UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Beef, sheep, meat-goat and swine producers looking for information on how to make their livestock enterprises more profitable can take advantage of four home-study courses offered by Penn State Extension.
The courses, all of which begin Feb. 3, will cover profit-enhancing production principles for raising beef, sheep, meat goats and swine. Lessons are available through conventional mail delivery, or through email and the Internet.
The sheep, meat-goat and swine courses each have six weekly lessons; the beef course has seven lessons. Lesson topics include production basics, selection principles (beef), nutrition, health, reproduction, marketing and financial issues.
Each lesson has information about the topic and a worksheet for producers to complete and mail or email back to Penn State Extension for comments. Producers also can submit questions they would like to have answered.
Beginning producers
The courses are intended for beginning producers and for those who wish to start a livestock operation in the future. Worksheet questions are designed to assist producers with analyzing their current operation.
Course instructors address comments to participants’ individual situations to better help them improve their management skills.
For more details or to sign up for a course, go to http://extension.psu.edu/animals/health/events, or call 814-445-8912. To speak to one of the instructors, contact the Penn State Extension office in Bedford County, at 814-623-4800, or in Fulton County, at 717-485-4111.
Cost for each course is $50 if taken via email and the Internet and $85 if taken using U.S. Postal Service deliveries. Deadline for registration is Jan. 20.
