The Learning Council: Animal Husbandry Educational Series

Blending educational, social, and health-oriented goals, CEC storytelling awardee The Learning Council (TLC) is a holistically minded organization that works primarily to make the Colorado school system a more equitable one, provide healthy food to its local community, and support social justice initiatives. The Learning Council offered a series of Animal Husbandry classes focusing on working with animals in a humane and environmentally sustainable way:

The Animal Husbandry Basics Class addressed the principles and management techniques of raising and feeding livestock and discussed different types of livestock that do well in this climate. Classes learned about pregnancy care, kidding, bottle feeding, husbandry skills, dairying, and a look into what it takes to have a successful local farm business.

The Sheep/Wool/Family Farm Business Class learned about raising sheep for wool, meat, milk and breeding stock, focusing on the care and maintenance of the flock, value added products, and feeding and grazing practices.

The Rotational Grazing/Pasture Management Class learned grazing management systems and techniques on improving soil and the health of animals, focusing on pastured poultry, housing, electric fencing, poultry predators, raising laying hens, intensive grazing systems for sheep, water systems for pasture animals, and regenerative meat production.

The Animals in the Permaculture System Class learned how animals function in the ecosystem of the farm and garden, focusing on the ways in which livestock control vegetation and pests while completing the nutrient cycle of the farm and providing products to the farmer. They learned about pollinators, animal forage systems for self-feeding, utilizing livestock for pasture improvement and fire control, and designing a supportive system for symbiotic interactions.

The Raising Animals for Meat & Processing Class learned practices for raising healthy and nutritious meat products, housing for animals, feeding systems, best breeds, and humane animal-processing techniques.