Rumen Health & GRazing
Next Class: June 10 & June 11-12, 2026
Worm and parasite issues are endemic to many sheep operations, and many of these problems start in the soil and grass. We can’t have healthy soil without healthy sheep, and vice versa. Join us for our next class: June 10 (in Spanish) or June 11-12 (in English) in Clearlake Oaks, CA. Register here!
In this class, students learn to:
Poor rumen health, worm, and parasite issues are endemic to many sheep operations, and many of these problems begin in the grass and soil. We can’t have healthy soil without healthy sheep. In this class, you will learn to:
Get comfortable with the gut: the anatomy of the whole-sheep gastrointestinal (GI) tract and system, what it really is and how it functions, and all of its parts
What a normal, healthy sheep gastrointestinal system looks like
Rumen challenges that result from changes in feed sources and seasons
How abnormal things happen
Anatomy, including via necropsy
A simple, portable kit for field necropsy and how to perform them hands on, including taking, labeling and transporting samples
Introduction to parasites, including round worms and coccidia
How to recognize and control parasite load
FAMACHA introduction, demonstrations and certification