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Animal Health
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The Animal Health site has been developed for livestock producers and people with an interest in the health status of animals, especially livestock, in Western Australia. This site contains valuable information about animal health policies, services and activities provided by the Department of Agriculture and Food as well as links to other relevant sites. For emergency animal disease reporting contact the 24 hour Exotic Disease Watch Hotline number on 1800 675 888.
Please note this number is not for general agriculture inquiries.
Animal Health Policy and Strategic DevelopmentThis program is responsible for strategic and national issues involving animal health. This includes policy, legislation and liaising with industry, primarily in Western Australia but also at a national level. The Animal Biosecurity Program also helps to maintain profitability and sustainability in the livestock industries and to protect the public from animal diseases that can affect humans. Animal Disease Surveillance and ControlThe aim of animal disease surveillance and control activities is to demonstrate and promote the health status of Western Australia's livestock and to gain and maintain access to high value markets in Australia and international markets. General surveillance involves continuous surveillance of a given population to detect the occurrence of disease. It covers all animal diseases across Western Australia. Diseases
Animal Health LaboratoriesProvide a variety of services, including testing for diagnosis, export accreditation and disease eradication. Also conduct research on livestock disease and parasitic conditions and lab support for animal production research. Animal Ethics CommitteeThe Department uses animals both for scientific and non-scientific purposes, the latter including their use as an element of the farming systems employed by some research stations; and for inspectorial or other legislated purposes. Emergency Animal Disease ResponseThe Department is responsible for the management of outbreaks of emergency animal disease in Western Australia; or for dealing with the consequences of emergency animal diseases in other states and Territories, including diseases that are exotic to Western Australia, or serious outbreaks of endemic diseases in this state. Livestock Identification and BrandsWestern Australia has a comprehensive, mandatory livestock identification system. All livestock in Western Australia must be identified in accordance with the Stock Identification and Movement Act 1970, and stock owners are required to register a livestock brand with the Western Australian Department of Agriculture and Food. Livestock MovementControl measures, requirements, procedures and protocols for the controlled and recorded movement of all livestock (Camelids/Equines/Ruminants) within Western Australia and into and from other Australian states and territories. Veterinary Chemicals, Stockfeeds and Chemical Residue ManagementThe Department controls the use of veterinary chemicals, regulates stockfeed and manages chemical residues. Appropriate chemical use by veterinarians and farmers is crucial to minimise chemical residues in livestock produce. Management of residue risks is a key aspect of managing food safety on-farm. PublicationsFarmnotes and other publications on Page updated October 2011 |