We created Camp Kaos because…
People heard about the training that Kaos Sheep Outfit offers employees and asked to attend, so we opened it to the public.
Animal health and husbandry often get lost in conversations about land management and grazing.
Many classes cover wildfire fuel types, plant species, and soil samples, yet there is no healthy soil without healthy animals. The biggest risks and losses in the grazing business are in animal vet care and husbandry challenges
The trauma of accidental animal suffering or death can end the grazing businesses most needed in a time of climate extremes.
Shepherds who experience animal losses tend to blame themselves first – even for events beyond their control. This emotional and financial trauma is a primary factor in graziers’ decision to cease operations. Improving animal health and survival helps to ensure the long-term survival of land stewardship
There is a shortage of livestock veterinarians and access to animal care.
Many graziers do not have a local livestock vet, and operate in areas too remote for a vet to reach. Other folks cannot afford frequent veterinary visits for multiple flock animals.
A lack of hands-on animal care education. Veterinary-led classes are rare to nonexistent outside of vet school.
Agriculture extension programs are critical and fill an important gap, as do community college animal science and vet tech programs, but many accessible classes are online, hands-off, and focused on domestic pets, not livestock.