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

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    Johne's disease (JD) in sheep

    5 December 2013

    This webpage describes the signs of Johne’s disease (JD) in sheep, how it spreads, and testing options.

  • sheep in methane chamber

    How to calculate the carbon emissions from your own farm business

    7 June 2021

    Farming systems produce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, primarily in the form of methane (mostly caused by animal digestion and respiration) and nitrous oxide (mostly from fertilisers).

  • DPIRD vet at Katanning Saleyards examining sheep

    Surveillance incentives for WA livestock producers

    20 August 2019

    Western Australian producers can access a variety of subsidies for disease investigations in livestock that will minimise the cost of calling a vet and maximise the benefits.

  • Sheep drinking at a dam

    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.

  • Poultry sheds aerial view

    Regulation of poultry production

    30 January 2014

    Legislation regulating the poultry industry covers a wide array of issues ranging from disease control, food health and safety, the environment (odour and noise emissions), to agricultural chemical

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    Emergency diseases in horses

    10 December 2013

    Australia is free of many infectious horse diseases, saving owners costly disease control. The occurrence of an emergency horse disease could severely restrict horse movements, racing and other com

  • Blister on a pig's hoof on the area between the foot and leg which is likley to be due to foot and mouth disease

    Emergency diseases of pigs

    15 January 2014

    There are many infectious emergency diseases of pigs that do not occur in Australia.

  • Sheep reproduction and reducing methane emissions

    20 November 2013

    Mating ewes earlier (at 8 to 10 months of age) could enable farmers to reduce whole-farm methane production because this practice would reduce the number of adult ewes, which produce more methane.

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    Breeding for lower greenhouse gas emissions

    18 October 2013

    There is potential to reduce methane greenhouse gas emissions from livestock by selecting for higher feed conversion efficiency, or by using males with measured low methane emissions.

  • Nutrition and feed additives to reduce methane emissions from sheep

    18 October 2013

    Improved grazing and feeding management of sheep can reduce methane emissions per unit of product (feed efficiency) or emissions per unit of feed intake (methane yield).

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