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

  • Sheep Updates logo

    Agribusiness Sheep Updates

    7 March 2014

    Sheep Updates was a leading event for the Western Australian sheepmeat and wool industries. A one day gala event was held in Perth every two years and regional updates were held in the alternate ye

  • Merino ewe with poll dorset twins in a paddock.

    Lambing and lactation

    25 November 2013

    The first 48 hours of a lamb’s life are critical – around 90% of lamb mortality from birth to weaning occurs within this period. It is also a critical period of time for the ewe.

  • Sheep eating grain

    Sheep feed value guide

    15 November 2013

    Sheep are supplementary fed for either survival or production purposes. Efficient supplementary feeding should aim to supply sheep with a diet that is sufficient in digestible energy and protein.

  • Barley grass seed heads are tall and upright making them more prone to lodging in wool and sheep’s eyes as they graze.

    Managing grass seeds in sheep

    25 November 2013

    Grass seeds may cause a number of serious production and health problems in sheep, including eye damage. Wool affected by grass seed has reduced demand value.

  • 2017

    Sheep Supply Chain Training Program

    16 September 2016

    Based on its popularity and success over the last two years, the Sheep Supply Chain Training Program will be delivered again in 2019.

  • Scrapie

    10 July 2014

    Australia is free of scrapie, which is a fatal, progressive, degenerative disease of the central nervous system of sheep and goats.

  • Position of the hand on the sheeps back for condition scoring sheep. The thumb should be placed on the backbone and the fingers feeling the short ribs.

    Condition scoring of sheep

    29 October 2013

    Condition scoring sheep is an easy and accurate method of estimating the condition or 'nutritional well being' of your sheep flock.

  • A white dorper ram in good condition and ready for mating.

    Selection of a ram source or stud

    26 November 2013

    Wool growers can achieve their breeding objectives by retaining superior breeding stock and by choosing superior rams.

  • Ovine campylobacteriosis (formerly ovine vibriosis)

    8 August 2014

    Ovine campylobacteriosis is an infectious disease of breeding ewes causing abortion in late pregnancy. It is caused by the bacteria Campylobacter fetus ssp. fetus.

  • Sheep in field

    Industry update: live sheep export #3

    6 September 2018

    The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is working closely with the Western Australian industry to manage the immediate impacts of this situation and support the devel

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