School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences - Theses
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ItemSome effects of botanical composition of pasture on the liveweight and wool production of sheep( 1972)Until recently, the main evidence on which to base pasture mixture. recommendations in Victoria, has been district experience and the results from dry matter ( "mowing") experiments. The grazing experiments described in this thesis, were initiated by Messrs. R. Twentyman, R. Newman, R. Allen and K. Maher of the Department of Agriculture during the period, 1960-196. Their aim was to develop some objective appreciation of the relative value for animal production of some of the sown and unsown species in Western district pastures. In addition to pasture species evaluation, they sought information on the relationship between pasture growth and animal production. Such information is needed so that Agrostologists can better evaluate the many pasture management factors (such as fertilizers, seeding rates, seed. treatments, herbicides, insecticides and defoliation treatments) that affect pasture growth and for which advice is frequently sought.
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ItemStudies with annual Medicago species in the wheat belt( 1965)This thesis was prepared while the author was employed with the Victorian Department of Agriculture at the Mallee Research Station, Walpeup, and at the Longerenong Agricultural College, Dooen. It is in the form of five papers. The first is a review on the place of barrel medic (Medicago tribuloides Desr) in the Australian wheat belt. The review was published in J. Aust. Inst. Agric. Sci. (1965) 31: 25-35. This provides the background information for the experimental work which is prefaced by a section on climate and soils at Walpeup. The experimental work is concerned with a comparison of four annual medics in pure swards, competition between two annual medics, root studies, and the residual effect of superphosphate on medic pastures in the year after a wheat crop.
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ItemFlystrike in sheep : producers' knowledge, opinions, and management methods( 1986)Blowfly strike was recorded as a serious problem of Australian sheep during the first decade this century, and has remained a problem ever since. The cost of control was estimated at $44 million in 1975-76, and rising each year (Brideoake 1979). Much of the present knowledge of blowfly biology and strike aetiology was gained in the 1920's and '30's, and by the end of the 1940's simple, cheap and effective procedures were recommended which reduced flystrike by about 90 per cent. In the early 1970's, flystrike still caused major problems. The pest species had not changed, and the original recommendations had not been universally adopted (Graham 1979). This two stage survey assessed awareness of flystrike management among sheep producers, identified some commonly used communication channels for strike control information, and identified and assessed the importance of some socio-psychological and communication factors inhibiting access to or use of strike control information. Communication strategies were suggested for overcoming ineffective use of strike control information. Producers had poor knowledge of theoretical aspects of strike aetiology and the blowfly life cycle, but were well aware of readily observable aspects. Thirty percent of producers used three-joint tails, and the remainder used sub-optimal lengths. The advantages of using three-joint tails were not obvious to producers using other tail lengths, or manifested in practice. There was no association between three-joint tails and expressions of easier or more flexible management, or indications that flystrike was less important in management decisions. Low awareness, and poor capitalisation of the established advantages of three-joint tails probably are barriers which impede extension efforts. Evidence suggested that managers of flocks smaller than 1500 (more than 60 per cent of Australian enterprises) did not aim to maximise net flock revenue. This would be an important and profound barrier to current. extension practice. Mulesing was much more common among larger flocks, and was paradoxically used as an adjunct of other preventative management. Consequently, the majority of Australian flocks were relatively unprepared for strike control, and mulesed flocks were disproportionately well prepared. Producers' assessment of information and its sources varied according to the type of information sought. Popular sources for tail length, mulesing and jetting equipment information included the Department of Agriculture. There is an opportunity for state extension services to work together with other identified sources to stimulate the process of information transfer, and to improve producers' understanding of the practical advantages of strike management recommendations.