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

Stickfast fleas: control and eradication

6 February 2014

The stickfast flea, first recorded in Western Australia (WA) at Geraldton in 1913, is now a common disease in backyard poultry flocks, especially during summer.
Prevent sheep lice with biosecurity and planning

6 December 2013

Sheep farmers can save money and time eradicating new lice infestations by taking simple biosecurity measures that become part of normal management programs.
Sheep worms – sustainable summer-autumn worm control

5 December 2013

A summer drenching program for sheep worm control is now recognised as a key cause of drench resistance in Western Australia.
Control of lice on haired and fleece-shedding sheep

26 November 2013

Body lice (Bovicola ovis) infestation can occur on fleece-shedding and haired sheep, causing irritation and rubbing. Some exotic diseases also cause skin irritation to sheep. Before treati
Managing non-mulesed sheep

5 December 2013

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) has been involved in a variety of research projects to help producers manage non mulesed sheep.
Flystrike management tools

18 November 2013

To make sure that any chemical application doesn’t leave you short on protection or break your withholding periods, the Flystrike Assist application (mobile app for iOS and Android) has been devel
Managing flystrike in sheep

29 November 2013

Flystrike is a significant health and welfare risk to Australian sheep and costs $280 million annually.
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.
A treatment plan for farms with lice

27 May 2014

When the prevalence of sheep lice is high as it is in Western Australia at the present time, there is a greater probability that lice will be present in any flock.
Lice infestations on cattle

16 March 2015

Cattle lice cause irritation and rubbing that results in hair loss and poor coat quality. Cattle won’t always require treatment for a skin problem resulting from a lice infestation.