Beef cattle

The Western Australian beef herd consists of approximately two million head, half of which free range on extensive pastoral stations in the northern rangelands while the remainder roam the lush pastures of the agricultural region of the south and south-west of the state.

In 2011/12 the Australian Bureau of Statistics estimated the gross value of beef production in WA at $517 million. The state exported some 220 000 live cattle valued at $154 million in addition to 99 000 tonnes of boxed beef products worth $68 million in 2012.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development's current focus is on new and diversified market opportunities for WA live cattle exports and beef products. The department provides support to develop enduring supply chain relationships through effective communication, business model change and market development.

Articles

Johne's disease (JD) in cattle: management in Western Australia

25 November 2013

Johne’s disease (JD) is a chronic incurable infectious disease that affects cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, alpaca and deer.
Climate change and broadacre livestock production in Western Australia

31 March 2016

Climate change will affect livestock production in the agricultural areas of Western Australia (South West WA) in different ways, with some regions and enterprises benefiting and some not.
Northern Beef Development

20 August 2014

Growing global demand for Australian beef products, driven primarily by Asian countries, presents opportunities to expand livestock production and value add in the Kimberley and Pilbara regions of
Pasture condition guide for the Kimberley, Western Australia

27 March 2014

This pasture condition guide can be used from the web pages or by downloading the linked documents.
Managing blue-green algae on farms in Western Australia

2 December 2014

Blue-green algae are a group of algae including Nodularia spumigena, Microcystis aeruginosa and Anabaena circinalis.
Approved identifiers for livestock

15 January 2014

All livestock in Western Australia must be correctly identified according to species.
Livestock ownership, identification and movement in Western Australia

5 December 2013

Western Australia has a mandatory livestock ownership, identification and movement system.
Johne’s disease (cattle strain) cattle import conditions for Western Australia - from 1 July 2021

5 March 2021

The following import conditions for entry of cattle into Western Australia will apply from 1 July 2021.
The Western Australian beef industry

2 September 2015

Western Australia (WA) has many competitive advantages as a location for beef production, processing and export to target markets.
Mosaic agriculture in northern WA

19 December 2019

Traditionally, agriculture in the Western Australian rangelands has predominantly relied on grazing stock on native vegetation, with some irrigation precincts around Carnarvon and on the Ord River