Living with livestock – an introduction to sheep, pigs and cattle
"Many thanks for a quite amazing day" A.M. Bristol
Who would benefit from this course? Are you thinking about taking on some livestock for the first time? Are you uncertain which animal or breed is for you? Do you want to move beyond books and dreams and spend a day with experienced livestock keepers who can give you an insight that will help you make some initial decisions? Are you wavering between taking on a house cow, some weaners or a few ewes? If so, this might just be one of the best days you’ve spent in a while.
Course content: Having livestock is a big responsibility and ensuring sound animal welfare is a must for all smallholders. This course gives you the opportunity to consider what it really means to have sheep, pigs and cows. You will split your day between two neighbouring farms, getting to grips with the pleasures and pains of all three species, so that you end the day with a clearer idea of what animal and breed might best suit you and your land.
- 9.30: South Yeo Farm West, introductions: what are your livestock ambitions?
- 9.45: sheep talk: a bit of theory – the legalities, the shepherd’s year, choosing your breeds
- 10.30: sheep walk: care and welfare, handling and housing, feeding, fencing, breeding and lambing
- 11.30: grab a cuppa. Pig talk: a bit of theory – the legalities, the pigkeeper’s year, choosing your breed
- 12.00: pig walk: care and welfare, handling and housing, feeding, fencing, breeding and farrowing
- 1.00: homemade lunch at South Yeo Farm West (soup, bread, cheese and chutneys)
- 1.45: drive to Locks Park Farm
- 2.00: cattle talk: a bit of theory – the legalities, the cattlekeeper’s year, choosing your breed,
- 2.45: cattle walk: care and welfare, handling and housing, feeding, breeding and calving
- 4.00: Devon cream tea at Locks Park Farm and Q+A
- 4.45: finish
This course is limited to eight people. Do bring: outdoor clothes, clean wellies, waterproofs and possibly a change of clothes if it looks like rain.
Cost: £95 per person including homemade lunch, Devon cream tea and refreshments
Dates: Friday 14th May 2010, Saturday 18th September 2010.
This course is run in partnership with Locks Park Farm and the trainers for this course are Debbie and Andrew at South Yeo Farm West, with Paula Wolton and her son Olly who helps with the Locks Park organic suckler herd of Devon Red Ruby cattle. Paula has been working the land and managing livestock on her farm in Devon ever since she went shopping for a table and came back with a goat over three and a half decades ago. She's set up several successful business enterprises related to food and farming and has appeared on BBC’s Countryfile as a video diarist, guest and presenter. Currently more and more of Paula’s time is being taken up by requests asking her to write or talk about the changing face of our countryside, farming, food and the environment.
Booking: Booking is simple. Just send us your name, address, phone number and email address indicating which course you want to book with your preferred date, and we’ll send you an invoice (payment is required in advance), directions to the farm and any other information you might need. And don’t forget to tell us if you have any dietary restrictions.