Livestock & animals

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development supply chain support, research and development and rigorous biosecurity systems underpin the economic success of Western Australia’s livestock industries. In 2011/12, the WA livestock industries contributed 26% of the state’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry production, worth approximately $2 billion at the farm gate.

WA is a world leader in live exports, super fine wool production and dryland sheep and grain systems. Both cattle and sheep systems are focused on export markets to Asia and the Middle East. WA also has innovative, world-class integrated dairy and pork industries meeting local and South East Asian demand for safe, fresh milk and pork. The WA poultry industry is growing strongly as a result of increasing domestic consumption.

Global demand for high-quality, safe animal protein and products produced according to high animal welfare standards will continue to rise in coming years. Increasingly DAFWA will partner with industry -- locally, nationally and internationally -- in transformational business projects to capitalise on this demand.

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Articles

  • An unmarked lamb in the yard

    Managing flystrike in sheep

    29 November 2013

    Flystrike is a significant health and welfare risk to Australian sheep and costs $280 million annually.

  • The application of nitrogen can stimulate high growth in grassy pastures in winter.

    Boosting winter pasture growth with nitrogen fertiliser – Western Australia

    26 November 2013

    Applying nitrogen fertiliser to pasture in winter can increase dry matter production of grasses and broadleaf weeds and help reduce feed shortages in winter.

  • Itch mite as seen under a microscope, from skin scraping.

    Itch mite in sheep

    5 December 2013

    Itch mites are small, barely visible parasites of sheep; they live on the skin surface and cause rubbing and fleece chewing in a small proportion of infested animals.

  • Dr Kristine Rayner with cattle

    SMS livestock surveillance networks

    17 September 2018

    Cattle producers in the shires of Albany, Denmark and Plantagenet in Western Australia and sheep producers in the shires of Esperance and Ravensthorpe are invited to participate in local surveillan

  • A white dorper ram in good condition and ready for mating.

    Joining – setting the potential of your ewe flock

    15 November 2013

    Joining is the time when the potential lambing of your flock is set, so make the most of it.

  • Weighing sheep

    Breeding ewes are worth feeding

    3 December 2019

    Despite potentially elevated grain prices, strong prices for meat and wool mean that Western Australian sheep farmers can confidently supplementary feed their underweight ewes this summer/autumn.

  • decorative

    Feed tests are vital for feed budgeting

    21 October 2019

    A little knowledge of the nutritional value of your supplementary feeds can save you a lot of money and hassle. In dry seasons in particular, it is likely that farmers will need to start supplement

  • Cattle standing in grass looking at camera

    Animal welfare codes of practice

    23 April 2014

    Codes of practice for animal welfare have provided useful guidance about the management and care of animals, mainly livestock.

  • weaner sheep

    Reproduction potential and marking rates of the WA sheep flock

    2 May 2019

    Reproduction rates (foetuses per ewe joined) across the WA flock vary hugely and  depend on seasonal conditions and nutrition.  Marking rates in 2017 across the agricultural region for Merinos was

  • Sheep Live Export

    18 July 2018

    The live export trade of sheep from Western Australia is worth $136 million (2019). The industry is undergoing significant change and industry and government are working cooperatively to improve tr

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