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

  • A mob of sheep has been yarded with the closest sheep having visible areas of pulled wool over the entire fleece but very apparent in the flank area.

    Prevent sheep lice with biosecurity and planning

    6 December 2013

    Sheep farmers can save money and time eradicating new lice infestations by taking simple biosecurity measures that become part of normal management programs.

  • Merino ewes being moved onto dry stubble.

    Sheep worms – sustainable summer-autumn worm control

    5 December 2013

    A summer drenching program for sheep worm control is now recognised as a key cause of drench resistance in Western Australia.

  • Flystrike Assist home screen

    Flystrike management tools

    18 November 2013

    To make sure that any chemical application doesn’t leave you short on protection or break your withholding periods,  the Flystrike Assist application (mobile app for iOS and Android) has been devel

  • An unmarked lamb in the yard

    Managing flystrike in sheep

    29 November 2013

    Flystrike is a significant health and welfare risk to Australian sheep and costs $280 million annually.

  • Itch mite as seen under a microscope, from skin scraping.

    Itch mite in sheep

    5 December 2013

    Itch mites are small, barely visible parasites of sheep; they live on the skin surface and cause rubbing and fleece chewing in a small proportion of infested animals.

  • Sheep grazing green pastures in warm times of the year may be at risk of haemonchosis.

    Barber's pole worm in sheep

    2 December 2013

    Barber's pole worm (Haemonchus contortus) is a potentially harmful roundworm parasite of sheep which can cause a disease called haemonchosis.

  • A lousy sheep showing biting behaviour and rubbed fleece.

    Sheep lice spread and detection

    3 December 2013

    The most common lice affecting sheep are body lice (Bovicola ovis).

  • A nasal bot with a size of 4cm.

    Nasal bots in sheep

    26 November 2013

    Nasal bots are the maggots or larvae of the sheep nasal bot fly, Oestrus ovis.

  • Drenching weaner Merino sheep with a drenching gun.

    Sheep parasites

    9 December 2013

    The impact of parasites on sheep can range from being virtually undetectable, through to obvious clinical signs or even death.

  • Drenching weaner Merino sheep with a drenching gun.

    Sheep worm control in Western Australia

    5 December 2013

    Gastro-intestinal worm infections in sheep are a major cause of lost productivity to the Western Australian (WA) sheep industry and control has become more complex due to widespread drench resistan

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