Award: Diploma

Length: 30 Credits

Program Description:

The Lamb and Wool Management Program is concerned with developing the sheep enterprise operators ability to organize and manage resources to meet family and business goals. Good management requires a sound knowledge of economic and scientific principles because they are the framework for a profitable sheep enterprise. Good management provides a perspective that considers the relationship of all parts to the whole farm business. Good sheep management requires knowledge of sheep production practices and animal science, as well as new technology developments in the field. The Lamb and Wool Management Program is concerned with the development of a persons knowledge of economic, management, and scientific principles and using them in a profit oriented decision making process that enables them to meet their goals.

Prerequisites: To be eligible for enrollment in Lamb and Wool Management courses a student must be a sheep producer or must secure the consent of the instructor.

Program Delivery: A diploma in Lamb and Wool Management can be earned by completing the required curriculum by one of two options or a combination of both as agreed on with the instructor.

Option A -- Curriculum is delivered through a combination of classroom, lab, on-farm instruction and individual instruction. This option is available only for students within 125 miles of Pipestone, Minnesota or through permission of the instructor.

Option B -- Curriculum is delivered by independent study/correspondence course method. Students will work on courses at their own pace and during the hours that best fit their schedules.

 LWMP 1001 Introduction To Sheep Management
This course introduces basic sheep management principles. Students will study the year around management and production cycle for a sheep enterprise and understand how each production stage influences enterprise profitability. This course also studies the philosophy of sheep management and its relationship to business goals. (1 credit/0 lecture, 0 lab, 1 other)

LWMP 1002 Sheep Management Concepts
This course will take an in-depth look at strategic management and planning in a sheep enterprise. Students will study the trends in U.S. and Global Sheep Production; Resource Management; Strategic Planning and Development of a Management System. Students will also study financial measuring and monitoring methods. The course will also help students become familiar with how to prepare and work with an ag lender. (2 credits/0 lecture, 0 lab, 2 other) 

LWMP 1003 Pasture and Grazing Management
In this course students will study the principals of grazing management and pasture improvement. Included will be a study of optimum grazing methods; intensive grazing systems; integrated crop-sheep production and improving pastures for increased production.
(1 credit/0 lecture, 0 lab, 1 other) 

LWMP 1004 Predator Control Methods
This course is an overview of predator control methods and options. Students will become familiar with identifying predator problems; how they can be prevented and methods to control predator losses. (2 credits/0 lecture, 0 lab, 2 other) 

LWMP 1101 Sheep Genetic Concepts
This course is a study of basic genetic concepts; genetic improvement principles; breeds of sheep and inherited traits or defects. Students will also become familiar with developing mating systems and crossbreeding systems to maximize the benefits of genetic principles.
(2 credit/0 lecture, 0 lab, 2 other) 

LWMP 1102 Selection Methods
This course will study selection methods and concepts to improve flock productivity. Students will also become familiar with tools for genetic improvement and selection programs for economically important traits. (1 credit/0 lecture, 0 lab, 1 other) 

LWMP 1201 Sheep Behavior and Handling Methods
This course will help students become familiar with sheep behavior and how to use these behavior tendencies to more easily work with sheep. The course will also study sheep handling system concepts; construction; layout and proper site selection. (1 credit/0 lecture, 0 lab, 1 other)

LWMP 1202 Equipment and Facilities
This course will cover planning for sheep facilities; barn design; lot layout and sheep feeding equipment. Students will become aware of housing and feeding requirements and how to effectively plan for them. (2 credits/0 lecture, 0 lab, 2 other) 

LWMP 1301 Sheep Diseases
This course helps students become familiar with sheep diseases that need to be managed in a successful sheep enterprise. Diseases will be studied in the following categories - Lambs from birth to three weeks old; three weeks to weaning; weaning to maturity; ewes; rams and general diseases. External and internal parasites will also be addressed. (3 credits/0 lecture, 0 lab, 3 other) 

LWMP 1302 Preventative Health Programs
This course will study basic disease control methods and flock health guidelines. Class participants will learn how to establish an economical year around flock preventative health program.
(1 credit/0 lecture, 0 lab, 1 other) 

LWMP 1304 Basic Lamb Care Skills
This course will help students become familiar with the skills necessary to treat, vaccinate and save newborn lambs. (1 credit/0 lecture, 0 lab, 1 other) 

LWMP 1305 Basic Sheep Care Skills
This course will provide students with the skills necessary to carry out the various care practices in mature sheep. Including vaccination methods, foot trimming, handling difficult births, injection sites, fixing prolapses and other management skills. (1 credit/0 lecture, 0 lab, 1 other) 

LWMP 1401 Lamb Marketing
This course is designed to make students aware of methods of lamb marketing and the factors that influence lamb prices. The course will cover the U.S. sheep industry, marketing systems, marketing alternatives and issues influencing the market value of lamb. (2 credits/0 lecture, 0 lab, 2 other) 

LWMP 1402 Sheep Quality Assurance
This course will study the factors that affect the quality of the lamb and wool products we produce. Included are feed management, flock health, handling and transporting. Emphasis will be placed on producing high quality, consumer safe products. (1 credit/0 lecture, 0 lab, 1 other) 

LWMP 1501 Nutrition Requirements of Sheep
This course will emphasize nutrient requirements of sheep and nutritional management of all class of sheep. The students will also study the digestive physiology of sheep.
(2 credits/0 lecture, 0 lab, 2 other) 

LWMP 1502 Ewe Ration Formulation
This course will make students aware of the methods used to balance rations to meet the sheep nutrient needs for each specific stage of production. The course will also cover least cost ration balancing. (1 credit/0 lecture, 0 lab, 1 other) 

LWMP 1601 Sheep Production
This course will help students understand the sheep reproductive system including the function of the reproductive system; the reproductive cycle; factors affecting reproduction and reproductive problems. These topics will address both the ram and the ewe. (2 credits/0 lecture, 0 lab 2 other) 

LWMP 1602 Reproductive Management
This course will look at ways that the reproductive cycle can be manipulated to overcome seasonal fertility patterns and to increase prolificacy. Also several reproductive management systems will be studied. (1 credit/0 lecture, 0 lab, 1 other) 

LWMP 1701 Wool Characteristics and Properties
This course will provide an in-depth look at the biological development of wool fiber and the properties that make it a unique clothing fiber. In addition this course will study the factors that determine the value of wool, how these can be improved and methods to measure these qualities. (2 credits/0 lecture, 0 lab, 2 other) 

LWMP 1702 Wool Harvesting, Marketing and Processing
This course will study proper harvesting methods; sources of wool contamination; marketing methods and an overview of the wool processing methods. (1 credit/0 lecture, 0 lab, 1 other) 

For information on these classes, you can contact us by email!

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