Master Small Ruminant Class Combo
Master Small Ruminant Combo Registration- $250
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Individual classes are $75 each
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As you progress in your small ruminant operation, you will want to learn more in depth information in areas that can be improved and enhanced in order to become more efficient and profitable.
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The Small Ruminant Master classes are designed for producers who have been in operation more than 5 years and are ready to hone in on their skills. Classes are offered individually or as a combo, and give lifetime access as long as you are a KGPA/KSWPA member.
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Why Take a KY Master Small Ruminant Class?
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Fine tuning skills in major production areas can help you make just the right improvements in the quality of animals and products you produce.
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Focusing on nutritional and genetic improvement can set you apart from your competition.
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Classes are equivalent to college 300-400 classes. For a fraction of the cost, you can receive research based, in depth information from college level instructors.
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The cost of one class is cheaper than a vet bill for an issue you can handle after taking one or all of these courses.
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Course purchase is one time and access is for a lifetime as long as you are a KGPA/KSWPA member. This means you can return to the information as often as you need.
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Lifetime access of the courses also means that you will receive all updates and additions as courses are enhanced. For example, a rotational grazing planner is coming soon to the KY Small Ruminant Grazing School.
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Benefit of the Combo Option
As you know, nutrition, forage management, genetics, and parasite management all work together in a small ruminant operation. Therefore, even if you are mainly wanting to focus on parasite management, there is a lot of cross over with grazing and genetics. If you are mainly focusing on nutrition, there is a lot of cross over into grazing. If you want to work on genetic improvements, you will see the benefits across both the nutrition and parasite management of your flocks/herds. Purchasing the combo option allows you to look into specific areas in the other courses. For example, when you get to rotational grazing in the nutrition course, you may be interested in the rotational setup and forage option information offered in the grazing school. Also, the combo price is less than buying all the courses separate.
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KY Small Ruminant Master Grazing School
This is a self-paced, online course designed to helps you:
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identify quality forages for your pastures,
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explains how to plant and manage the forages
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explains how to refurbish pastures
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explains how to harvest quality hay
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explains how to feed forages to sheep and goats on a rotational system
This course is chocked full of information created by the University of Kentucky Plant & Soil Science Department and offers a certificate of completion. Instructors include Dr. Ray Smith, Dr. Jimmy Henning, and Dr. Chris Teutsch. Lifetime access is available as long as you are a KGPA/KSWPA member. Non-members will receive a membership with registration.
What do participants have to say about this class?
100% feel more confident about forage management
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100% feel more confident in choosing and establishing forages in their operations
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100% plan to make changes to enhance their rotational grazing systems​
Master Small Ruminant Nutrition Course
Nutrition is the #1 most important part of a small ruminant operation, therefore getting this aspect as good and efficient as possible will in turn give you better profits. This course will help you:
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understand basic physiology
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classify feed stuffs
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identify nutrient requirements for all production stages
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practice ration balancing
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develop balanced rations
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Dr. Don Ely, University and Kentucky, and Dr. Andrew Weaver, North Carolina State University, team up to provide a comprehensive small ruminant nutrition course. This is an online, self paced course with a certificate of completion option. Lifetime access is available as long as you are a KGPA/KSWPA member. Non-members will receive a membership with registration.
What do participants have to say about this class?
100% felt this course helped them gain more knowledge about small ruminant nutrition
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100% felt more confident in meeting the nutritional needs of their small ruminants after taking this course
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100% made changes in their operations to better enhance the nutrition of their small ruminants
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100% participants said the course was very comprehensive and covered all the topics they needed for small ruminant nutrition
Master Small Ruminant Genetics Course
Dr. Andrew Weaver, North Carolina State University breaks down many aspects of small ruminant genetics from breed traits to genomics. After this class, you will know:
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the qualitative traits of many breeds
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how to select for the traits most important to your operation
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know how to keep records to determine genetic improvement
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identify where to purchase high quality replacement stock
This is an online, self paced course most ideal for producers that are ready to move to utilizing genetic programs like the National Sheep Improvement Program. Lifetime access is available as long as you are a KGPA/KSWPA member. Non-members will receive a membership with registration.
What do participants have to say about this class?
100% plan to make genetic changes to their flocks/herds based on breed traits learned in the course
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100% felt more knowledgeable about breeding systems
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100% chose selection goals to implement in their flocks/herds
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100% plan to use EBVs in future genetic selections
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Basics of Small Ruminant Parasite Management
Parasite management is the most difficult part of small ruminant production. There is no silver bullet, but there are several different tools that can be used to minimize infestation. Dr. Andrew Weaver, North Carolina State University and Dr. Beth Johnson, DVM, provide:
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the basics of dewormer resistance
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how to use genetic and nutritional tools to reduce the parasite loads in flocks/herds
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demonstrate body condition scoring
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demonstrate reading FAMACHA scores
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tells how producers can receive FAMACHA Certification
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Lifetime access is available as long as you are a KGPA/KSWPA member. Non-members will receive a membership with registration.
This course can also be offered through an Extension Agent.
What do participants have to say about this class?
100% became more knowledgeable about parasites
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100% felt more confident with treatment options
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100% are going to implement genetic tools in their parasite management
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