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End date: 1949Subject: search.filters.subject.New Zealand

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    Review of the New Zealand Theileria orientalis Ikeda Type Epidemic and Epidemiological Research since 2012.
    (19/10/2021) Lawrence K; Gedye K; McFadden A; Pulford D; Heath A; Pomroy W
    This article sets out to document and summarise the New Zealand epidemic and the epidemiological research conducted on the epizootic of bovine anaemia associated with Theileria orientalis Ikeda type infection, which began in New Zealand in August 2012. As New Zealand has no other pathogenic tick-borne cattle haemoparasites, the effects of the T. orientalis Ikeda type infection observed in affected herds and individual animals were not confounded by other concurrent haemoparasite infections, as was possibly the case in other countries. This has resulted in an unbiased perspective of a new disease. In addition, as both New Zealand's beef and dairy cattle systems are seasonally based, this has led to a different epidemiological presentation than that reported by almost all other affected countries. Having verified the establishment of a new disease and identified the associated pathogen, the remaining key requirements of an epidemiological investigation, for a disease affecting production animals, are to describe how the disease spreads, describe the likely impacts of that disease at the individual and herd level and explore methods of disease control or mitigation.
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    The organisation of dairy farming in the Waikato, New Zealand
    (1931) Stephens, Frank Burcon
    The present study is an attempt to combine a descriptive account of the technical and financial organisation of Waikato Dairy Farms with an analytical discussion of the factors affecting efficient butterfat production. Management is perhaps the greatest need in the Dairying Industry today. While there is evident a "Desire to know" how to overcome the present difficulties, there is still a great deal of attachment to the routine of habit and custom. This fact is frequently lost sight of and the popular descriptions of farming in New Zealand generally err by discussing farming practice in terms of the best farmers. In the present essay an attempt is made to discuss things as they are and to indicate, where possible, the lines on which advance is being made. [From Preface]
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    Pasture utilization in relation to New Zealand dairy farming : a thesis presented in part fulfilment of the requirements for the Animal Husbandry section of the degree of Master of Agricultural Science at Massey University, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 1949) McArthur, Alistair Thomas Giles
    The world shortage of food is the most serious crisis which faces mankind today. It is a crisis which has no earlier precedent and one for which remedial measures will be hard to find. The problem, first mentioned by Malthus in 1798, is one of limited food resources combined with an increasing world population. The basis of food production lies in the soil mantle of the world which is limited in extent and decreases yearly both in quantity and quality through the use of bad farming practices which lead to soil erosin. The present level of human nutrition throughout the world is far from adequate. In North .America and Australasia, the average daily consumption of calories per head is above 3000 but in the Middle East it is only 2400 while in the Far East it varies between 1700 and 2100, which is well below requirements (Fawcett (1948)). Not only are these people in need of more food energy but they also require more protein, minerals and vitamins. Livestock products are, of course, rich in these 'protective' foods and the expansion of livestock production will play an important part in raising the level of nut­rition of the world's population. [From Introduction]
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    An introduction to the study of skeletal correlations in the N.Z. Romney Marsh : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Agricultural Science in Animal Husbandry / by "Chirp"
    (Massey University, 1934) Chirp; Lamont, Norman
    When this work was undertaken it was quite impossible to have anticipated the difficulties that were encountered. It soon became apparent however, that the approach to a new study involved a great deal of work of a collateral nature, having little direct bearing on the actual object of the investigation. In particular it was necessary to become generally familiar with certain branches of statistical method and to become very fully acquainted with the real signigifance of certain mathematical devices. Statistical studies consumed the greater proportion of the time available for this work with the result that only a portion of the information contained in the data could be extracted. Indeed, a complete analysis of the data collected and recorded, using the methods evolved in this paper, would itself involve many months' work. However, since the development of the analytical methodology has no direct bearing on the subject of skeletal correlations the paper has been divided into two parts. Part 1 deals with the measurements made and the interpretation and discussion of the correlation coefficients that were calculated. In Part 11 has been collected, all those considerations which were essentially incidental to the investigation - that is, selection of material technique of measuring etc. and in particular, the discovery of appropriate analytical devices for treating the data. [From Foreword]
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    Persistency in crested dogstail : its relation to origin, flowering date, seed colour and germination capacity of New Zealand seed samples : thesis for M. Agr. Sc., by "Asteroid" [F. Sydenham]
    (Massey University, 1932) Asteroid
    Crested dogstail is a valuable pasture grass, and is sown under a wide range of soil conditions. It is essentially a bottom grass. It is very palatable to sheep and thrives well under conditions of continous close grazing. It does not, however, feature to any large extent in dairying land. It shows very great powers of re-establishment by seeding even under adverse seed-bed conditions, and it is this re-establishment which enables it to persist in a pasture for a number of years. Such re-establishment should not occur each Autumn after the plants have seeded and died or are so low in vitality that they remain only as worthless vestiges. This is a weakness of crested dogstail which it is desirable to eliminate. What it requires is a vigorous turf which will, on the advent of Autumn rains, spring into a highly productive sward vigorous enough to check any inferior grasses or weeds which may attempt to gain a footing. [From Introduction]
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    An attempt to manufacture Cheddar cheese containing only one type of organism : thesis for the degree of M. Agr. Sc. (in Dairy Science) at the University of New Zealand, by Ascend
    (Massey University, 1931) Neil, William C.; Ascend
    There have been many investigations on the effect of various bacteria on the ripening of hard rennet varieties of cheese. Hucker (1922) in a review of the bacteriological aspects of cheese ripening summaries the position as follows: "As it stands to-day the investigations have closely demonstrated that the breaking down of the insoluble casein compounds is due to enzymes, either natural or bacterial; while characteristic flavors are produced by the action of certain groups of bacteria. (Bacterium casei or coccus group), which depend on the products of B. lactis acidi present in large numbers during the manufature and early ripening stages." The effect of lactic acid bacteria upon the flavour of Cheddar cheese has been studied by Hastings, Evans and Hart (1912), Evans, Hastings and Hart (1914), Evans (1918). Leitch (1923) and Hucker and Marquardt (1926). [From Introduction]
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    A study of the yields of various species of pasture plants, and some of their strains, when growing in a soil brought to various levels of hydrogen-ion concentration : thesis submitted for M. Agr. Sc. degree / by "548" [A.J. McNeur]
    (Massey University, 1948) McNeur, Archibald James
    During the past few decades, our country, along with other important primary producers, has come to realise with increasing force the real importance of pasture production to mankind. In New Zealand over nine tenths of the value of our exports comes directly or indirectly from grasslands. This realisation has been reflected in the marked extension in research, not only towards the improvement of pasture species and strains, but also in an attempt to learn more of the conditions in the soil that are most ideal for maximum production. As a plant can produce only as much as its inherent potential and its external environment will allow, it becomes all workers to consider both sides of the question of maximum production. As a result of work done by the Grasslands Division of the Plant Research Bureau since its inception, strains of new pasture species have been developed which will produce very highly under conditions favourable to their growth. Thus if these strains are used in agriculture and maximum production is not obtained, managemental and environmental factors must be the limiting ones. Of the environmental factors, five claim pride of place where pasture production is concerned:- (a) Soil moisture (b) Soil and air temperature (c) Light intensity (d) Soil fertility (e) Soil acidity. In practice the first three factors are mainly dependent on climatic conditions, though by suitably controlled irrigation and drainage both soil moisture and soil temperature can be influenced and plant growth markedly increased. [From Introduction]
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    An ecological study of rushes in pasture : the species observed, the environment and the influence of management in rush control: a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1934) Merry, D. M. E ("Cider")
    The Dominion of New Zealand is dependent on its primary products. There is no need to statistically prove this fact, it is obvious to anyone who troubles to read and think. The marketable value of the Dominion's Dairy Produce, Wool and Frozen Meat, largely determines the economic welfare of the Country. The significant feature is that these primary products are all of grassland origin. Home Consumption of primary products is limited, and the prosperity of the Dominion depends almost entirely on its exportable balance. Attractive markets are distant and competition keen. The marketing of Dominion products suffers disability through distance and transportation, but this is compensated largely by natural climatic advantages, the climate being exceedingly mild and equable, so that de-pasturing of stock may be continued throughout the year on grassland, or with the assistance of supplements of hay and ensilage conserved in springtime from surplus grass growths. It is vitally important that the greatest care and attention should be devoted to maintaining clean and nourishing pasture if increased productivity and incidentally prosperity is to result.
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    A study of the influence of animal manure and clover on the structural and chemical characteristics and the earthworm activity in a Manawatu soil : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Agricultural Science in Field Husbandry of the University of New Zealand
    (Massey University, 1949) Watkin, B R
    In view of the increasing emphasis that is being placed on pasture production by the N.Z. farmer, part1cularly in the North Island, a full appreciation of the value of the grazing animal and clover in relation to pasture yield and composition is of prime importance, While knowledge concerning these factors has been steadily increasing over the past decade; due largely to the work of the Grasslands Division, D.S.I.R., little information is available relating to their effects on the soil itself.The object of the present investigation was to elucidate as many of the effects of manure and clover as was practicable using as experimental material certain plots which formed part of a pasture trial being conducted by the Grasslands Division. Accordingly the following aspects were selected for study: (a) the effect on the structural characteristics of the soil (b) the effect on the level of available nutrients in the soil (c) the effect of earthworm activity on the soil Although it is realized that these effects are not mutually exclusive of one another the results of the investigation are considered separately under these headings for the sake of clarity of presentation. The area concerned consisted of a series of plots laid down in the autumn of 1946 by the "Grasslands" Division to investigate the influence of animal manure and clover on pasture composition and yield. The major treatment involved the comparison of "return" with "no return" of dung and urine on grass swards with and without clover; within these two major treatments, six minor treatments involving various combinations of superphosphate and lime were included. The trial was in duplicate and the six minor treatments arranged in reverse order. Owing to the fact that the experiment was a :Mowing trial" the animal manure required for the treatments was obtained from specially harnessed sheep grazing an adjacent identical experiment being conducted under natural grazing conditions. The manure collected therefrom was added to the plots concerned in the present study, after each mowing, in amounts proportional to the dry matter produced.
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    Selection in dairy cattle in New Zealand : a dissertation
    (Massey University, 1939) Gilmer, H G
    Selection is not, in itself, generally believed to be a creative process. Ideally, it is a means by which the good, bad and indifferent elements comprising a given population are identified and classified. As such, selection is necessarily fundamental to any breeding system, whether the aim is consistent improvement or merely the maintenance of advances already achieved. Without some differentiation of the material, no firm basis can be established upon which to carry out further work. The fact that in dairy cattle breeding in particular, it is seldom possible, where characteristics of economic importance are concerned, to conduct an intimate inquiry into the different genetic elements comprising the given subject with any degree of certainty, should not be permitted to detract from the value of preliminary selection as a foundation for more comprehensive determination of worth. With such "aids to selection" as progeny tests, production records, pedigree estimates and type valuations, a fairly accurate estimate of hereditaty constitution can frequently be arrired at in so far as it affects the functions of economic value. The mode of operation of inheritance is now known in considerable detail and the breeders pursuing a broad programme of improvement may "act as if he knew the genes themselves" and make selections accordingly.