A comparison of sheep breeds for lamb production on the south western slopes of New South Wales

1962 ◽  
Vol 2 (7) ◽  
pp. 251 ◽  
Author(s):  
WA Pattie ◽  
FB Donnelly

A comparison of the lamb producing ability of a number of breed crosses has been made over a four year period at Cowra, New South Wales. The breeds examined were Corriedale, Border Leicester x Merino, and Romney Marsh x Merino ewes mated to Dorset Horn and Southdown rams. Total live weight of finished lamb produced per 100 ewes mated was taken as the index of lamb producing ability. Dorset Horn rams produced approximately 24 per cent more finished lamb than did Southdown rams. The fertility of the two breeds was similar but Dorset Horn cross lambs were heavier at birth, grew faster and finished at a much greater weight in a given time. Border Leicester x Merino ewes produced 30 and 34 per cent more lamb than did Romney x Merino and Corriedale ewes respectively. There was no significant difference in total weight of lamb produced between the two latter types. Corriedale ewes were as fertile as the Border Leicester x Merino ewes but a greater proportion of their lambs failed to reach the finished weight. Lambs from Border Leicester x Merino ewes were heavier at birth and grew faster than lambs from the other two groups. There were no significant differences in wool production between any of the three ewe breeds. It is concluded that, of the breeds studied, a combination of Dorset Horn rams and Border Leicester x Merino ewes would give the greatest returns to lamb producers on the central-western slopes of New South Wales.

1969 ◽  
Vol 9 (40) ◽  
pp. 541 ◽  
Author(s):  
PW Grogan ◽  
DS Teakle

Seven out of eight maize inbred lines developed at Lawes in Queensland from open-pollinated varieties were resistant to maize dwarf mosaic disease when exposed to natural infection in the field. Five of the seven resistant inbred lines failed to become systemically infected when inoculated with infectious sap in the glasshouse. By contrast, only three out of twenty lines introduced from the U.S.A., and two out of eight lines developed at the Grafton and Glen Innes Breeding Stations in New South Wales, were resistant in the field. All three resistant lines from the U.S.A. were systemically infected when inoculated in the glasshouse, but the two resistant lines from Grafton in New South Wales were not. The resistant Lawes and Grafton maize inbred lines would appear to be better sources of genes conferring resistance to maize dwarf mosaic disease than the other lines tested.


1967 ◽  
Vol 7 (24) ◽  
pp. 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
P McInnes ◽  
TJ Grainger ◽  
MD Smith

Data are presented on the recovery and reproductive performance of 2 1/2-year-old maiden Merino ewes after a prolonged period of undernutrition. The 217 sheep had been hand-fed on a submaintenance ration in pen feeding trials at Glenfield, New South Wales. During the seven months of the trials they had lost 6 kg (28 to 22 kg) body weight. They were transported to Condobolin in south-western New South Wales, divided into two treatment groups and run on good quality pastures. One group was joined immediately (May 1959) and again ten months later, and the other group was mated after six months at Condobolin (in October 1959) and again 12 months later. The ewes recovered rapidly. The mean weight of both groups had reached 30 kg within six weeks and 40 kg within six months. In the first year 73 of the 100 May-mated ewes bore lambs, but only 38 of these lambs were weaned. Ewes bearing lambs had a higher body weight at the start of joining and gained more during joining than the barren ewes. At the other three joinings (October 1959, May 1960, October 1960) lambing percentage was from 86-89 and weaning percentage from 62-69-both normal for the district. The proportion of twin lambs (3-6 per cent) was low. Wool weight in 1959 was not affected by time of mating or by pregnancy.


2000 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodney P. Kavanagh ◽  
Rodney P. Kavanagh

Populations of arboreal marsupials were assessed in forests before and after logging at different levels of logging intensity to determine the sensitivity of these species to habitat disturbance. The logging treatments imposed were unlogged controls and two intensities of integrated logging for sawlogs and woodchips. The mean basal area of trees retained in logged blocks ranged from 83% to 35% of pre-logging levels. The objective of the study was to develop better methods for managing arboreal marsupials within the wood production forests of southeastern New South Wales. Seven species of arboreal marsupials were recorded during the study, but the Greater Glider Petauroides volans was the only species recorded in sufficient numbers for analysis (86% of all records). No significant differences were observed between the treatments in counts of the Greater Glider before and after logging. However, given the observed trend and an a priori expectation of a decline in numbers of this species following intensive logging, a one-tailed statistical test was applied which resulted in a significant difference at P = 0.08 for the contrast between the unlogged controls and the most intensively logged treatment. The existence of a threshold in logging intensity within the range of 21 % to 39% retention of tree basal area, below which numbers of the Greater Glider suffer a marked decline, was inferred on the basis of comparisons with the results of other studies. Factors other than logging were important in determining the distribution of the Greater Glider. Elevation, in particular, was a significant environmental variable, with Greater Gliders more likely to occur in forests above 845 m a.s.1. The presence and absence of particular tree species also influenced the distribution of the Greater Glider. Forests containing Manna Gum E. viminalis and Mountain Gum E. dalrympleana were highly preferred compared to forests with a high proportion of E. obliqua. The presence of E. cypellocarpa appeared to improve the quality of habitat for the Greater Glider in forests dominated by E. obliqua. This study has shown that Greater Glider populations can be maintained at or near pre-logging levels when at least 40% of the original tree basal area is retained thoughout logged areas and when the usual practice of retaining unlogged forest in riparian strips is applied.


Sexual Health ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 306
Author(s):  
D. Mossman ◽  
C. Ooi ◽  
M. Loewenthal ◽  
M. Boyle

Background: Chlamydia Trachomatis is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections in Australia and world wide. This study was undertaken to map the frequency of Chlamydia genotypes in regional New South Wales (NSW), Australia, to explore the potential utility of genotype analysis in defining local sexual networks, and to investigate whether patterns of genotype frequency are correlated with demographic factors, including age and gender. Methods: We studied 204 urine samples infected with Chlamydia trachomatis, as determined by PCR analysis using the COBAS Amplicor system. Samples were collected from wide geographic area of regional New South Wales (Hunter, New England, Northern Rivers, South Eastern New South Wales). Sequencing and genotyping were performed after nested PCR of the omp1 gene. Results: Genotype E was found in 42.6% of infections, with genotypes F (23.5%) and G (16.7%) other common causes of infection. Mixed infection occurred in only 3 cases. There was no significant difference in genotype frequency based on gender or geographic location. There was a significant difference in gender frequency based on patient age, with older patients significantly more likely to demonstrate infection with genotype G (mean age (years) 23.7+/-7.29 sd, E: 21.7 +/-5.7 sd; G: 28.9; sd 10.18; p�=�0.022). Conclusions: There was no significant difference in genotype frequency in the various regions of New South Wales, suggesting genotype analysis is of limited use in defining sexual networks in regional NSW. The finding of a higher frequency of genotype G in older patients raises the possibility that genotypic variation may be driven by immune responses to genotypes that occur more frequently at a younger age. These results may have implications for the future design of a chlamydial vaccine.


Soil Research ◽  
1976 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 381 ◽  
Author(s):  
GJ Osborne

Six surface and subsoils known to contain native intercalary ammonium were examined to assess the importance of ammonium fixation when nitrogen fertilizers were applied, the availability of native and recently fixed intercalary ammonium to plants, and the effect of potassium on fixation. Only one soil, a grey soil of heavy texture (Ug 5.4), fixed significant amounts of added ammonium sulphate, the level of intercalary ammonium being increased by 55 % in the surface and 100% in the subsoil. The native level of intercalary ammonium was reduced by 8 and 17% by the growth of plants in the red-brown earth (Dr 2.23) and the grey soil of heavy texture, respectively, but was unchanged in the other soils. The addition of small amounts of potassium prior to the ammonium did not affect fixation; however, additions of 500 ppm reduced the fixation of a 200 ppm solution of ammonium by 80 %. Intercalary ammonium is not considered to be important in the nitrogen economy of five of the six major farming soils of the slopes and plains area of southern New South Wales. The sixth, the grey soil of heavy texture, is an alluvium associated with the Murrumbidgee River and its tributaries, and as such is used extensively for irrigated agriculture. Because this soil can fix large amounts of ammonium, the use of ammonium or ammonium forming fertilizers is not recommended.


1997 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. C. Catling ◽  
R. J. Burt

The distribution and abundance of ground-dwelling mammals in the major vegetation alliances in the eucalypt forests within an area of c. 24000 km2 in north-eastern New South Wales were examined. Data for 33 species of mammal from 21 areas containing 30 vegetation alliances were collected. Four notable aspects of the data were the absence or low abundance of the introduced fox (Vulpes vulpes), the widespread distribution and abundance of the cat (Felis catus), the diversity and abundance of medium-sized native mammals and the diversity of small mammals. Although differences occurred between areas and alliances, there was no significant difference in the number of native and introduced species. The ground-dwelling mammals present in the eucalypt forests of north-eastern New South Wales were more diverse and in greater abundance than those found in forests of south-eastern New South Wales. However, some species, such as the spotted-tailed quoll (Dasyurus maculatus), appear to be in urgent need of protection and management if they are to persist.


1979 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 79 ◽  
Author(s):  
B Miller

The food and feeding habits of two species of cormorant were studied on a group of freshwater lakes in inland New South Wales. P. sulcirostris fed mainly on exotic fish (69% of live weight of prey), captured while fishing communally in the deeper waters. P. melanoleucos fed mainly on native decapod crustaceans (60% of prey) captured while fishing individually in the shallow parts of the lakes, and in nearby billabongs and farm dams. P. sulcirostris took larger common carp Carassius auratus, redfin Perca fluviatilis and yabby Cherax destructor than its congener. Seasonal changes in the diet of P. sulcirostris were similar in each year; its major prey, common carp and redfin, were least available during winter and spring, as fry grew too large to be captured and swallowed. Changes in diet of P. melanoleucos were irregular, as the availability of yabby, its major prey, was influenced by the turbidity, level and temperature of water. Seasonal changes in diets of both cormorants were attributed to changes in prey availability, and not changes in food preference. Food of nestlings sometimes differed from that of adults.


1998 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 409 ◽  
Author(s):  
Damon L. Oliver

The dietary items fed to regent honeyeater, Xanthomyza phrygia, nestlings and fledglings by adults were recorded in two consecutive breeding seasons in the Bundarra–Barraba region west of Armidale, New South Wales. Insects were the most common dietary items fed to juveniles (53% of identified items), followed by lerp (26.5%) and nectar (20.5%). Nestlings were fed mostly insects (58% of feeds), and carbohydrates (nectar and lerp) made up the rest of their diet. Fledglings, however, were fed mainly carbohydrates (nectar and lerp comprised 61.2% of all items) while protein from insects was the other major component of their diet. Males tended to feed juveniles more insects than did females, although there were no significant divisions of labour between parents in selecting dietary items for nestlings or fledglings. This study highlights the importance of insects and lerp in the diet of juvenile regent honeyeaters, and the diversity of plant species on which their parents foraged. The species shows a broader resource selection than was found in previous studies which considered the species to be highly nectarivorous and selective for a few key eucalypt species. The importance of insects and carbohydrates other than nectar in the diet of the regent honeyeater needs to be recognised in the development of conservation strategies for the species.


Zootaxa ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 1441 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
DAVID T. DRUMM

Two new species of kalliapseudid tanaidacea from Australia, Kalliapseudes longisetosus and Kalliapseudes messingi, are described from marine waters off Sydney, New South Wales and the Northwest continental shelf, respectively. Kalliapseudes longisetosus is distinguished from the other congeners by the presence of a single, very long simple seta on the anterior corners of the pereonites (about as long as the first pereonite) and several very long simple setae on the basis of the second and third pereopods (about as long as the basis). This new species is the second member of the genus to be reported from New South Wales. Kalliapseudes messingi is distinguished by having two small setae medially on the dactylus of pereopods 4 and 5, by the female having a tuft of sensory setae subterminally on the dactylus of pereopod 6, and by having three plumose setae on both the cheliped and pereopod 1 exopodite and is the first member of the genus to be reported from the Northwest continental shelf of Australia. Both species have a needle-like tip on the dactylus of the second and third pereopods. A table giving the distribution data for the species of Kalliapseudes and a key to the genera and species of Kalliapseudidae now known from Australia are presented.


1980 ◽  
Vol 20 (102) ◽  
pp. 25
Author(s):  
RDH Cohen

Lamb production was studied in an experiment that ran for four years, 1968 to 1972, at Grafton, New South Wales, in a region where no commercial sheep are grown. Merino and Dorset Horn x Merino ewes stocked at 15 ewes ha-1 were mated in spring to Border Leicester rams and the lambs sold for slaughter in October. The mean number of lambs born per 100 ewes mated was 81.7 for crossbred ewes and 48.4 for Merino ewes (P< 0.05) and the mean carcase weights of the lambs were 14.8 kg and 12.7 kg, respectively (P< 0.01). The mean weight of fleeces cut from Merino ewes (3.24 kg) was greater (P< 0.01) than that from crossbred ewes (2.58 kg). The ewes were treated with anthelmintics either every four weeks or according to climatic conditions. There were no significant differences between the anthelmintic treatments for lamb liveweights at birth, weaning or slaughter; carcase weight; ewe fleece weight; or mortality rate. Treatment every four weeks increased ewe live weight during only one short period from August 1971 to February 1972 (P< 0.05). Data from this experiment compared favourably with survey data for the high rainfall zone in Australia and it was concluded that prime lamb production on the north coast of New South Wales is biologically feasible.


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