Livestock management

Management of livestock must take into account variable seasonal factors, fluctuating markets and declining terms of trade. The most successful producers have a good knowledge of market requirements, matching product quality to suit. There are many factors that can determine the productivity and profitability of a livestock enterprise. These include the supply and quality of feedstuffs, the use of the most appropriate genetics, ensuring high health standards, optimising housing or environmental conditions, meeting quality assurance requirements, and having a sound knowledge of market requirements. This requires good communication along the value chain.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development has technical expertise in a range of areas related to livestock management but acknowledges that there are many other sources of information that producers should be encouraged to seek out. There are many grower groups who play an important role in encouraging discussion amongst producers to improve adoption of new technology, as do private consultants and university scientists.

Articles

  • Measure water quality and quantity to effectively plan and monitor water supplies for livestock.

  • Annual ryegrass toxicity (ARGT) is a potentially fatal poisoning of livestock after consumption of annual ryegrass infected by the bacterium Rathayibacter toxicus (formerly known as Cl

  • In Australia, it is illegal to feed restricted animal material (RAM) to ruminants (cattle, sheep, goats, deer, camels and alpacas). This is known as the 'ruminant feed ban'.

  • It is illegal to feed meat, meat products and food that has been in contact with meat to pigs in Australia.

  • The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is responsible for regulating the labels of stockfeed supplied in Western Australia to ensure they provide the required informa

  • Selenium and vitamin E are essential in sheep diets, and work together to prevent and repair cell damage in the body.

  • The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) regulates standards for livestock feed including labelling so that meat, milk and eggs produced from WA livestock are safe for

  • Slender iceplant, Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum, is a small, succulent, winter-growing annual weed, most common in the eastern Wheatbelt.

  • This page describes the causes and signs of salt poisoning of livestock as well as how to treat and prevent the condition.

  • All ruminants (including sheep, cattle and goats) require cobalt in their diet for the synthesis of vitamin B12.