Before you start:  Choosing the right breed for you.  How and where to buy sheep.  Legislation, paperwork and ear tag requirements.​

Handling: Essential facilities and handling equipment for small flocks.  A practical handling session with our flock: you will learn the essentials such as moving sheep, catching, turning, checking and trimming feet. We'll show you how to carry out a general health check, including body condition scoring your flock. You will also learn correct injection techniques and sites.

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Grazing and Feeding: A look at grassland and our rotational grazing system.  Nutritional requirements and feeding the pregnant ewe.

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Routine Healthcare:  Drawing up a flock health plan to keep your flock in tip-top condition.

Vaccinations - which ones does your flock need?

Essential medications and equipment to have in your kit.

We will cover the three most common welfare problems in detail: Worms, Lameness & Flystrike.

• Strategies for effective worm control, using worm egg counts and avoiding wormer resistance

• Keeping lameness out, correct foot trimming, and treatment of footrot and other common conditions

• Preventing flystrike - shearing, dagging, options for preventative treatments. Treating flystrike cases.

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Other Health Problems:  A look at other sheep ailments you may encounter, such as liver fluke, pneumonia, orf, scab. Treatments you can carry out yourself. When to call the vet.

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Lambing:  A basic overview of breeding and preparation for lambing.  Note that we also run a specific lambing course - Sheep: Breeding, Pregnancy & Lambing where we cover all of this in much more detail.

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Finishing Lambs: This section is optional - for those of you keeping sheep purely as pets, you can opt out of this part of the day.

Weaning and fattening lambs for meat. Abattoirs and butchers. Cuts and quantities and the legalities of selling lamb direct from your smallholding.

What else is Included?

A homecooked lunch, including some of the delicious produce straight from our smallholding.   There will also be plenty of tea/coffee and

homebaking.

All courses include a comprehensive book, covering all of the information taught during the day.

Courses are held in small groups (max 10 people on this course), and are relaxed, friendly events. Questions and discussion are encouraged!

Many people stay in touch following the course, and we are very happy to answer any further questions you might have after the day.

Please note that there is a minimum age of 16 for all courses.