Study Resources

Each student will be provided with full course material, access to our online classroom, lectures and access to a tutor with 30 years of experience in pig farming and agricultural training.


Course Schedule/layout/format:

  • Students will receive study materials in the form of readings, vocabulary quizzes, videos etc.

  • A lecture recording will cover the topic and

  • Student's understanding will be assessed through assignments.

  • Certificates will be issued upon successful completion of the course


This course is aimed at experienced as well as aspiring small stock farmers, covering both sheep and goats.

Both production systems on grazing/browsing and zero grazing will be covered. When you intensively feed small stock you then also have to intensively breed to make it economically viable.

Price for the full course:

USD 225.00

Price per module:

USD 75.00 (x 4 modules)

 


Topic 1: Reproduction and Breeding

Week 1 Reproduction:

  • Info about class organization

  • Male & Female Reproductive System

Week 2 Reproduction:

  • The effect of hormones on reproduction

  • Manipulating them for oestrus synchronization, AI and egg transplantation

Week 3 Reproduction:

  • Heat spotting and management aids

  • Pregnancy Scanning

Week 4 Breeding:

  • Common breeds used in commercial production

  • Cross breeding and hybrid vigour

Week 5 Breeding:

  • Extensive farming with the seasons

  • Intensive breeding for intensive feeding situations

Week 6 Breeding:

  • Selection and culling of breeding stock

  • Physical evaluation

Week 7 Breeding:

  • Genotype vs Phenotype

  • Heritability of most important production traits


Topic 2: Welfare, Health, Handling & Diseases

Week 8 Welfare, Health, Handling & Diseases:

  • The 5 duties of care in Animal Welfare

  • Temperature management strategies

  • Stocking rates in grazing/browsing situation

  • Using stocking rates to control invasive species/weeds

Week 9 Welfare, Health, Handling & Diseases:

  • Space requirements in the feedlots/zero grazing situations

  • Through space

  • Design principles of intensive stocking facilities

Week 10 Health & Diseases:

  • Internal parasite control

  • Resistance to oral drenches

  • Biological control methods

  • Signs & symptoms, prevention & control

  • New technologies

Week 11 Health & Diseases:

  • External parasite control

  • “Blocking” and natural immunity building

  • Signs, symptoms, Post mortem and what to look for

Week 12 Health & Diseases:

  • Vaccinations & Immunity theory

  • Zoonotic diseases affecting reproduction Health & Diseases:

  • Notifiable diseases

  • Common routinely vaccinated for diseases

Week 13 Health & Diseases:

  • Metabolic disorders

  • Poison plants

Week 14 Handling & Stockmanship:

  • Routine husbandry procedures

Week 15 Handling & Stockmanship:

  • Herd dynamics

  • Low stress handling & moving of livestock


Topic 3: Nutrition, Digestion, Feeds & Feeding

Week 16 Digestion:

The Ruminant Digestive System

  • Why does RUMINANTS have 4 stomachs?

  • Organs and functions

Week 17 Nutrition & Digestion:

  • What nutrients does the body need?

  • What does each nutrient do in the body?

  • Where and how is each nutrient digested?

Week 18 Nutrition & Digestion:

  • Energy Digestion

  • Energy requirements of different classes of smalls stock

Week 19 Nutrition & Digestion:

  • Protein Digestion

  • Protein requirements of different classes of small stock

  • Supplementing protein (When, How and pitfalls)

Week 20 Feeds and their nutritional value:

  • Nutritional values of some grasses and trees/bushes

  • Feed ingredients for supplementation or zero grazing systems

Week 21 Feeding Systems:

  • Basic Ration Balancing


Topic 4: Managing the breeding flock and marketing offspring

Week 22 Managing the breeding flock during critical periods:

Mating and early/mid gestation:

  • Deciding when to lamb/kid

  • Natural mating season length variance between breeds

  • Preparation of rams/bucks for mating season

  • Fertility & STD check ups

  • Use of “Teasers”

  • Use of harnesses with crayon markers

Week 23 Mating and early/mid gestation:

  • Preparation of females pre-mating

  • Condition scoring and flushing of female flock

    Last trimester and lactation:

  • Nutritional needs for:

    • Maintenance

    • Last trimester of gestation

  • Lactation Last trimester and lactation:

    • 3 Lambing/kidding in 2 years

    • Supplements for dry season/droughts

Week 24 Getting the offspring market ready for top sale prices:

  • Getting a good birth weight

  • Getting maximum milk from mothers AND solid feed ASAP

  • Creep feeding (while still suckling on mothers)

  • Weaning age and growth rate targets

  • Supplying what the top end of the market wants for premium prices