BF 232: Sheep Production (2023)

Managing Your Flock for Business Success

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Managing Your Flock for Success

Have sheep or thinking about getting a flock? Producers of all experience levels will find something for them in this lively, wide-ranging course. There is no one right way to raise sheep – just a palette of options for you to choose from, to suit your farming objectives and lifestyle. Taught by experienced sheep producers and Cornell Cooperative Extension educators, this course covers many of these different options, and strongly encourages active student participation.

Target Audience

All levels – This course is designed for commercial producers seeking to build their knowledge in production, marketing, processing, and sales of lamb and sheep products, to have a more profitable enterprise. We will cover management styles and marketing, focusing on meat production. While producers from any location are welcome to take the course, those in temperate Northern climates will get more out of the course weeks that focus on forages and nutrition, housing, and grazing.

Course Objectives

At the end of this course you will have:

  • Enhanced knowledge of nutrition, health management, housing and fencing, handling, record keeping, and selection of animals.
  • Identified opportunities for improving profitability through improved pasture productivity, controlling parasite issues, and reducing predator losses.

Webinars

The bulk of the course happens on your own time, with discussions, readings, and assignments in Teachable, our virtual classroom. To add to the experience, webinars will be woven into the online interface of the course to allow you to meet on a weekly basis to learn from presenters and ask questions in real time. If you miss one, they are always recorded and posted for later viewing.

Webinars Schedule

Live instruction for 2024 has concluded. You are welcome to enroll now to complete this course on a self-paced schedule and join our next live session in Winter 2025. All webinars are recorded and posted in your online classroom to watch anytime. Once enrolled in this course, you will retain access to all materials indefinitely and may return to participate in future live offerings of the course as well. Please join us!


Testimonials from Recent Students

-I've had sheep for a few years but wasn't making any money, and wasn't well-educated on everything I should have known. This course helped fill in those gaps and now I feel ready to expand my flock.

-Learning from experienced shepherds was very beneficial, especially hearing about the behind the scenes items that MUST be considered in a sheep operation.

-The course has inspired and motivated me to keep moving forward with our sheep production. I enjoyed everything from judging body condition to understanding parasite cycles and nutrition. Great value!

Your Instructor


Cornell Small Farms Program Instructor
Cornell Small Farms Program Instructor

Course Curriculum


  General Course Resources
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  Week 1: Marketing Possibilities and Lambing Strategies
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  Week 2: Matching Nutrition for Age and Stage
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  Week 3: Pasture, Predators, and Parasites
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  Week 4: Health Management
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  Week 5: Financial Considerations and a Quick Look at Housing and Handling Systems
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  Week 6: Record-keeping, ID, and Selection Methods
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Frequently Asked Questions


When does the course start and finish?
The course officially starts on the date given above, when the instructor gets involved and begins hosting live weekly webinars. If you are registering after the webinars have concluded for the year, you will have immediate access to all the course materials, and will be able to participate in the next year's webinars if you choose to.
How long do I have access to the course?
How does lifetime access sound? After enrolling, you have unlimited access to this course for as long as you like - across any and all devices you own.
What if I am unhappy with the course?
We would never want you to be unhappy! If you are unsatisfied with your purchase, contact us in the first 7 days and we will give you a full refund.

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