The Day-to-Day Realities of Grazing & Handling Sheep
Owens Farm
Sunbury, Northumberland County
Thursday, September 9, 2010
10am - 4pm
$15 PASA members, $25 all others; lunch is provided
Caroline Owens and Family, Owens Farm - click here to visit www.OwensFarm.com and learn more about this fantistic farm!
Join PASA for a day on the Owens Farm, a 112 acre family-run sheep farm. The morning session will focus on the details and challenges of rotationally grazing sheep: fencing, watering systems, minerals, foot care, noxious weeds, upside-down sheep, parasite control, shade, flock movement, and winter management.
After lunch, we will focus on the realities of handling sheep, both as a flock and individually. Participants will work with Caroline to bring the flock into the handling system and run them through the scale and tilt tables. This will be followed by a hands-on session focusing on catching, controlling, and restraining sheep without the use of specialized equipment. Please come prepared for time spent outdoors.
We will also spend some time talking about risk management in grazing pasture systems, focusing on the new Pasture Program offered by the PA Department of Agriculture.
About the Presenters
David and Caroline Owens raise grass-fed Coopworth and Katahdin sheep, pastured Tamworth pigs, pastured chicken, and honeybees on 112 acres between Sunbury and Danville. All their products are direct-marketed. At the time of the workshop, they will be grazing 60 ewes in one flock, and their finishing lambs in another.
Click here for directions to Owens Farm.
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