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

  • Annual ryegrass toxicity in livestock

    14 August 2014

    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

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    Australia's ruminant feed ban

    28 November 2013

    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'.

  • pigs

    Pig feed: what you can and can’t feed pigs (swill or prohibited pig feed)

    27 November 2013

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

  • Bag of cattle pellets

    Stockfeed labelling in Western Australia

    27 November 2013

    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

  • Drenching weaner Merino sheep with a drenching gun.

    Selenium and/or vitamin E deficiencies in sheep

    13 December 2013

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

  • Cattle feed pellets in a bag

    Stockfeed regulation and standards

    27 November 2013

    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

  • Sheep drinking at a dam

    Water quality for livestock

    3 December 2014

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

  • Green iceplant in winter

    Slender iceplant poisoning in sheep

    4 December 2014

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

  • Sheep drinking at a dam

    Preventing salt poisoning of livestock

    2 December 2014

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

  • The sheep on the left has cobalt deficiency. The one on the right has been treated.

    Cobalt deficiency in sheep and cattle

    22 July 2014

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

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