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Book ~ Small Cattle for Small Farms

1176

There are more small farms in Australia than there are large, and this trend continues as an increasing number of larger farms are subdivided into smaller parcels. A growing demand for lifestyle blocks, in Australia and overseas, is fuelling an interest in the quieter, smaller breeds of cattle which have particular appeal as they are more manageable to control and maintain.

Small Cattle for Small Farms is ideal for those people considering buying a small farm for lifestyle or commercial purposes.

It was written in response to the many questions the author was asked by those seeking to purchase small cattle. It is these questions that form the basis of this practical and easy to understand guide.
The book assumes no prior experience with cattle, and covers all the basics to help you set up your small farm, including topics such as: types of cattle available, how to select your stock and care for them, stocking rates, fencing needs, vaccination requirements, methods of identification, and government requirements for land and stock owners.

For those wishing to show their cattle, there is a chapter explaining how to prepare for competitions. A section on marketing details how to make a successful entry into the commercial beef industry, and a list of cattle organisations directs readers to more specific information for their chosen breeds.

Features
* Answers real questions asked by those seeking to make a rural lifestyle change
* Deals exclusively with small cattle
* Information is provided in a detailed, easy to understand format with simple terminology
Author Information
Margo Hayes (MBA) came from a rural background. In 1996 she began breeding Australian Lowline cattle and has exhibited the Grand Champion bull for seven consecutive years and the Grand Champion Carcass (all breeds) at the Royal Brisbane Show. Margo has judged cattle internationally, is in demand to speak at forums on marketing and been a guest speaker both in America and Thailand. She exports Lowline and Redline cattle to over seven different countries. She conducts her own 'On Farm' courses which augments this book..
Paperback
168 pages, 245 x 170 mm

Book ~ Illustrated Guide to Poultry Breeds

3570

More than 128 birds strut their stuff across the pages of Storey’s Illustrated Guide to Poultry Breeds, the ultimate primer for farmers and fanciers alike. Admire the handsome back and white plumage of Lakenvelder roosters, tread the fascinating history of the Blue Hens of Delaware, and marvel at the petite size and toylike appearance of Call ducks. And if you’re curious to know what heritage turkeys are making a comeback, look no further.
This Definitive guide to North American barnyard and wild fowl includes a brief history of each breed, detailed descriptions of indentifying characteristics, and colourful photography that celebrates the birds’ quirky personalities and charming good looks. If it’s fowl facts and photos you want, you’ll find them here.

Paperback
278 Pages

Book ~ Essential Guide to Calving

3569

Whether you keep a single-family mild cow or oversee a large herd, there is much to be gained by improving your knowledge of bovine pregnancies and deliveries. Your ability to effectively handle all types of calving situations is your best guarantee for the future health of your calves, your cows, and your farm.

Author Heather Smith Thomas has presided over thousands of calf births on her ranch. Her decades of hands-on experience will guide you through every situation likely to arise before, during, and after calving - from routine births to nursing difficulties. It’s in your hands to give your calves the healthiest star possible.

Author information
Heather Smith Thomas and her husband Lynn have been ranching in rugged eastern Idaho since 1967. Because they didn’t want – and couldn’t afford to lose a single animal, they soon became excellent “cattle doctors.” Over time they have developed a hardy herd of crossbred cattle that thrive in very unpampered conditions. Heather is the author of 18 previous books.

Paperback
325 page's

Book ~ Soil Essentials

1626

A practical reference for farmers and land managers covering soil issues commonly encountered at the farm level. Written in a straightforward style, it explains the principles of soil management and the interpretation of soil tests, and how to use this information to address long-term soil and enterprise viability.

This book demonstrates how minerals, trace elements, organic matter, soil organisms and fertilisers affect soil, plant and animal health. It shows how to recognise soil decline, and how to repair soils affected by nutrient imbalances, depleted soil microbiology, soil erosion, compaction, structural decline, soil sodicity and salinity. The major problem-soils – sodic soils, light sandy soils, heavy clay soils and acid sulphate soils – are all examined.

With this information, farmers and land managers will be able to consider the costs and financial benefits of good soil management.

Contents
Preface
The nature of Australian soils
Soil pH
Nutrient balance in the soil
Carbon in the soil
Nitrogen in the soil
Phosphorus in the soil
Potassium in the soil
Magnesium in the soil
Trace elements in the soil
Soil cations
Sulphur in the soil
Aluminium in the soil
Soil sodicity
Soil analysis results
Encouraging soil biological activity
Earthworms
Biological farming
Components of soil fertility
When to apply fertilisers to plants
Soil erosion
Repairing and preventing soil erosion
Soil compaction
Soil structural decline
Water movement in soil
Urbanisation in rural areas
Appendices

Author Information
After training in farm management at Dookie College, Roger Hall spent a number of years working on farms in Victoria and the NSW Riverina. He has worked with the Victorian Soil Conservation Authority, the Rutherglen Research Institute and at Dookie College as a soil conservation instructor. One of his many achievements has been a major study on soil management in the Murray-Darling Basin funded by the Murray-Darling Basin Commission. He now works as a private consultant conducting soil investigations as well as running his own farm, which includes horticultural production of tree seedlings and vegetables.
192 pages - Paperback

Book ~ Sustainable Agriculture

2407

The technological revolution in farming practices has allowed us to clear and cultivate more land, grow plants and animals faster, and kill a greater variety of pests and diseases than ever before. Unfortunately, these efficiencies are proving to be unsustainable in the long term and have created problems such as soil structural decline, erosion, salinity, soil acidification, loss of fertility, nutrient loading of waterways, dams and a build up of chemical residues.

This book is about foreseeing and understanding such problems and addressing them before it is too late. John Mason examines all these problems and explains the concepts and long-term benefits of sustainable farming systems such as permaculture, biodynamics, organic farming, agroforestry, conservation tillage, and integrated hydroculture.

Sustainable Agriculture 2nd Edition also looks at important issues such as monoculture versus polyculture, the use of hybrids, selection criteria for plants and stock, integrated pest management and preparing a farm for droughts and floods. Other areas examined include diversifying into farm tourism and value adding before selling produce.

Features

● Explains the different sustainable farming systems
● Covers how to manage change to implement sustainable farming
● Provides strategies from a cross-section of countries
● Explores new areas such as farm tourism and value adding
● Investigates weed control without chemicals

Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1 Different things to different people
Chapter 2 Sustainable concepts
Chapter 3 Soils
Chapter 4 Water management
Chapter 5 Pest and disease control
Chapter 6 Sustainable natural weed control and cultivation
Chapter 7 Management
Chapter 8 Managing plants - crops and pastures
Chapter 9 Managing plants – tree plantings and windbreaks
Chapter 10 Managing animals in a more sustainable way
Chapter 11 Understanding products used in sustainable agriculture
Appendix
Index

Reviews
“No doubt, the book will be useful to environmentally aware farmers, particularly in Australia.”
Sayed Azam-Ali (Experimental Agriculture v.40, 2004)

“This well-researched, down-to-earth book makes for a good introduction to the principles and practices of more sustainable soil, water, crop, stock, pest, weed and disease management. It’s a must-have for small hobbyists, full-time farmers and big corporates alike. . . jam-packed with useful tips, hints and full-blown strategies for better farm businesses, better conservation on farms and altogether better farming.”
Habitat Australia, February 2004

“This is an important guide for students, farmers, conservationists and anyone interested in sustainable agriculture options . . . It does include plenty of useful advice that can be applied immediately.”
Conscious Living, Issue 65 2004

“Much information is summarised into points and charts, making it easy to find and clear to read. The book would be useful for anyone on the land wanting to incorporate sustainable farming methods into their daily life, as well as student, enviro groups and even gardeners.”
Grass Roots, no.161 Feb/Mar 2004

Readership
This text will be an important guide for students, farmers and policy makers as well as conservationists and environmental groups.

Book ~ Nutrient Requirements of Domesticated Ruminants

5081

Draws on the most up-to-date research on the energy, protein, mineral, vitamin and water requirements of beef and dairy cattle, sheep and goats. It defines the responses of animals, in weight change, milk production and wool growth, to quantitative and qualitative changes in their feed supply. It has particular application to grazing animals.

Factors affecting the intake of feed are taken into account and recommendations are given according to the production systems being used; for instance, the feed intake of a grazing animal is affected by a larger number of variables than a housed animal. Examples of the estimation of the energy and nutrients required for the different production systems are given, as well as the production expected from predicted feed intakes. The interactions between the grazing animal, the pasture and any supplementary feeds are complex, involving herbage availability, diet selection and substitution. To facilitate the application of these recommendations to particular grazing situations, readers are directed to decision support tools and spreadsheet programs.

It provides comprehensive and useful information for graziers, livestock advisors, veterinarians, feed manufacturers and animal nutrition researchers. The recommendations described are equally applicable to animals in feedlots or drought yards.

Features
● Specific application to grazing animals, which requires quantitative information on the contribution of pasture to the diet.
● Provides a systematic approach to the nutrient requirements for maintenance, wool growth and weight change
● Includes a description of computer models that overcome the complexity of applying the feeding standards to grazing animals

296 pages - Paperback

Book ~ Pests of Field Crops and Pastures: Identification and Control

5080

This comprehensive handbook on economic entomology for Australian field crops and pastures is the first of its kind. It encompasses pests and beneficial insects as well as allied forms of importance in Australian agriculture.

Organised by commodities – such as cereals, sugar and tropical pasture legumes – it examines all the pest species for a particular commodity across Australia. Identification, distribution, damage, host range, biology, risk period and monitoring techniques are described for each entry, accompanied by useful illustrations. The book also describes introduced biological control agents that effectively control crop pests.

Pests of Field Crops and Pastures will be a useful tool in crop management for progressive farmers, agronomists, agricultural consultants and academics alike.

Features
● Covers all significant field crops, legumes and grasses in Australia
● Tables show the various product growth periods at which the insect is most active
● Profusely illustrated with colour photographs and line drawings

Readership
Progressive farmers, agricultural consultants, departments of agriculture and primary industries, quarantine, academics and students and libraries.

Author Information
All the 40 authors contributing to this book have many years’ field experience of managing insects and allied forms in Australian field crops and/or pastures. They are biologists who, through field experience in crop and pasture agro-ecosystems, have developed practical strategies for applying integrated pest management and biological control techniques in Australian agriculture.

528 pages - Hardcover

Book ~ Grass fed Cattle

3246

Grass-Fed Cattle is a comprehensive book covering every aspect of raising and care of grass-fed cattle, including herd selection, breeding, yearly cycles, cultivating and maintaining healthy soil and grass, fencing and pasture rotation, winter grazing, pests and diseases, and necessary equipment.

We had a local breeder take a look at this book for us and this is what she said.

Terrific book!
- Has everything you can think of
- How a herd moves in relation to where you stand, their flight zones
- Explains fencing and how it should be set up
- Feeding options, Silage hay, Minerals etc
- Marketing Strategies
- Handy business plan in the back to fill out so things you've learnt can be put into practice.
A must have book on your bookshelf.
Yes, this book is from the US, so it uses imperial measurements, but none-the-less, it is an excellent book.

Book ~ Working Sheep Dogs

4192

A Pratical Guide to Breeding, Training and Handling

Working Sheep Dogs examines and illuminates every aspect of the high-quality working dog. It provides a detailed discussion of the principles behind the training of working dogs, and reveals little-known methods for training and handling sheep dogs in the most effortless manner.

Book ~ Supplementary feeding of sheep and cattle

1393

This practical guide is a tool designed to graziers to use on their day to day decisions-making about livestock nutritional needs, feeding options, condition and health.
Pasture supplements are expensive and should not be wasted,
yet under-nutrition has an even greater economic effect resulting from low conception and progeny survival rates, poor growth rates, failure to meet market targets and tender fleeces in sheep.Supplementary feeding of sheep and beef cattle shoes how to get the nutritional balance right to avoid costly repercussions from incorrect or inadequate feeding.
The key topics covered will be particularly useful in drought situations,
but also in seasonal pasture shortages, when the nutrient value of pastures is low. Practical tables and work sheets are provided as key tools,
enabling livestock produces to make timely and cost-effective decisions about supplementary feeding.
Features:

Ready reckoner tables and calculations sheets make it easy to calculate rations.
Well illustrated with explanatory photographs, processes and techniques.
what to feed, when and how much

Readership
Sheep and cattle graziers (particularly in temperate areas), advisors, farming consultants, livestock feed produces and agents,
government agencies, undergraduate and graduate agriculture students, and public, collage and academic libraries.
Publication date: January 2007
About the Author
David Hinton has a lifetime of hands-on experience with livestock as an Animal Health Officer for over 30 years his key roles have been: diagnosing disease,
analysing production problems and advising of management.
Based in the Central Highlands of Victoria he understands and addresses the particular needs of farmers and livestock managers

Book ~ Australian Soils & Landscapes

3130

This essential reference provides an introduction to the remarkable soils and landscapes of Australia. It reveals their great diversity and explains why an understanding of soil properties and landscape processes should guide our use of the land.
Using striking photographs of characteristic landscapes, it begins by describing the basic properties of soils and how Australia’s distinctive soils and landscapes have co-evolved. We gain a greater understanding of why particular soils occur at certain locations and how soil variation can influence landscape processes, agricultural productivity and ecosystem function. The book explains the impact of various forms of land use and the changes they can bring about in soil.
This is followed by an invaluable compendium that describes and illustrates over 100 of the more important and widespread soils of Australia, along with their associated landscapes. There is a brief account of each soil’s environment, usage and qualities as well as details on chemical and physical properties so we can make more informed decisions about appropriate land-use.
Australian Soils and Landscapes will be a valuable resource for farmers, natural resource managers, soil and environmental scientists, students and anyone with an interest in Australia’s unique environment.
Features: • Provides an introduction to soil properties, processes, and their significance for land use and management. • Includes a well-illustrated compendium of the most common soils in Australia, showing soil profiles and their associated landscapes and detailing usage and soil properties. • Explains how Australian soils have evolved, giving a practical context for current day land management.
Contents: Acknowledgements
Introduction, 1 Properties of soil
2 The evolution of Australian soils
3 Characteristic Australian landscapes, 4 Soil function within ecosystems
5 Land use, soil change and future management, Compendium of Australian Soils, Rationale and format
Anthroposols - soils formed by humans, Calcarosols - soils dominated by carbonate, Chromosols - neutral to alkaline soils with sharp increases in texture, Dermosols - structured B horizons and minor changes in texture, Ferrosols - high iron levels and minor changes in texture, Hydrosols - wet soils, Kandosols - strongly weathered earths with minor changes in texture
Kurosols - acid soils with sharp increases in texture, Organosols - organic soils, Podosols - soils with accumulations of organic matter, iron, and aluminium, Rudosols - minimally developed soils, Sodosols - alkaline and sodic soils with sharp increases in texture, Tenosols - slightly developed soils, Vertosols - cracking clays
Endnotes, References, Index
“. . .an outstanding textbook written for farmers as well as scientists.”
Australian Landcare, Dec 2004
“This excellent book fills an important gap in the literature on the Australian environment. It is is both authoritative and very readable. There is a real need for non-indigenous Australians to improve their understanding of the Australian landscape with its unique character and often great fragility. This book will help us develop our sense of place as inhabitants of this continent.”
Dr Peter Lockwood, School of Rural Science and Agriculture, University of New England.

Book ~ Vines for Wines

3129

Riesling, Chardonnay, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes can make magnificent wines but there are also many other excellent wine varieties that for many of us are rarely experienced.
Australian Vines for Wines will expand the wine lover’s knowledge and appreciation of a great range of wines and help to explore their individual preferences for specific varieties, blends, flavours and styles.
This book is based on the highly successful Wine Grape Varieties, which is an aid to identifying grape vines.
Vines for Wines, however, focuses on wines from the average consumer’s point-of-view, introducing the different wine grape varieties and the wines made from them, including blends.
Each variety is represented by a colour photograph of the grape variety, its current world plantings, wine produced and notes describing the varietal characters for each wine grape variety.
The tasting terms and wine notes for each variety provide a benchmark for the consumer to assess the quality of wines they drink, and to allow them to share and compare their experiences confidently with other wine lovers.
Features
• Easy to read and assumes no in-depth knowledge • Explains tasting terminology and wine styles
• High quality colour photographs
Contents: Preface, Introduction
Wine Terminology, Wine and Health
A Brief History, Wine Grape Varieties and Their Wines, Synonyms
Further Reading
Australian, 104 Pages, Paperback

Book ~ Farming Meat Goats

4203

Excellent new Australian book on Farming Meat Goats
by Australian breeder Barbara Vincent

Goat meat is growing in popularity and is becoming an important export industry. It offers many opportunities for large and small scale farmers who need to diversify or seek alternative enterprises.
This book deals specifically with the production of goats for meat and addresses all aspects of the industry that the producer is likely to encounter.
It covers selecting and preparing a property, choosing the breeding stock, breeding, health care and nutrition, drought feeding, condition scoring and marketing.
One of the key benefits of Farming Meat Goats is that it will allow farmers to produce animals to specification for targeted markets in Australia and overseas including: butchers, supermarkets, restaurants, on-farm live sales, sales to abattoirs that specialise in Halal kills, Breeding stock either as replacements, or for improved herd genetics.
Contents
Foreword
Acknowledgements
Introduction
• Will breeding meat goats pay?
• Fencing & yards • Choosing your breeding stock • Breeding season
• Preparation of does and bucks for breeding • Joining and the importance of good record keeping • Embryo transplants and artificial insemination • Pregnancy testing • Gestation chart • Kidding management • Preparation of does: their nutrition and dealing with kidding problems • Tagging, marking, vaccinating, weaning and foot trimming • Nutrition
• Drought feeding and strategies
• Health • Nutritional and metabolic diseases • Clostridial diseases • Other infectious diseases etc • Parasites, what they are, their life cycles and how to seal with them. • Drenching and backlining
• How to do your own faecal egg counts
• Poisoning, causes and possible treatments • Marketing with an outline of the available markets and the requirements for each • Condition scoring • An explanation of withholding periods and of the National vendor declaration form and its uses • Appendix - resources for producers, government departments, agencies, associations and others. Books videos and programs. Index
The Author: Barbara Vincent has worked in a number of Federal Government Departments and has been a livestock consultant for more than 15 years. She has been closely involved in cross breeding of Boer and feral goats for meat production since the first imports of Boer goats into Australia. Barbara is currently the animal production manager for a large Boer goat stud in Queensland.
Paperback 288 pages, Illustrations.
248 x 170mm.
Published July 2005

Book ~ Raising Meat Goats

4535

Maggie Sayer has her feet firmly planted in the earth, her head fixed in commercial reality and her heart obviously given over to her livestock. She is definitely my kind of person and her ready wit and writing style make “Storey’s Guide to Raising Meat Goats” as easy to read as it is informative. The fundamentals of managing, breeding and marketing goats are much the same the world over and although a few of the facts and figures in the book are specific to the USA, the concepts underlying them are very relevant to Australia. In its first printing, the information given is current and whilst not a veterinary compendium, the book covers the inner and outer workings of goats, common health issues and all the associated areas where many new goat breeders come to grief. Obviously a goat lover herself with many years of “hands on” experience, Sayer refrains from gilding the lily and presents each topic with refreshing honesty and objectivity, mildly spiced with amusing anecdotes and the personal experiences of a number of goat breeders. The book is a “must read” for anyone thinking about getting into goats and at the price, those who have been in the industry a while will also enjoy the easy humour, practical tips and the wonderful illustrations of Elayne Sears. The book has certainly earned a place on our coffee table.
Rosemary Bere-Streeter, Chevredor Boer Goats, Miles, Queensland - goat breeder for over ten years.
328 pages - Soft Cover

Book ~ Tan Your Hide

2569

Want to turn a hide or skin into leather and make your tanned leather into something more valuable?

A step by step guide to making vests, belts, wallets by home tanning and hand-working furs and leathers.
In Tan Your Hide, Phyllis Hibson explains just what you need to tan you own leather and fur, and the steps involved in doing it the correct way.
Steve Edwards explains how to make basic leather and fur products, with patterns that you can follow.
• The author tells us...
• What tools and chemicals to use.
• How to select the hide
• The steps to tanning leather and fur
• How to test for tanning
• Old time Indian tanning methods
• How to make you own dyes
• What to look for in leather quality
• Basic leatherwork techniques
U.S. Publication.
144 pages 30 illustrations

Book ~ Home Cheese Making

2570

Covers all aspects of small scale cheese making.
This book has 85 step by step recipes for cheese and other dairy products.
These only require basic cheese making techniques and fresh ingredients.
Some of the recipes for cheese include chedda, gouda, fromage blanc, marscarpone, ricotta and mozzarella.
Also includes other recipes for cooking with cheese.
Published in the U.S.

Book ~ 4WD Driving Skills

4377

Modern four-wheel drive vehicles are powerful and sophisticated machines, able to travel almost anywhere.
Given their growing popularity with recreational drivers, there is an even more pressing need for adequate training.
Even on sealed roads these vehicles require a different set of driving skills: off-road the demands are many times greater.
4WD Driving Skills concentrates on the essential skills of four-wheel driving for every type of off-road terrain as well as sealed and unsealed roads.
It explains what makes a four-wheel drive vehicle different, how to approach challenging situations, and shows what to do if things go wrong.
Features: An explanation of four-wheel drive systems, General principles of four wheel driving, Driving on sealed roads, Unsealed roads and corners, Controlling a slide, Passing oncoming traffic on unsealed roads, Trail driving in mountainous areas, Driving on wet and muddy tracks, River crossings, Driving in sand, Snow driving, Recovery equipment, Caring for the environment.
Paperback 152 Pages with illustrations - Author Vic Widman Published 2001

Book ~ Chainsaw Operators Manual

4385

This manual is the essential safety tool for professional and recreational users of chainsaws.
It contains a comprehensive collection of easy-to-follow charts, colour illustrations and instructions covering basic, intermediate and advanced tree felling.
The first section of the manual covers safety issues, power head maintenance, the cutting attachment, sawchain design and sharpening, and basic crosscutting techniques.
The second section leads the user through the theory of simple tree felling, preparation and cross cutting sequences for different circumstances.
The third section covers problem tree felling involving leaning trees, dangerous and defective trees, trees with double leaders, trees lying across roads and the use of wedges, tree jacks and machinery such as tractors, bulldozers and cables.
Safety is paramount throughout the whole book and all the techniques described are covered by the national competency standards for chainsaw operators contained in the Forest & Forest Products Industry Training Package, which has been endorsed by the National Training Quality Council.
These standards form the basis for accreditation in government agencies.
Paperback 104 Pages, Colour Illustrations Author Bernard R Kestel (Forests NSW) Published May 2005

Book ~ The Australian Yabby Farmer

4363

Includes Yabbies, Freshwater Crayfish, Red Claw and Marron

This edition has been extensively rewritten to include a new chapter on water quality plus the latest findings in yabby farming.
It provides a grounding in the basic principles of aquaculture and reflects the considerable advances in aquaculture technology over the last few years.
Here is the basic information on the yabby, its habitat, its health and nutrition requirements.
The book covers pond management, production systems, equipment, harvesting, post-harvest handling, and marketing of the end product. It includes sections on the farming of those other freshwater crayfish, the redclaw and the marron, and contains a number of useful appendices.
Author John Mosig shares his experience of nearly 20 years, giving budding yabby farmers an insight into how they can run a yabby venture while developing their own aquaculture skills and gaining experience in fish husbandry. Practising crayfish farmers might find out how they too can do some things better.
Paperback 214 Pages Author John Mosig (Aquaculture Services Pty Ltd Vic.) Published 1998

Book ~ Feedlotting Lamb

5419

Lambs need high energy and protein levels and optimum conditions in which to grow rapidly.
Now, with the increasing need to supply lambs all year round to meet market expectations, producers are more often turning to feedlotting lambs.
This guide offers a realistic advice for producers who are considering feedlotting lambs where all nutrients are supplied, movement is restricted, and shade and water are provided. It will also be useful where supplementary feeding of grain, hay or other nutrients is used to lift the available nutrition to a level sufficient for maintenance, growth or production of the animal.
Feedlotting Lambs provides an understanding of the principles of nutrition, management issues and finishing lambs in order to meet market specifications.
Features
• Covers ration formulation
• Budgeting tables
• Information on meeting market specifications and LAMBPLAN
Contents
Chapter 1 Principles of nutrition
Chapter 2 Planning and budgeting
Chapter 3 Feedlot design
Chapter 4 Rations
Chapter 5 Selection and preparation of lambs
Chapter 6 Monitoring of lambs
Chapter 7 Case study
Appendix 1 What is LAMBPLAN?
Appendix 2 Dressing percentage
Appendix 3 Websites of interest
62 pages

Book ~ Managing Horses on Small Properties

4384

Caring for horses or ponies?

A dream shared by many is to run a few horses on a small property on the fringes of a city or town.
This book shows how to combine sustainable land management practices with a style of horse keeping that will protect the health and well-being of your horses, as well as the land and its wildlife.
Good property management does not need to be an expensive undertaking.
Improved pasture means less feed bills, reduced mud or dust improves a horse’s health and reduces vet bills, better manure management turns a liability into an asset.
The reader is first introduced to the horse’s natural behaviour as expressed in body language, intelligence, ability to learn, grazing, herd instincts and social behaviour.
The book then goes on to cover all the basics of safe handling, routine care and common health problems.
Property selection, property design, water supply, pasture management, horse facilities, fencing, trees and plants, manure management and equipment and tools are comprehensively dealt with in separate chapters.
Paperback 224 Pages - 148 Photographs
Author Jane Myers

Book ~ Olive Propagation Manual

5420

The fruit tree that lives 2000 years; the olive

This practical manual is an authoritative guide to olive propagation, providing extended information on seed germination, rooting of cuttings, grafting and micropropagation. The authors describe each topic in detail and discuss the relative advantages and disadvantages of each procedure.
The Olive Propagation Manual has been developed to take into account the future demand for olive oil, which is expected to increase to three million tonnes annually over the next 10 years. Such volumes will require active farming programs and olive trees for new orchards and the replacement of olive trees in existing orchards. As the olive industry moves from traditional manual methods to mechanised operations, planting stock will need to be developed to meet future challenges. Varietal selection will need to be directed to clones that are early bearing, disease resistant, able to be mechanically harvested, and produce quality fruit and oil. Each of these issues are addressed throughout this book.
The Olive Propagation Manual explores historical perspectives, traditional methods and state-of-the-art olive propagation including theoretical explanations and all practical aspects.
Contents
1. Introduction
2. Flower and fruit biology in olive
3. Propagation by cutting
4. Propagation by grafting
5. In vitro propagation of olive
6. The olive nursery (stock plants, structures, equipment and operations)
7. Conservation of olive germplasm
Appendix 1 - Rooting ability of all olive cultivars of which scientific literature is available
Appendix 2 - Olive germplasm collections in the world
160 pages

Book ~ The Australian Fish Farmer

5422

Aquaculture is here to stay

This is a practical guide for people in the aquaculture industry and for those about to enter it. Australian Fish Farmer covers current as well as potential aquaculture industries and provides practical skills that will allow people to solve everyday problems in the day-to-day management of aquatic stock.
This new edition reflects the considerable advances in technology, farming methods and commercial development.
These aspects and more have been included in the revised edition, which also deals with financial and administrative management to provide the reader with sufficient information to operate a successful venture.
The authors have drawn on their experience of designing and conducting aquaculture training programs and incorporated feedback, to ensure this publication is relevant and practical to Australian fish farmers.
Contents
Chapter 1. What makes aquaculture work? Chapter 2. Aquaculture production systems Chapter 3. The five stages of a fish’s life Chapter 4. Aquaculture categories Chapter 5. The first step – the acquisition of knowledge Chapter 6. Water quality
Chapter 7. The environment - temperature Chapter 8. Fish husbandry Chapter 9. Nutrition Chapter 10. Site selection Chapter 11. System design Chapter 12. Aquaculture hardware and infrastructure Chapter 13. Stocking and handling seedstock Chapter 14. Breeding Chapter 15. Fish health
Chapter 16. Predators and pests
Chapter 17. Harvesting
Chapter 18. Post-harvest handling
Chapter 19. Marketing Chapter 20. Getting started: choosing the right option Chapter 21. The law
Chapter 22. Management and administration Chapter 23. Species
Chapter 24. Epilogue Glossary
444 pages
Paperback

Book ~ Calf Rearing

5424

Calf Rearing is recognised as one of the most informative and accessible guides on the subject, covering growth, nutrition, health and behaviour, with descriptions of various calf raising systems and facilities.
John Moran, an expert in the field, also gives considerable coverage to calf welfare, post weaning management and calf communication. Practical economic information on feedstuffs, labour requirements and losses is provided to assist producers in selecting the most appropriate calf rearing system for their farms.
Features
New to the Second Edition:
• Improvements to existing calf rearing systems • Important changes in recommendations for colostrum feeding • Disease prevention • What to do with sick calves • Dairy beef production • Economics of calf rearing
• Best management practice for raising dairy replacement heifers
Contents
1. Introduction 2. The principles of digestion of feed in calves
3. The importance of colostrums to newborn calves 4. Nutrient requirements of calves 5. Obtaining the calves 6. Milk feeding of calves
7. Calf milk replacers 8. Solid feeds for calves 9. Communicating with the calf
10. Disease prevention in calves
11. Housing of calves 12. Welfare aspects of calf rearing 13. Post-weaning management 14. Economics of calf rearing 15. Best management practices for rearing dairy replacement heifer
Appendix 1. John Moran’s 10 golden rules for calf rearing
Appendix 2. John Moran’s golden rules of heifer rearing
Appendix 3. Glossary of technical terms
Appendix 4. Further reading
228 pages
Paperback

Book ~ Farm Dams

5425

Dams are part of farm planning and water management

Dams have always been an integral feature of rural properties, either in commercial ventures such as viticulture, aquaculture or agricultural, or as a feature on a hobby farm.
To fill this gap, Farm Dams: Planning, Construction and Maintenance has been written to provide a practical approach and guide for prospective dam owners. It provides essential information on all types of earth dams.
By employing the principles in this book, in conjunction with the advice of suitably experienced and qualified engineers and contractors, risk of failure can be reduced and the long-term success of a dam ensured. Farm Dams will be an invaluable resource for anyone who owns or plans to own a dam; and an essential reference for government agencies, contractors and engineers.
Features
• Written by a leading expert in the storage and use of water in agriculture
• Information on how to determine catchment yield and the amount of water required
• Detailed advice on selecting and working with engineers and contractors
• Explanations of what causes of dam failures and how to remedy problems quickly
• Covers developments in relevant legislation, including water rights and liabilities
• Explanations of the role of water authorities and related government agencies
• Environmental and ecological issues
• The use of farm dams for aquaculture
Section 1 Planning
Section 2 Investigation
Section 3 Design
Section 4 Documentation
Section 5 Construction
Section 6 Maintenance
Section 7 Water
Section 8 Ecology
Section 9 Commercial
Section 10 Legal
Appendix 1 A glossary of terminology
Appendix 2 Engineering specification for an earth-fill farm dam
Appendix 3 Metric and imperial conversion tables
References and suggested further reading
196 pages
Paperback

Book ~ Running a Small Flock of Sheep

1109

Running a small flock of sheep is a new and authorative book from the CSIRO for small-scale sheep farmers.

Contents; Sheep in Australia, Sheep enterprises, Choosing a sheep enterprise, Breeds, Economics – costs and returns, Sheep farm resources and infrastructure, Responsibilities of sheep owners, Meet a sheep – facts, figures and features, Working with sheep, Fat scoring, Management operations, Grazing and pasture management, Feeding supplements, Breeding sheep, Lamb care, Weaner management
Wool sheep production, Prime lamb production, Harvesting and marketing wool, Buying and selling sheep and Diseases of sheep.
Running a Small Flock of Sheep uses a step-by-step approach and has been written for small-scale sheep farmers and inexperienced people considering a rural life-style change. It will prepare the reader for each procedure and event on a sheep farm.
The book begins with an introduction to the basic principles and procedures of sheep farming and the economics and required farm infrastructure for different sheep enterprises. There are chapters on handling techniques, the obligations of owners, and laws and regulations covering the welfare of sheep. The remainder of the text deals with sheep husbandry including health and nutrition, condition scoring, breeding, lamb care and weaner management. There are separate chapters on wool production and prime lamb production. The final chapter covers the diagnosis, control and prevention of sheep diseases.
This reliable and understandable guide provides all the information anyone needs to make the right choices in successfully managing a small flock of sheep, whether you’re running a single pet or several hundred sheep for prime lamb, wool or dual purpose.
Features
• Easy-to-read and assumes no prior farming knowledge
• Practical information on all the sheep farm procedures
• Well illustrated with explanatory photographs of breeds, tools and procedures
Paperback, 192 pages, CSIRO Australia