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

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

    Photosensitisation in livestock

    11 December 2013

    Photosensitisation is inflammation of the skin, and occasionally the conjunctiva and cornea of the eye.

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    Arthritis in sheep

    29 November 2013

    Arthritis means inflammation in one or more joints. In sheep, it is usually the result of bacterial infection.

  • Cow and sheep grazing in paddock

    Brucellosis in animals

    25 July 2016

    Brucellosis is an economically important bacterial disease of animals that can also affect people.

  • Farmer wants a life - sheep research open day

    23 January 2018

    Feel like you’re dealing with your flock around the clock? Maybe it’s time to get yourself a better deal.

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    Consumer eating preference testing for sheepmeat in overseas markets

    24 September 2015

    The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) partnered with the Sheep Cooperative Research Centre (CRC), Murdoch University and Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) in a shee

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    Avoiding tender wool

    25 November 2013

    Wool is called ‘tender’ when it is discounted for low staple strength. The point at which price discounts start depends on the market and the fibre diameter.

  • Merino ewes and lambs in the paddock.

    Managing pregnancy in ewes

    25 November 2013

    The health and nutrition of the pregnant ewe largely determines how successful lambing is in any given year.

  • The life cycle of the liver fluke starts when the sheep or cow eat cysts on pasture. The flukes develop and eggs pass out and make their way into streams where the larvae invade a host snail and the next larval stage migrates onto the pasture.

    Liver fluke in Western Australia

    30 June 2014

    The liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica, is a serious parasite of ruminants, which can cause severe damage to the liver and consequently disease, production loss and even death.

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    Thiamine deficiency induced polioencephomalacia (PEM) of sheep and cattle

    28 November 2013

    Thiamine, also known as vitamin B1, is normally produced by bacteria in the rumen of cattle and sheep on well-balanced roughage diets.

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    Keeping backyard chickens

    2 October 2013

    Chickens can be a great asset to any small landholding. They provide eggs, produce fertiliser, control insects and weeds, eat kitchen scraps and loosen soil while scratching.

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