 g/d. The results are discussed in relation to possible sources of error, particularly day-to-day variations in individual intake.
Digestibility and voluntary intake by sheep of five Digitaria species
Authors: Minson DJ
Published: March 2005

Data are reported on the voluntary intake and digestibility by sheep of five species of Digitaria when grown as swards, cut at five different stages of growth and analysed for neutraldetergent solubles, hemicellulose, cellulose, lignin, N, S, Na, K, P, Ca, Mg, Si, Cu, Mn, and Zn. Digitaria setivalva was superior to the other four species in in vivo digestibility of the dry matter, organic matter and energy (5.2 percentage units), content of metabolizable energy (5.3%), voluntary intake of dry matter (8 0%) and voluntary intake of metabolizable energy (18.1 %). This superiority was associated with a higher content of digestible neutral-detergent solubles and cellulose. The metabolizable energy contents of the grasses were significantly correlated with dry matter digestibility and organic matter digestibility, content of digestible dry matter and concentrations of crude protein, neutral-detergent fibre, acid-detergent fibre, lignin and combinations of these different fractions.
Performance of growing pigs fed wheat, barley, or triticale
Authors: Davies RL , Radcliffe BC
Published: March 2005

Four groups of 12 Large White pigs (six boars and six gilts) were fed from 14 to 47 kg liveweight on diets based on Kite wheat, Coorong triticale, Clipper barley or 2231 barley. The diets were formulated to provide 0.56 g lysine/MJ digestible energy and were fed to supply three times the maintenance energy requirement. On both liveweight and carcass weight bases, the pigs fed the diet containing Coorong triticale grew more slowly than those fed Kite wheat (P < 0 01); there were no differences in backfat thickness. The efficiency of utilization of lysine was depressed to a greater extent than that of digestible energy. This was consistent with the lysine limitation of the diets and suggested that the growth depression was mediated through an effect on amino acid rather than energy utilization. Differences between the barley cultivars were less consistent: pigs fed 2231 had significantly higher liveweight but not carcass growth rate. There was no significant difference in backfat thickness. Differences in growth rate and the efficiency of lysine and digestible energy utilization were not associated with differences in trypsin inhibitor activity of the grains, nor was there evidence of undesirable nutritional effects associated with elevated beta glucan in barley 2231.
Field peas as a feed for growing and finishing pigs. 2. Effects of substituting peas for meat meal or fish meal in conventional diets
Authors: Davies RL
Published: March 2005

In three experiments the effects of substituting field peas (Pisum sativum) for meat meal and/or fish meal in diets fed to growing and finishing pigs were studied. The inclusion of up to 28% peas in growing and finishing diets did not affect the digestible energy intake of pigs fed at up to 3.5 times their maintenance energy requirement. When peas comprised 53% of a diet fed to growing pigs, intake was depressed by 8%. With the exception of this diet, responses were consistent with changes in dietary lysine. It is concluded that, at up to about 40% of the diet, the lysine and energy value of field peas to growing and finishing pigs is consistent with analysed levels of these nutrients.
A comparison of ultrasonic machines for the prediction of backfat thickness in the live pig
Authors: Hudson JE , Payne-Crostin A
Published: March 2005

Measurements of the backfat thickness over the last rib, 65 mm from the dorsal midline, were taken on 122 live pigs with five different ultasonic machines: Sonatest, Medata, Renco, Sonalyser and Ilis. These measurements were examined for their ability to predict the corresponding carcass introscope measurements. Each pig was measured with each machine 6 d before slaughter and carcass measurement. The RSDs for predicting introscope measurements were 2.35 mm (Sonatest), 2.43 mm (Sonalyser), 2.56 mm (Renco), 2.72 mm (Medata) and 2.90 mm (Ilis). The inclusion of liveweight in the prediction equation gave a small but significant improvement in the RSDs of all machines. The results suggest that none of the machines tested could predict backfat thickness satisfactorily for grading of pigs before slaughter.
Effects of caecectomy and dietary antibiotics on the digestibility of dry matter and amino acids in poultry feeds determined by excreta analysis
Authors: Raharjo YC , Farrell DJ
Published: March 2005

Digestibility measurements were made with caecectomized or intact adult cockerels offered diets containing maize, or equal amounts of maize and one of six protein concentrates, with and without antibiotics. Dietary antibiotics reduced micro-organisms to less than 2x 103/g dry excreta. Caecectomy and the addition of antibiotics to the diet reduced dry matter digestibility on average by 9% compared with intact birds on diets without antibiotics. The greatest reduction was 20% for soybean meal. The mean apparent digestibility of several amino acids showed no significant change due to caecectomy and/or inclusion of antibiotics in the diets, while that of isoleucine showed an increase. For other amino acids, the response was variable and within each protein supplement, the response of individual amino acids was also variable. The lowest mean digestibility for lysine was 0.63 in cottonseed meal and the highest was 0 92 for fish meal. It was concluded that, although excreta analysis may not always be a reliable method for determining amino acid digestibility of feeds, neither method used to reduce microflora in the hind gut was consistently effective. It was unclear whether this was due to the nature of the protein source or to the inability of the methods used to suppress microbial activity in the hind gut.
Comparison of grain growth and yield of a semi-dwarf wheat and a standard height wheat grown in the Victorian Mallee
Authors: Coventry DR , Walsgott DN , Latta RA
Published: March 2005

Ear development, grain growth and yield of a semi-dwarf wheat, Condor, and a standard height wheat, Halberd, were compared in a field experiment over two seasons and in a glasshouse experiment at Walpeup in the Victorian Mallee. A sequence of sowing times was used with the field-grown wheat to obtain variation in flowering time and conditions during ear development and grain growth. Condor developed more spikelets, which resulted in more grains per ear. This difference in spikelet number was associated with a longer duration of spikelet initiation. Grain growth per ear for the two cultivars was identical with the exception of two early sowings of Condor. The grain weight of Condor was always lower than that of Halberd from a similar sowing. Different effects were obtained in the cultivars from pre-anthesis drought in a glasshouse experiment, with the semi-dwarf wheat having better floret survival. Pre-anthesis drought resulted in a 21% reduction in grain number with Halberd, which, with adequate water after anthesis, made a 7% compensatory increase in grain weight. A similar pre-anthesis stress did not much reduce grain number with Condor, but this treatment did reduce (2%) grain weight, particularly at the spike apex and distal florets.
Effects of lupin-wheat rotations on soil fertility, crop disease and crop yields
Authors: Reeves TG , Ellington A , Brooke HD
Published: March 2005

Three experiments, begun in successive years, were conducted between 1974 and 1979 in north-eastern Victoria to investigate the effects of rotating wheat (cv. Olympic) and 'sweet' lupins (Lupinus angustifolius cv. Uniharvest) on crop yields, soil fertility and crop diseases. The grain yield of continuous wheat was 2.58 t/ha and of continuous lupins 0.66 t/ha (P<0.05). Wheat, grown after a lupin crop, yielded 750 kg/ha more than wheat after wheat, and a second wheat crop, after lupins, yielded 420 kg/ha more than a third successive wheat crop. Lupins, grown after wheat, yielded 50-165% more than lupins after lupins. Grain nitrogen of wheat was significantly increased after lupins (P<0.01). Differences in soil mineral nitrogen were apparent ten weeks after sowing, with mean nitrogen levels of 37 and 55 kg/ha under wheat and lupins, respectively. Soil mineral nitrogen (0-20 cm) was consistently greater after lupins than after wheat (P<0.01) when measured just before seeding the succeeding crop. Overall, mean accretion of mineral nitrogen under lupins was 4 1 kg/ha.year. Residual nitrogen from lupins, after one succeeding wheat crop had been grown, was also evident (mean 23 kg/ha). Crop rotation influenced the incidence of crop diseases in wheat and lupins. Lupins after lupins suffered severely from brown leaf spot (Pleiochaeta setosa), up to 63% of plants being infected compared with only 18% after wheat. Disease incidence (mainly Gaeumannomyces graminis) in wheat increased from less than 1% in the first year of cropping, to 36% infection in year 3. When wheat was grown after lupins, disease incidence was negligible.
Field performance of tomato cultivars for cool-season production
Authors: Huett DO
Published: March 2005

Field experiments were conducted during winter 1982 on the northern coast of New South Wales to assess earliness of fruit set, yield and quality of seven indeterminate, three semi-determinate and six determinate tomato cultivars producing smooth, globular fruit. Rouge de Marmande, the most cold-tolerant commercial cultivar, and Flora-Dade, the most widely grown commercial cultivar, were included as controls. Several cultivars had good cold tolerance, producing marketable yields similar to or higher than that of Rouge de Marmande. Precodor was the most consistent, outyielding Rouge de Marmande in two experiments and producing similar yields in the other two. Sunny's yield was similar to that of Precodor in the March transplantings. Flora-Dade had very poor cold tolerance and produced less than 2 kg/plant of marketable fruit in all experiments. Most cold-tolerant cultivars had unacceptably soft fruit. Rouge de Marmande was one of the softest cultivars, with a shelf life of 2 d from the March transplanting. Sunny and Flora-Dade had respective shelf lives of 24 and 25 d. Soluble solids levels for all cultivars were low, ranging from 3.7 to 4.6%. Sunny, with smooth, globular, medium-large fruit with acceptable firmness and shelf life, would be suitable for an early-autumn transplanting on the northern coast of New South Wales. Precodor could replace Rouge de Marmande for late-autumn and winter transplantings. However, soft fruit would restrict market acceptance.
Ram mating performance in Border Leicesters and related breed types. 2. Comparison of the performance of rams that were sexually active and inactive in pen tests
Authors: Kilgour RJ , Barwick SA , Fowler DG
Published: March 2005

The mating performances of 15 rams which were initially sexually inactive were examined by allowing them constant exposure to three oestrous ewes per day. Two rams did not mount or serve any ewes in 17 days of exposure. When the 13 remaining rams began to raddle ewes their mating performance was compared with that of active rams. Active and inactive rams raddled and inseminated similar numbers of oestrous ewes, suggesting that inactive rams are adequate performers at loads of three oestrous ewes per day once they commence mating. Over a total of 12 h direct observation, however, inactive rams performed significantly fewer mounts and serves than active rams.
The response of Merino lambs given whole wheat supplemented with urea or hay
Authors: Hodge RW , Kat C
Published: March 2005

There was no significant difference in digestible dry matter intake (6 14 v. 63 1 g/day), liveweight gain (1 33 v. 13 1 g/day) or nitrogen retention (9.6 v. 11.2 g N/kg digestible organic matter) of Merino lambs offered whole wheat or whole wheat supplemented with 1.5% urea. Supplementation of the wheat or wheat plus urea rations with 20% hay also had no significant effect on total dry matter intake or liveweight gain.
The productivity of Angora goats grazing improved and native pastures in south-eastern Queensland
Authors: Norton BW , Deery MJ
Published: March 2005

Two groups of Angora wether goats were grazed over 1 year on replicated areas (0.4 ha each) of either pure N-fertilized Pangola grass (Digitaria decumbens Stent.) pasture or native pastures containing Acacia, Eucalyptus and groundsel (Baccharis halimfolia L.) regrowth. Half of the goats in each group were given a cobalt bullet and their health, liveweight change and fleece growth were monitored. When adequate levels of native pasture were available (>800 kg green matter/ha) performance of goats on the different pastures was similar over the spring and summer grazing periods. In the winter period, fleece growth rate and yield were significantly (P<0.05) lower and liveweight loss (11 g/day) occurred in goats grazing native pastures. In the same period, goats on Pangola grass pastures supplemented with cobalt continued to grow (39 g/day) and maintained high fleece yields while unsupplemented goats on the same area lost weight rapidly (84 g/day), indicating the onset of cobalt deficiency. Over a 9-month period, the population of regrowth acacias and eucalypts less than 1.5 m high were markedly reduced, and groundsel was completely eliminated from the area. In this period, the palatable native grasses were selected in preference to blady grass (Imperata cylindrica (L.) Beauv.), which increased as a proportion of declining total grass yield.
Effect of autumn deferment of grazing on subsequent growth, botanical composition and quality of two types of irrigated pasture
Authors: Stockdale CR , King KR
Published: March 2005

An experiment was carried out at Kyabram in 1979 to determine the effects of varying the time of pasture closure in autumn on subsequent growth and changes in botanical composition and herbage quality of two types of irrigated perennial pasture, one based on ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and white clover (Trifolium repens) and the other on paspalum (Paspalum dilatatum). There were six dates of closure, ranging from early April to mid-May. Mean daily growth rates (kg dry matter/ha) for ryegrass-white clover-dominant and paspalum dominant pastures were 22.8 and 6.2 in May, 16.7 and 8.9 in June, and 11.0 and 1.6 in July respectively. Variations in pasture growth throughout the late autumn-winter period were associated with date of closure and pasture type. For each additional day by which date of closure was deferred, daily growth of the sward was reduced by 0.7 kg dry matter/ha in May, while it was increased by 0.2 kg dry matter/ha in July. Herbage digestibility was lowest in May and increased throughout the experiment. For each day by which date of closure was deferred, digestibility of the herbage on offer was reduced by 0.51, 0.16 and 0.07 units in May, June and July respectively. In addition, the digestibility of the paspalum pasture was 0.7, 1.8, 2.1 and 1.4 percentage units lower than that of the ryegrass white clover pasture in May, June, July and August respectively; however, this difference was significant only in July. The difference in productivity between the two types of pasture suggested that an advantage could be gained by renovating paspalum dominant pastures rather than saving such pastures from autumn for the dairy herd in spring.
The capeweed content of pastures in south-west Western Australia
Authors: Arnold GW , Ozanne PG , Galbraith KA , Dandridge F
Published: March 2005

The capeweed (Arctotheca calendula) content of pastures in the agricultural areas of Western Australia was estimated from coloured aerial photographs taken during flowering. Linear regressions were obtained between a visual score for capeweed content based on colour and the actual capeweed content of calibration sites. Surveys in 1972, 1973 and 1975 showed that 1973 was a year of high capeweed content in all areas compared with 1972 and 1975. The content was higher in lower-rainfall wheatbelt areas, where it averaged about 50% of pasture dry matter in 1973, than in the high-rainfall grazing areas, where the average was 37%. Fluctuations from year to year were followed on fixed sites between 1973 and 1977. The high rainfall sites varied more from year to year in capeweed content than did the low-rainfall sites. A detailed survey of one farm was made between 1972 and 1976 and this confirmed the indications from the other broadscale surveys that 1973 and 1976 were years that favoured capeweed. They were years when germination was followed by a 4-5 week dry period. Soil type and position in the landscape were also shown to influence the capeweed content of pastures.
Relationship between resistance to blue-green aphid and to pea aphid in lucerne
Authors: Salisbury PA , Downes RW , Muller WJ
Published: March 2005

Seedling tests were conducted to investigate the possibility of a relationship between resistance to blue-green aphid (BGA) and resistance to pea aphid (PA) in lucerne. The Australian- bred lines tested generally had a higher level of resistance to BGA than to PA, but the reverse was true in lines from the U.S.A. Within the 23 lines tested, levels of BGA and PA resistance were highly correlated (r = 0.92, P< 0.001). While it was evident that BGA resistance and PA resistance were related, further work is required to determine the exact nature of the relationship. Possible genetic explanations discussed are close linkage and pleiotropy. The possibility of a metabolite conferring PA resistance being produced at an earlier step in the pathway leading to the production of the compound controlling BGA resistance is also discussed.
Residual value for wheat of phosphorus from calciphos, Duchess rock phosphate and triple superphosphate on a lateritic soil in south-western Australia
Authors: Bolland MDA
Published: March 2005

The residual values of phosphorus from triple superphosphate and from three rock phosphates were compared in a 4-year field experiment with wheat, grown on a phosphorus deficient lateritic soil in south-western Australia. The three rock phosphate fertilizers were an apatitic rock phosphate originating from the Duchess deposit in north-western Queensland, and calcined (500�C) Christmas Island C-grade ore as a powder and as pellets. Five rates of each fertilizer were applied at the commencement of the experiment and their effectiveness was calculated from data on yield of dried plant tops, grain yield, and bicarbonate soluble phosphorus extracted from the soil. Triple superphosphate was the most effective phosphorus fertilizer initially, but its effectiveness decreased markedly with time. The effectiveness of the three rock phosphates was initially very low, and remained approximately constant for the duration of the experiment. The yield of dried plant tops depended upon their phosphorus content and this relationship was independent of the phosphorus fertilizer used.
Moisture characteristics of irrigated Mallee soils in South Australia
Authors: Cock GJ
Published: March 2005

The soil moisture characteristics of undisturbed samples of Mallee soils, taken from typical profiles of the Riverland district neat Berri in South Australia, were determined. Samples were grouped according to texture and bulk density and, for each group, the moisture storage between matric potentials was derived. Over the usual range of soil moisture tensions (-0 to 40kPa) these showed only small variation between soil groups since, while moisture storage at field capacity and at wilting point does vary with texture; 50 to 60 mm/m is available between field capacity (-7 kPa) and the re-irrigation point (-30 to 40kPa) in all soils.