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

2020 Lambing Survey

2 December 2020

To better understand the impacts of poor and variable seasons on lambing and turnoff rates, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) conducts special short surveys on l
Johne's disease (JD) in sheep: biosecurity practices and management options

9 December 2013

This webpage outlines the market impacts of a Johne’s disease (JD) diagnosis, biosecurity practices to reduce the likelihood of JD in sheep occurring on your property, the SheepMAP program, and opt
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.
Salt poisoning or water deprivation in pigs

26 February 2014

Salt poisoning or water deprivation in pigs can cause severe health problems, and in some cases it can become fatal.
Water: the forgotten nutrient for pigs

13 January 2014

Water is the most important nutrient for pigs. We often think about nutrients as only pig feed: carbohydrates, fats, proteins, minerals and vitamins.
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.
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
Preventing calf scours in beef herds

28 November 2013

‘Calf scours’ is when young calves develop diarrhoea and become dehydrated. The scour can be white, yellow, grey or blood-stained, and is often foul-smelling.
Pregnancy toxaemia and hypocalcaemia of ewes

12 December 2013

Pregnancy toxaemia and hypocalcaemia affect lambing ewe flocks and have similar signs but different causes.
Time of lambing

15 November 2013

Choosing the best time of lambing, and matching paddock feed availability to ewe and weaner needs is important for both productivity and profitability.