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

  • Future farming systems for the eastern wheatbelt

    7 December 2020

    This long term project aims to evaluate the long term productivity, profitability and sustainability of lower input regenerative and intensive ag-tech systems against current district practice and

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    Preventing calf scours in beef herds

    28 November 2013

    ‘Calf scours’ is when young calves develop diarrhoea and become dehydrated. The scour can be white, yellow, grey or blood-stained, and is often foul-smelling.

  • Sheep and lambs in a field

    Pregnancy toxaemia and hypocalcaemia of ewes

    12 December 2013

    Pregnancy toxaemia and hypocalcaemia affect lambing ewe flocks and have similar signs but different causes.

  • Sheep eating hay in a paddock

    Testing hay for annual ryegrass toxicity (ARGT) risk

    13 February 2017

    Hay that contains annual ryegrass may cause annual ryegrass toxicity (ARGT). Hay can be tested for ARGT risk. The test provides a risk rating for toxicity.

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    Prevent lead poisoning and residues in livestock

    28 November 2013

    Preventing lead residues in livestock protects human food safety and Western Australia's ongoing access to international markets.

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    Poultry biosecurity checklist for small landholders

    2 December 2013

    The poultry biosecurity checklist summarises the actions needed to protect your poultry and the Western Australian poultry industry from the devastating effects of emergency diseases such as avian

  • Green iceplant in winter

    Slender iceplant poisoning in sheep

    4 December 2014

    Slender iceplant, Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum, is a small, succulent, winter-growing annual weed, most common in the eastern Wheatbelt.

  • Sheep drinking at a dam

    Preventing salt poisoning of livestock

    2 December 2014

    This page describes the causes and signs of salt poisoning of livestock as well as how to treat and prevent the condition.

  • Cows grazing pasture in the Great Southern

    Infertility and abortion in cows

    3 December 2018

    There are multiple causes of infertility, abortion and stillbirths in cows. These include some diseases that are exotic to Western Australia and some zoonotic diseases.

  • Cattle on pasture

    Kikuyu poisoning in livestock

    29 January 2018

    Kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestimun) is a subtropical perennial grass with spring to autumn growth.

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