Practical sheep health workshops help small producers prepare for winter
Livestock SA is encouraging hobby and small-scale sheep producers across the Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu Peninsula to take part in upcoming Preparing Sheep for Winter workshops.
The free, practical workshops are designed to build confidence in sheep care and animal health ahead of winter, with a strong focus on hands on skills and real-world decision-making.
Delivered by experienced presenters Tim Prance and Colin Trengove, the workshops cover key topics including sheep nutrition, pasture versus supplementary feeding, practical body condition scoring, conducting basic animal health checks, common health issues, on farm biosecurity and current tagging and eID requirements.
Livestock SA Project Officer Tanya Dobrijevic said the importance of these workshops had been reinforced by the response from participants at the first session held at Mount Torrens.
“Feedback from the Mount Torrens workshop clearly showed how valuable practical, face-to-face learning is for smaller flock owners. “Participants appreciated the opportunity to ask questions specific to their own situations and learn skills they can apply immediately on their properties.”
The workshops are delivered as facilitated discussions rather than formal lectures, allowing participants to guide conversations and raise issues relevant to their own flocks, whether they are new to sheep ownership or managing animals as part of a long-established enterprise.
Two further Preparing Sheep for Winter workshops will be delivered over the next month:
- Waitpinga – Friday 18 April
- Meadows – Friday 2 May
The workshops are free to attend and run as Saturday morning sessions, making them accessible for hobby farmers and small-scale producers balancing off farm work.
“Whether someone is running a handful of sheep or has been farming for decades, there’s always something new to learn. “Good preparation going into winter can make a significant difference to animal health, welfare and long-term productivity.”
Registrations are now open:
Small Landholder sheep health workshop [Waitpinga] | Livestock SA