A risk assessment of Western Australia's 435 cattle stations has found more than a dozen are at high risk of animal welfare issues in coming months due to a lack of food and water.

The review was launched by the Pastoral Lands Board last month out of concern at unusually hot, dry conditions over the past year.

Chairman Tim Shackleton said it had examined the level of rainfall, management experience and infrastructure on each property.

"We are about to make contact with those stations that we've assessed to be in the high-risk category," he said.

"We don't know exactly the numbers of those, but at this stage I would anticipate there's between a dozen and 25 stations in that category.

"We'll be reaching out to them very soon to see if there's something we can do to help with management of the stock during the dry season."

The review came too late for more than 1,000 cattle which died on three stations in the Pilbara, Kimberley and Goldfields between December and February.

The bulk of the animals had to be destroyed after being discovered in very poor condition due to a lack of feed and water, with others dying after becoming trapped in mud at dried-up dams.

David Stoate, from the Kimberley and Pilbara Cattleman's Association, says stations that rely on natural water sources may struggle in coming months. ( ABC Kimberley: Courtney Fowler )

Big job

Monitoring the condition of stock is no easy task on vast properties spanning thousands of hectares across remote terrain.

David Stoate, who chairs the Kimberley and Pilbara Cattleman's Association, said checking water and feed was standard practice on well-run stations.

"It's a big expense, checking your waters, maintaining your waters, fixing things that go wrong — it's a huge expense, but it's something pastoralists know they have to do on an ongoing basis," he said.

"Particularly this year, because it was such a poor wet season, and there's less feed and natural water laying around for the cattle."

The unusually dry conditions have created extra work and costs for pastoralists to keep stock fed and watered. ( ABC Rural: Courtney Fowler )

Animal cruelty charges possible

Pictures were never released of the mass cattle deaths over the summer months at Noonkanbah Station in the Kimberley, Yandayarra reserve in the Pilbara, and an unnamed station in the Goldfields.

The discoveries were a jolt for the industry, and government agencies like the Pastoral Lands Board and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development have increased their monitoring.

There is also a discussion about the level of support provided to Aboriginal corporations that are leasing stations but struggling with governance and finances.

The managers of the stations where livestock died could yet face animal cruelty charges.

In a statement, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development said investigations were continuing.