Sheep Infrastructure Workshops - 2009

Sheep Infrastructure Workshop

1. December 9 and 10, 2009, Sir Sandford Fleming College, (Frost Campus), 200 Albert St. S., Lindsay, ON Map - pdf (99KB)

2. April 28 & 29, 2010, Grand Valley

3. September 1 and 2, 2010, Grand Valley

Two day Course sponsored by the Large Flock Operators and The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food, and Rural Affairs, limited to 20 participants.

The Program is targeted toward people in the planning cycle for building large scale, commercial scale infrastructure as part of an expansion plan in their sheep enterprise. The workshop is intended to give ideas, show latest concepts, test out participants' ideas and examine relative costs, but not a financial recipe or exact expenses list as that is dependant on their personal situation. The group will look at what regulations need to be addressed, although these should not be big ticket items on any sheep farm. Participants will be sent home with some good ideas and the need to examine more options before committing themselves on any capital project.

The Workshop includes stops at several commercial-sized operations that are using some of the concepts covered, and also some that are choosing not to use the featured concepts. This will allow participants to mix and match what portions of the workshop will best suit their needs for their facilities and make informed decisions on expansion.

*This training opportunity is eligible for cost-share funding through the Growing Forward Business Development for Farm Businesses program. For more information on program requirements, please visit http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/about/growingforward/busdev.htm or call 1-877-424-1300.

Agenda
Day 1

8:30 Registration: Snacks and Coffee

9:00 Course Introduction

• Introductions and a large flock perspective
• Your binder as a resource book

9:20 Farmstead Planning

• Regulations affecting new Sheep Facilities (NMA, MDS)
• New Barn design options: materials and styles
• Siting; direction, wind, drainage, nuisance, slope

10: 10 Break

10:30 Forage and Feeding Systems

• Forage Systems: the case for silage
• Hay, silage, TMR, and alternate feeding
• Feeder design concepts
• Yards: cornerstone of cost effectiveness

12:00 Hot Lunch

12:45 Building Environment

• Lighting and Ventilation
• Renovating buildings for sheep
• Logistics Centre, Office and Utility

2:05 Lamb Rearing

• Artificial Rearing
• Feeder lamb facilities
• Grain mixing systems

 2:45 Coffee Break and Farm Tours

• Farm A
• Farm B

5:45 Farm Tours conclude

7:00 Optional - Evening program

Day 2

8:00 Q and A's over Coffee and Snacks

8:30 Handling Facilities

• Sheep behaviour and its use in handling systems
• Handling Facility Planning
• Handling facility- key components
• Portable / Permanent discussion
• Futuristic planning / new technologies

10:30 Coffee break

10:50 Shearing Facilities

• Shearing Facility Planning
• Shearing facility - key components
• Handling and shearing planning exercise

11:45 Hot Lunch

12:30 "Finishing Touches"

• Deadstock Infrastucture
• Predator control and fences
• Lambing facilities

 2:00 Coffee break and Farm Tours

• Farm C
• Farm D

4:30 Adjourn

Registration Form

Name: ____________________________________________________

Address: __________________________________________________

Postal Code: ________________ Phone: ________________________

E-mail: ____________________________________________________

Current Flock Size: _____ewes

Early Registration (up to Feb. 26) $175.00

_____ Participant(s) X $175.00 = $________

Late Registration (after Feb. 26) $215.00 By Phone Only 519-537-6621

_____ Participant(s) X $215.00 = $________

Signature __________________

48 Hour Cancellation Required

Make cheques payable to Sheep Seminars
Mail to: Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs,
401 Lakeview Drive, Woodstock, ON N4T 1W2
Phone 519-537-6621
Fax: 519-539-5351