Sheep, Beef and Deer Training with Primary ITO
From short courses to full apprenticeships, we have a training solution for you. Enter your details below and we'll be in touch, or keep scrolling to learn more about our programmes.
Shepherd and Farm Hand Training Options (Level 2 and 3)
Topics include: safe work practices in own work area in a primary industry operation, describing duties, rights, representation and the regulator in terms of New Zealand health and safety legislation, applying health and safety risk assessment to a job role, and workplace health and safety culture and practices.
- Duration: 4 months
- Cost: $200
Topics include: health & safety on farm, safe handling of agri-chemicals, handling of livestock (stockmanship), essential animal health, fencing (temporary & permanent), working a farm dog, assist with feeding
- Duration: 7 months
- Cost: Zero Fees! T&Cs apply.
Let’s talk feed! Knowledgeable staff can be your eyes and ears on the farm. Topics include: understanding how having quality feed at the right times is vital for good stock performance, calculating feed supply and demand, pasture and soil management practices.
- Duration: 5 months
- Cost: $1,150
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Stock health has always been essential to on-farm success – give your team the knowledge to maintain your farm’s standards. Topics include: biosecurity, types of diseases and how to apply best practice to mitigate risk, identification and care of healthy livestock, ill health and ill thrift, the use of preventative animal health measures, and obligations and practices with regards to animal welfare requirements.
- Duration: 4 months
- Cost: $460
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Including the micro-credentials listed above, this programme provides learners with a solid skill set across a range of farm tasks and helps provide the “why, when and how” of on-farm activities. Topics include: livestock feed supply and demand, health, wellbeing and biosecurity, mating, parturition and young stock. Elective topics include: fencing, assisting with maintaining machinery and caring for and handling farm working animals.
- Duration: 20 months
- Cost: $2,875
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Head Shepherd and Stock/Block Manager Training Options (Level 4)
Do your staff need to know the what, why and how of farm environment planning? Topics include: describing farm environmental risks and farming practices that mitigate environmental risks, identifying risks to farm and catchment environments and describing opportunities to improve farming practice and applying good farming practices to implement and monitor a farm environment plan.
- Duration: 5 months
- Cost: $500.25
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Are your managers up to speed to implement and monitor livestock plans for next year? Topics include: implement and monitor a livestock health plan; implement and monitor a livestock mating plan (breeding only); implement and monitor and livestock parturition plan.
- Duration: 6 months
- Cost: $862.50
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Including the micro-credentials listed above this, comprehensive breeding qualification will enhance learners' skills, progressing them through to step up and lead day-to-day operational activities and implementation of production plans. Topics include: farm environment planning, feeding, pastoral production systems and benchmarking, maintenance and agribusiness activities, health, mating and parturition management and production planning.
The programme is seasonally based, ideally the start dates are Feb/March or Nov/Dec.
- Duration: 20 months
- Cost: $3,220
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Longer programmes
Interested in on-going training to develop your staff?
The Micro-credentials listed above can be completed as part of a New Zealand Certificate (levels 3 and 4 available) or even a full New Zealand Apprenticeship - plus employers can get up to $6,000 back per year for each first-year apprentice they have employed on farm via the Apprenticeship Boost! And for senior staff, managers and farm owners, we also offer two Level 5 programmes:
- NZ Certificate in Primary Industry Production Management
- NZ Diploma in Primary Industry Business Management
For dairy farming training click here.
For all other training options, click here.
Vehicle & Chainsaw Training
Looking to get yourself or your team trained to safely operate vehicles or a chainsaw on-farm?
We offer practical, bite-sized courses which are perfect for onboarding new staff, upskilling seasonal workers, and maintaining safe, best-practice operations.
Operations training is available in:
- Tractor
- 4WD
- Light utility vehicle (LUV)
- Motorcycle
- Quad bike
- Chainsaw
How we support you
Our Training Advisers work alongside you to achieve the best result for your business and your staff. They’ll provide expertise on learning pathways with your business needs, undertake regular visits, and for learners, they’ll plan study nights and arrange literacy and numeracy support when required.
Latest Sheep, Beef and Deer Farming News
Photo & Article Credit: Frankie Webb, Horowhenua Chronicle
