These are the core skills and knowledge every lifestyle farmer needs, no matter what animals you keep. You’ll find practical guides on recognising health issues, planning feed, understanding common diseases, and managing your animals through the seasons.
Whether you’re new to livestock or have years of experience, these articles will help you keep your animals healthy, safe, and well cared for.
Even the healthiest animals can face illness or injury. These resources explain what to look for, how to respond promptly, and when to call in expert help.
Good feeding is the foundation of animal health and productivity. Learn how much pasture your animals need, what supplements may be required, and how to avoid common feed-related problems.
Successful breeding and rearing require preparation, observation, and timely action. These guides cover the key stages from pregnancy to rearing healthy young animals.
Prevention and early intervention are the best tools in the fight against disease. These resources focus on common livestock conditions, parasite control, and disease awareness.
Safe, low-stress handling benefits both you and your animals. These guides explain basic handling principles and good welfare practices.
Weather, pasture conditions, and seasonal changes bring their own challenges. These articles help you plan ahead and keep animals comfortable year-round.
Many conditions affect multiple species. These resources provide practical overviews to help you recognise issues and take the right next steps.
Some diseases can spread between animals and people, or quickly through a herd. Awareness is key to prevention.
Good routines reduce stress and keep animals in top condition. These guides explain how to carry out common livestock care tasks safely and effectively.
For in-depth advice on individual species check out our keeping livestock courses
For species-specific feeding needs, see Livestock & Pets.
Browse all of our Basics articles
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