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.

Previous Pause Next

Articles

  • decorative

    SheepLinks - FutureSheep

    15 June 2022

    FutureSheep is a three-year project (2021-2024) under the SheepLinks program, to assist Western Australian (WA) sheep enterprises in the medium and low rainfall zones adapt to the impacts of projec

  • null

    Regional snapshots - value of broadacre agriculture in south west WA

    15 February 2022

    The four regions of Western Australia's south-west land division contribute over $6 billion to the gross value of agriculture production. 

  • Sheep with photosensitisation; exposed raw tissue on the face and muzzle

    Photosensitisation in sheep grazing biserrula

    5 December 2012

    Isolated cases of photosensitisation have occurred in sheep grazing both Casbah and Mauro biserrula throughout the wheatbelt.

  • NULL

    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'.

  • Position of the hand on the sheeps back for condition scoring sheep. The thumb should be placed on the backbone and the fingers feeling the short ribs.

    Condition scoring of sheep

    29 October 2013

    Condition scoring sheep is an easy and accurate method of estimating the condition or 'nutritional well being' of your sheep flock.

  • Vaccination of a sheep high on the neck behind the ear.

    Veterinary chemical users

    28 November 2013

    Western Australia has laws to control chemical use on trade animals. These laws protect people, animals and the environment from harm.

  • Two horses standing in paddock

    Standards and Guidelines for the Health and Welfare of Horses in WA

    18 May 2020

    The Western Australian Government recognises the value of animal welfare to our community and strives to ensure all animals receive appropriate standards of care.

  • ewe and lamb

    Earmarking and/or branding of sheep and cattle: changes to identification requirements

    2 December 2021

    From 1 January 2022, earmarking of sheep and earmarking and/or branding of cattle (including buffalo) will be optional.

  • Lucilia cuprina - the main species of blowfly that initiates about 90% of all strikes is the Australian sheep blowfly

    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.

  • Young Merino rams ready for selection prior to mating.

    Sheep genetic resource flock

    17 January 2014

    The Genetic Resource Flock of Western Australia, previously called the Information Nucleus Flock, was established by the Sheep Cooperative Research Centre (Sheep CRC) in 2007 and is now funded by M

Pages

Filter by search

Filter by topic