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

Lamb backgrounding for Western Australia

17 November 2017

Examination of agricultural regions of Victoria where lamb backgrounding is established suggests that there is some potential for the high-rainfall south west region of Western Australia to profita
The contributors to profitable sheep businesses

31 July 2017

The demand for high value agricultural produce continues to increase and provides great opportunity to Australian agriculture.
Animal health and One Health in Western Australia

27 October 2017

‘One Health’ is an internationally supported approach that recognises that the health and well-being of animals, people and the environment are closely linked and that international, national and
Breeder and heifer management for rangeland cattle

13 December 2013

This section contains information relating to breeder and heifer management for rangeland cattle. Topics covered include body condition score, heifer management and breeder management.
Artificial breeding in beef cattle

20 May 2014

Artificial breeding is the use of technologies such as artificial insemination and embryo transfer. Artificial insemination (AI) involves placing semen directly into the uterus.
Sheep worm control in Western Australia

5 December 2013

Gastro-intestinal worm infections in sheep are a major cause of lost productivity to the Western Australian (WA) sheep industry and control has become more complex due to widespread drench resistan
Early weaning of lambs in a poor season

6 March 2014

The feed requirements of a ewe with a lamb at foot are higher than if the ewe and lambs are fed separately. In a difficult season with short feed supplies, it is better to early-wean lambs from the
Lifetimewool project

14 May 2015

Lifetimewool was a national research, development and extension project that delivered profitable and practical guidelines for managing Merino ewes in the Australian wool industry.
Key monitoring times for the ewe flock

15 November 2013

To ensure sheep are in the right condition at the right time, they should be frequently monitored and their nutrition adjusted throughout the year.
100%+ Club

8 August 2014

The 100%+ Club celebrates the success, expertise and contribution of Western Australia’s leading sheep producers who achieve a whole-farm average marking percentage of at least 100%, assisting to r