Mixed model estimation of age and month of calving adjustment factors for milk and butterfat yields of New South Wales dairy cattle

1982 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 731 ◽  
Author(s):  
RW Everett ◽  
JF Taylor ◽  
K Hammond

Month-age adjustment factors for milk and butterfat yields were estimated from 504063 lactations on 239 518 cows located in 6 145 herds in New South Wales by mixed model methods, which eliminate biases due to genetic trends, environmental trends and culling. June, July and August are the most favourable months for calving, and December and January are the least favourable, resulting in 8 to 22% less production. Friesian cows are less affected by calendar month of calving than the other breeds. Results indicate the existence of large differences between breeds in rate of maturity. Ayrshire and Jersey cows attain mature yields at a younger age than AIS, Guernsey, Friesian and AMZ cows.


1988 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 561 ◽  
Author(s):  
HL Davies ◽  
E Devaud

A March-April joining of Merino ewes was compared with a June-July joining in central New South Wales at a low stocking rate on subterranean clover based pastures over 3 years. In all years, ewes joined in June were heavier (P < 0.05) than ewes joined in March (55 v. 52 kg). Liveweights at the start of lambing and liveweight change from joining to lambing were also high and favoured the later lambing group. The proportion of ewes lambing (97% March v. 93% June) and proportion of ewes twinning (29% March v. 20% June) were not significantly different between the 2 groups, but consistently favoured the March-April joining. Perinatal mortality was low (9.4% March v. 7.1% June) and not significantly different between the 2 groups, but was consistently lower in the June joined group. Number of lambs weaned per 100 ewes joined was also not significantly different, but was higher each year in the March joined group (1 13% March v. 105% June). The growth rate of the lambs (both singles [24% greater, 248 v. 200 g/day] and twins [37% greater, 2 13 v. 155 g/day]) was consistently in favour of March joined ewes. Mean greasy fleece weights of the ewes were not significantly different between the 2 groups, but were in favour of the late joined group (4.83 v. 4.50 kg). Time of joining significantly affected liveweights and greasy and clean fleece weights of the progeny at the shearing in the year following their birth in favour of March joining. These data suggest that, despite a nutritional advantage to the ewes in late pregnancy and milder weather at lambing with a June-July joining, a March- April joining is the preferred option on the Central Tablelands of New South Wales.



1989 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 61 ◽  
Author(s):  
PJS Fleming ◽  
TJ Korn

A monthly survey involving officers from eastern New South Wales Pastures Protection Boards was conducted over four years from 1982 to 1985. Information was collected on the number and type of livestock attacked within each board district, sightings of wild dogs, the number of wild dogs kiied, the method by which they were kiied and the locations at which the observations occurred. A total of 25,644 livestock animals were reported killed or wounded from four regions; the North-East Coastal Region, the North-East Tablelands Region, the Central-East Region and South-East Region. Sheep were the most commonly attacked domestic animals followed by cattle and goats. Regional differences were apparent in the type of livestock killed and seasonal patterns of predation were evident. We recommend that annual control programmes be brought forward from June/July to late April in order to precede predation peaks.



1976 ◽  
Vol 16 (83) ◽  
pp. 871
Author(s):  
PM Dowling ◽  
RCG Smith

The objective of this study was to determine the time of year that maximized establishment and . minimized the risk of failure in aerial sowing of pasture seed on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales. This was achieved by relating a set of monthly measurements of establishment spanning two years to mean soil moisture, predicted by a water balance model for the six-week period following sowing. From this relationship, establishment was simulated for 61 years using historical rainfall data to estimate probability density functions of establishment for each week of the year. From these functions it was concluded that maximum establishment with minimum risk can be expected from sowing in the June-July period. For perennial species plant survival over the first summer is of more practical importance than per cent establishment. Our data on plant survival, although not presented, indicated a close relationship existed between establishment and survival and supported the conclusion that the optimal time for oversowing is June-July.



2001 ◽  
Vol 52 (7) ◽  
pp. 995 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Trnski

In four 24-h series of ichthyoplankton sampling during winter (June–July) 1996 in Swansea Channel (which connects Lake Macquarie with coastal waters of central New South Wales, Australia) 3367 fish larvae representing at least 77 species were collected. The larval fish community clustered by sampling date and by diel phase. Diel phase had a stronger influence on abundance of more common taxa than did tide phase, and also most influence on community structure. For most taxa there was no difference in abundance between flood and ebb tides, regardless of the estuarine or marine source of the eggs and larvae. All but two of 16 common species were present in Swansea Channel throughout their entire larval stage. The sparids Acanthopagrus australis and Rhabdosargus sarbawere present in the channel only at settlement-competent sizes. These two species showed evidence of selective presence in the channel during a particular diel or tidal phase, with A. australis apparently preferring night-flood tides, which would aid migration to the estuarine nursery habitats in Lake Macquarie. The ability or inclination to escape the strong bi-directional flows in channels seems limited to only a few taxa that appear to respond to physical cues and tidal current flows.



1976 ◽  
Vol 16 (83) ◽  
pp. 871
Author(s):  
PM Dowling ◽  
RCG Smith

The objective of this study was to determine the time of year that maximized establishment and . minimized the risk of failure in aerial sowing of pasture seed on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales. This was achieved by relating a set of monthly measurements of establishment spanning two years to mean soil moisture, predicted by a water balance model for the six-week period following sowing. From this relationship, establishment was simulated for 61 years using historical rainfall data to estimate probability density functions of establishment for each week of the year. From these functions it was concluded that maximum establishment with minimum risk can be expected from sowing in the June-July period. For perennial species plant survival over the first summer is of more practical importance than per cent establishment. Our data on plant survival, although not presented, indicated a close relationship existed between establishment and survival and supported the conclusion that the optimal time for oversowing is June-July.



1978 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 417 ◽  
Author(s):  
CA Stanley

Two subspecies of the Australian salmon, a perciform fish, occur in eastern Australian waters. The western subspecies, Arripis trutta esper (Whitley), is found only in Tasmania and Victoria. In Tasmanian waters fish do not occur above an age of 2+ years. In Victoria about 300 000 fish (180 tonnes) of an age range from of to 5+ years are caught annually. The younger age groups are found in sheltered areas, and the older age groups along the open coastline, especially in western Victoria. Returns of tags from fish thought to be of the western subspecies indicate that movement towards Western Australia takes place via western Victoria and South Australia, rather than by a direct seawards movement. For the eastern subspecies, Arripis trutta marginata (Cuvier & Valenciennes), young fish from 0+ to 2+ years are found predominantly in Tasmania and Victoria, and older fish from 4+ years in New South Wales. Recaptures of tagged fish indicate that there is a continual movement at all stages of the life cycle from Tasmania to Victoria and then to New South Wales. Fish within New South Wales also show evidence of a movement southwards, which probably occurs only once, to the eastern Bass Strait area. Fish older than 5+ years move increasingly northwards in New South Wales waters. For the eastern subspecies estimates of M, the instantaneous annual natural mortality coefficient, range from 0.5 to 1.0, and estimates of F, the instantaneous annual fishing mortality coefficient, range from 0.3 to 0.7. It is suggested that in the present eastern subspecies fishery greater yields should result from increasing the fishing pressure up to about twice the present value.



1976 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
GE Ryan

A total of 838 foxes were collected throughout New South Wales from 1969 to 1974. In every month of the year there were some males producing sperm but there was a major peak of activity during June, July and August. The major period of female reproductive activity commenced in July and reached a peak in August. There were indications that some females ovulated during February and March although no pregnancies were recorded outside June-October. At least 30 % of vixens suffered preplacentation loss of ova or blastocysts, but an accurate estimate was impossible because of an apparently high incidence of polyovuly. Resorption accounted for the loss of 8 % of embryos from 35 pregnant females. A mean litter size of 4.0 was calculated from pregnancies; the mean number of placental scars was 3.7; three deformed embryos were found. The proportion of juvenile animals in the sample decreased from January to the beginning of the breeding season. The weight of the eye-lens was unsuitable for differentiating between yearling and adult foxes in this type of sample.





2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Von Mueller


2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louisa Anne Meredith


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