Basics
These articles cover the building blocks of animal care, the things that apply no matter what species you’re keeping. Quarantine, feeding, metabolic diseases, managing elderly animals and routine health checks are all part of good husbandry. If you’re new to livestock, start here.
If you're not sure what keeping livestock involves, or if it's for you, then our online course 'What You Need to Know to Keep Livestock' is a great place to find out what setup you'll need to have, and how much looking after is needed for each species of livestock. It also covers the basic legal pitfalls along with general farming information.
Sheep
Raising sheep comes with rewards, and a few unique challenges. From flystrike and footrot to lambing and nutrition, these articles are here to help.
For insight into how sheep perceive their surroundings and interact with each other, read Understanding sheep.
The Keeping Sheep course covers everything from choosing animals to feeding, shearing, and managing health. For a more detailed look at reproduction and genetics, the Sheep Breeding course is ideal.
Cattle
Whether you’re running beefies or a house cow, there’s more to cattle than just grass. Browse our guides on feeding, handling, and seasonal care.
To better understand how cattle experience the world and behave as a group, see Understanding cattle.
Our Keeping Cattle course covers setup, selection, pasture, health care, and selling produce. If you're focused on reproduction, mating, and genetic decisions, the Cattle Breeding course goes deeper.
Goats
Goats are clever, hardy - and often infuriating. These articles cover feeding, housing, worm control, and breed differences.
Understanding goats explores how goats use their senses, how they learn, and what drives their behaviour.
The Keeping Goats course includes practical advice on housing, feeding, hoof trimming, parasite control, and fibre or milk production.
Poultry
Chooks are a gateway animal for many lifestyle farmers. Learn about coop design, how many eggs to expect, and how to keep your flock healthy and productive.
To learn how poultry see, respond to flock dynamics, and make sense of their environment, read Understanding poultry.
The Keeping Chickens course covers housing, flock management, nutrition, common health issues, and egg production systems.
Pigs
Pigs are smart, strong, and very food-focused. These articles help you manage fencing, feeding, and breed selection.
Understanding pigs looks at how pigs think, communicate, and respond to their surroundings.
Our Pig Health & Husbandry course provides practical help on housing, feeding, health management and production.
Horses & other Equines
Horses, ponies, and donkeys bring their own set of needs. We cover paddock management, hoof care, feeding, and fencing.
Understanding horses and other equines explains how they use their senses, how they think, and how to manage them calmly and safely.
Alpaca
These beautiful animals are increasingly popular. Learn about feeding, health, and how they fit into a small block system.
Understanding alpacas describes how they interact with each other and their environment, and what that means for managing them well.
The Alpaca Health & Husbandry course includes feeding, handling, fleece care, and routine health tasks, all explained by a NZ vet.
Other species
From working dogs to rabbits and the occasional oddball species, this section shares what you need to know to keep them safe and healthy.
For advice on keeping domestic pets on the block, see Understanding Pets on the Block.
Support & Legal
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