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

  • Drenching weaner Merino sheep with a drenching gun.

    Selenium and/or vitamin E deficiencies in sheep

    13 December 2013

    Selenium and vitamin E are essential in sheep diets, and work together to prevent and repair cell damage in the body.

  • sheep showing weight loss typical of OJD

    Johne's disease (JD) in sheep: biosecurity practices and management options

    9 December 2013

    This webpage outlines the market impacts of a Johne’s disease (JD) diagnosis, biosecurity practices to reduce the likelihood of JD in sheep occurring on your property, the SheepMAP program, and opt

  • Dr Kristine Rayner with cattle

    SMS livestock surveillance networks

    17 September 2018

    Cattle producers in the shires of Albany, Denmark and Plantagenet in Western Australia and sheep producers in the shires of Esperance and Ravensthorpe are invited to participate in local surveillan

  • Livestock post-mortem techniques workshop

    Sampling and post-mortem resources for veterinarians

    9 March 2015

    The following resources have been produced by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) to assist veterinarians in selecting and preparing samples and conducting livesto

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • A blood smear from a sheep with eperythrozoonosis. The large gaps between red cells indicate anaemia. The blue-stained organisms within the cells are M. ovis. Photo credit: Mark Bennett, Murdoch U

    Eperythrozoonosis (E. ovis) in sheep

    20 October 2014

    Eperythrozoonosis is a disease in sheep and goats caused by the bacterium mycoplasma ovis (formerly known as eperythrozoon ovis).

  • ewe and lamb in paddock

    Mastitis in sheep

    3 December 2013

    Mastitis is the term for a bacterial infection of the udder. It is most common in ewes raising multiple lambs or with high milk production.

  • The sheep on the left has cobalt deficiency. The one on the right has been treated.

    Cobalt deficiency in sheep and cattle

    22 July 2014

    All ruminants (including sheep, cattle and goats) require cobalt in their diet for the synthesis of vitamin B12.

  • A new Department of Agriculture and Food lamb survival project, and a ramped up 100%+ Club, will provide recognition and support for sheep producers wanting to lift their outputs.

    Infertility and abortion in ewes

    16 June 2015

    There are multiple possible causes of both infertility and abortion in ewes, but making a definitive diagnosis is often difficult. Some diseases which are exotic to Australia can cause abortions.

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