This 3-day course held on a working sheep farm will teach you the fundamental principles and challenges of raising sheep, with an emphasis on practical skills and hands-on experience. You will be based at Owens Farm, and will also visit other sheep operations to see how marketing strategy influences infrastructure, management protocols, lambing season, and nutrition. Favorite bits from previous students have been the Border collie work, seeing the handling system in action, and knowing what to expect the first year.
DAY 1: HANDLING AND HEALTH Behaviorial basics, moving, catching, tipping, restraint, safety, equipment and facilities. Health Assessment, The Big 5 Sheep Problems, hoof health, vaccination, animal ID.
DAY 2: FARM TOURS AND MARKETING After a morning of sorting, handling, judging and more, we hit to road to visit different sheep operations. We see how marketing strategy impacts facilities, management, lambing season, and nutrition programs
DAY 3: LIFE WITH SHEEP Border collie basics, realities of rotational grazing, breeds and current trends, fencing, infrastructure, keys to success in breeding and lambing.
Vocational Agriculture teachers and student teachers who supervise sheep projects
New sheep owners speeding up their learning curve
Small flock owners figuring out how to scale up their operation
Paid Farm Managers responsible for sheep but seeking more practical experience
Jan Motter has raised purebred Polypays and Shropshires for over 40 years on her mountainside farm. Her breeding stock is sold throughout the U.S., and is a key component of her operation.
Dave Hartman raises registered Katahdin sheep, with a selection emphasis on forage-based genetics and EBVs to support a totally grass-based operation.