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.

Articles

  • A number of Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) staff members work with live animals for scientific research demonstration and training. 

  • Confinement feeding (also referred to as lot feeding or feedlotting) is an intensive feeding system in a confined area where all, or the majority of, feed and water is supplied to the contained anima

  • The WA Cattle Industry, via the Cattle Industry Funding Scheme provides research and development grant funding for projects that support health, welfare, production, and commerce benefits at a whol

  • At times such as during drought, sheep and cattle are subject to dramatic loss in body condition due to reduced feed intake.

  • Western Australian agriculture experiences variability in its winter growing season (May–October): late starts, early finishes and 'dry seasons' with rainfall low enough to cause serious plant and

  • The Western Australian Farming Systems project is a five-year co-investment by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) and the Grains Research and Development Corporat

  • Use this tool to view the latest pregnancy scanning rates (reproductive rate) of WA sheep flocks.  Choose to see the whole data set or refine the results to show by time of lambing, by year or by s

  • The Western Australian Government is supporting the welfare of companion animals and wildlife through grants for not-for-profit activities that foster and rehome pets, rehabilitate wildlife, and pr

  • Dry pastures in Western Australia provide good early feed after senescence but rapidly become unable to maintain stock.

  • Fire removes organic ground cover, and the risk of water erosion is greatly increased.

Filter by search

Filter by topic