Distance Learning Sheep Course
Learn the rudiments of sheep care and management
The course offers you the chance to understand more about the care and management of sheep. It covers a diverse range of topics relating to sheep such as: breeds; selection and breeding; nutrition; diseases of sheep; commercial flock management; lamb care; wool ;and the marketing of sheep and sheep products.
"Although I can do all of the practical work that is required to raise sheep, I am learning a lot more than I didn't already know. all that I knew I learned from my dad. I am enjoying this course and when I finish it, I would like to do another one, perhaps in management ". Jonathan - Sheep student
COURSE STRUCTURE
There are 8 lessons as follows:
Lesson 1: Introduction: Terminology and Breeds Factors affecting the choice of breed Product and Market Rearing and Management System Overview of Sheep Breeds Sheep Terminology Lesson 2: Selection and Breeding Growth Rate Reproductive Efficiency Carcase quality Wool traits Culling old ewes Selecting replacement ewes Selecting replacement rams Commercial Sheep Production Choosing a lambing time Autumn lambing Spring lambing Accelerated lambing Managing ewes prior to mating Using hormones to control reproduction Joining methods Anatomy of ewe reproductive organs Anatomy of ram reproductive organs Ultrasound Signs of lambing Lesson 3: Nutrition of sheep Anatomy Condition scoring When to condition score Factors affecting feed requirements Feeding rams Feeding ewes Feeding lambs and fatteners Nutrition and wool production Lesson 4: Diseases in sheep Viral and rickettsial diseases Bacterial diseases Metabolic diseases Protozoan diseases Poisoning Vaccination The medicine chest Giving injections Disease prevention through sound management Lesson 5: General management of commercial flocks Handling and treatment facilities Drenching Injecting Hoof Trimming Shearing Tail docking Castration Blowfly strike Lesson 6: Care of lamb Abnormal Presentation Presentation: One front leg back Presentation: Both front legs back Presentation: Hind legs first Presentation: Head back, both front feet forward Presentation: Breech or tail first Presentation: Twin lambs presented together Post lambing care Drenching Rearing orphan lambs Lambing records Managing the fattening lamb Feeding Lamb marking Lesson 7: Wool Characteristics of wool Types of wool Wool classing Wool processing Factors influencing the estimation of yield Piece Picking Wool Scouring Carding Lesson 8: The marketing of sheep and sheep products Wool sales Sale by private treaty The auction system Wool futures Industry regulatory and marketing authorities Lamb and mutton marketing: Paddock sale, Sale yard auction, Over-the-hook sale Electronic Marketing, Live Sheep exports, Forward price contracts Factors affecting the value of lamb or mutton: Carcass weight, Skin value, Payment basis (hot or cold weight) etc What qualification will I achieve for completing this course?
This is an individual module course. The individual module courses are 100 hour long usually and can be taken on their own or as part of a larger program of study.
If you wish to take an individual module course as a stand alone course, you can elect to sit an optional exam at the end of it.
If you successfully pass the exam and all assignments, you will receive a Statement of Attainment. You can take examinations at a time and location to suit you. If you enrol, you will be sent further information on how to arrange examinations at the end of the course.
If you do not wish to take the exam, you will receive a Course Completion letter when you have passed all assignments.
There is an assignment at the end of each lesson. So for example, if an individual module course contains ten lessons, you will need to complete ten assignments. Assignments can be sent to us via email, post or fax.
Other qualifications, such as certificates, diplomas etc may require examinations to be taken as part of the overall assessment process.
You can find further information on the examinations process by clicking on the “Enrolment” link above.
You can find further information on other courses by clicking on the “Courses” link above.
WHAT YOU WILL DO IN THIS COURSE
Collect information about different sheep breeds which are being farmed or could be successfully farmed in your region. Compare the different characteristics of sheep breeds in terms of appearance, hardiness, commercial potential. Select breeds for three different purposes, including wool production and meat production, in your locality. Inspect at least two sheep, ideally, from separate flocks, and determine their age by looking in their mouths. Define the following different sheep breeding terms: Oestrus, Gestation, Weaning, Flushing, Wet ewes, Teasers. Design a "breeding record form" which includes all necessary factors. List criteria to be used for selecting sheep for different purposes, including for replacement and for slaughter. Develop a standard form, which considers both meat and wool, to use for judging sheep. Talk to at least two experienced sheep farmers about "condition scoring" of sheep. Compare the differences in food required by different types of sheep, including: rams; breeding ewes at different stages of pregnancy; sheep being fattened for meat. Prepare a collection of ten pasture plant species from at least two different sheep properties and comment on the suitability of the pasture for sheep. Distinguish between the different categories of sheep health problems, including: viral, bacterial, metabolic, protozoal, poisoning, parasites. Describe how to perform different pest and disease control tasks, including: drenching, injecting, hoof trimming, docking. AIMS
Select appropriate breeds of sheep for different purposes. Explain the techniques used in sheep commercial breeding. Select sheep to be used for different production purposes. Explain the techniques used in the management of a commercial flock of sheep. Explain the processes involved in handling wool after shearing. Explain the procedures used in managing the health of sheep. Explain the techniques used in managing the marketing of sheep and sheep products
More Information on ACS Distance Education and our courses
Who are our tutors?
Our tutors are all highly experienced and professional, knowledgeable in their field of study. We have staff from around the world, enabling us to gain a wide variety of perspectives. We have a school in the UK and in Australia. If you would like to have a look at our tutors, then click on the “The School” in the boxes above and choose “The Staff” option.
Sample Course Notes
Our courses are all written by highly qualified tutors and writers, who also teach on the courses, so know them well. We strive to update our courses and improve them with new information, methods and knowledge on an ongoing basis. If you would like to see examples of some of our courses, then choose the “Enrolment” option above, and then click on “Sample Course Notes”.
What learning method should I choose?
We offer three learning methods – e-learning, correspondence and online. If you are not sure which is the right choose for you, then click on the “Enrolment” box above, then “Learning Methods.”
How Long will it take to complete the course?
This obviously varies from student to student. Some students will have more time for study than others. Some students may work quicker than others, so it is an individual thing. We estimate that most students will take, for example, 4 – 6 months to complete a 100 hour individual module, but we allow up to 12 months for you to complete it.
Longer courses will obviously take longer. You can find more information on the length of time required and so on the “Enrolment” box, then selecting “Terms and Conditions of Enrolment.”
What Do Our Students think of us?
If you would like to read comments from our previous students, then choose the “Enrolment” option above, then “Student Testimonials”.
I don’t think this is the right course for me.
If you’re not sure about this course, then why not look at our wide range of other courses. Click on the “Courses” box above.
You may also wish to design your own course to fit in with exactly what YOU want. To do so, click on the “Enrolment” box, then “Design your Own Course”.
If you would like more advice on a course, then you can contact us and ask a tutor about the courses. You can contact us by calling 0800 328 4723 or +44(0) 384 442752 or emailing info@acsedu.co.uk
Recognition and Accreditation
For more information on our recognition and accreditation, click on “The School”, then “Recognition”.
Who is ACS Distance Education?
If you want to know more about ACS and our history, then please click on “The School”, then “About us.”
Correspondence Course Sheep Learn sheep care and managemen t
Improve your knowledge of sheep care and management. Improve your job prospects working with sheep. Learn from our knowledgeable and experienced agriculture tutors. Specially developed course to improve your knowledge of sheep.
Sheep are an important agricultural livestock that are bred for meat and wool worldwide. Careful and informed management of your flock will ensure increased productivity and efficiency. Aimed at professional and amateur graziers, the course provides you with the knowledge to run your sheep effectively and productively and will help you to develop your ability to independently analyse and make decisions about the management requirements of sheep.
"Although I can do all of the practical work that is required to raise sheep, I am learning a lot more than I didn't already know. All that I knew I learned from my dad. I am enjoying this course and when I finish it, I would like to do another one, perhaps in management ". Jonathan - Sheep student
