This one day course will give you the opportunity to consider what it really means to have cattle of your own. We cover finding and selecting the right cow(s) for you, getting ready to bring your first cow home and settling them into their new routine, the daily routine and other less regular tasks, keeping yourself and your cows safe, essential equipment, cattle housing and muck management, when to bring in a specialist, breeding, calving, Bovine TB, handling and moving your cattle, feeding, the healthy cow, cattle passports, ear tagging, and other legal requirements and record keeping.

Much of the day will be spent outside with a wonderful organic suckler herd of Devon Rubies. As a definite added bonus, you will go home full of delicious homegrown food – our courses are becoming famous for the quality of our lunches and teas.

For details please check out our website and do contact us with any questions. This course is run by South Yeo Farm West in partnership with Locks Park Farm and the trainer is Paula Wolton and her magnificent 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. Debbie from South Yeo Farm West will also be with you all day – she is a professional trainer, wrote the View From The Field column for The Landsman magazine for three years and has been involved in smallholding/running a small farm for over twenty years.

* 9.30am Introductions and your cow hopes

* Finding, selecting and bringing home your first cows

* Equipment, housing, the routine and other tasks

* Lunch: a lunch of organic Devon Ruby beef, home grown veg, local cheese, homemade chutneys and our own apple juice. Discussion on TB testing and its implications for the cattle owner

* Handling, transporting, feeding, muck management, land management, the healthy and the poorly cow

* Devon cream tea: and a discussion on all the legal requirements such as ear tagging, cattle passports, medicine records and any outstanding questions

* 4.45pm finish.

This course is limited to eight people so that you get all the attention you need and all your questions answered. Do bring: outdoor clothes, clean wellies, waterproofs and a change of clothes if it looks like rain. Cost: £95 per person including homemade lunch, Devon cream tea and refreshments.

Dates: Saturday 17 November 2012

Venue: Locks Park Farm, Hatherleigh, Devon.

What you say: “I originally booked with you to find out the practicalities of keeping animals on our land, and your courses did that and much more. As well as pointing out the regulations, housing, feeding, diseases etc you gave us a valuable glimpse into the psychology of the livestock. It was obvious from both the animals and the land that you and Paula farm very sympathetically – in fact your animals’ obvious contentment seemed to rub off on me in a surprisingly positive and uplifting way…As I drove home, I reflected that I have never been on a course before which has simultaneously satisfied the body, the mind and the soul – thank you.” MJ, Dorset

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Written by: SOUTH YEO FARM WEST
View the original article for contact information and more images: Cattle for Beginners 17th November 2012
Original article posted on the Smallholding Courses website.

We are running a course at Beechhayes in May which covers all elements of rearing calves.  Discussing breed selection, desired outcome, management, feeding and general upkeep.   Looking also at the logistics of cattle passports and the rules and regulations on the transportation.

A hot meal and tea and coffee are provided and the day runs officially from 10 - 4 but invariably overruns.

Full notes to take away are provided too and we can also help arrange local B&B for those coming a distance.  Cost will be £75 for the day. 

To book, please email beechhayes@aol.com . There are only 10 places available so book now to avoid disappointment.  A booking deposit of £25 is required and group discounts are negotiable.

Course Date:  Saturday 26th May 2012

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Written by: Freddies Farm
View the original article for contact information and more images: Calf rearing and Care of the Cow 26th May 2012 devon/Somerset/Dorset
Original article posted on the Smallholding Courses website.

This one day course will cover:
Registering your smallholding for pigs
Preparing for the pigs to arrive (Housing, feed, fencing etc)
Choosing your pigs and bringing them home
Settling your pigs in
Handling
Daily routines
Possible disease and signs to watch for
How best to grow your pigs
Getting sows in pig
Farrowing and weaning
Preparation for slaughter
Transport
Abattoirs
Butchers
Butchery at home (including charcuterie)
Selling your produce

We run from 10am till  4pm on a Saturday or a Sunday
Lots of hands-on opportunity

Cost: £80 per person or £140 per couple

Tea, coffee and home made cakes available throughout the day
Hot pork lunch provided
Set of colour notes to take away.

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Written by: Mike Whyte
View the original article for contact information and more images: Introduction to keeping pigs
Original article posted on the Smallholding Courses website.

NEXT COURSE DATE MAY 5TH 2012

This one day course is an introduction to cattle keeping aimed at the bovine novice. In a mixture of classroom and practical time we cover breed choice, grazing and land management, rules and regs, cattle health and breeding. Starting with Cattle is £70 for the day, including lunch. Tea and coffee are available from 09:30.

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Written by: Lydiacook
View the original article for contact information and more images: Cattle for smallholders – Dorset
Original article posted on the Smallholding Courses website.