Courses

Helen Darlington has been training students and industry clients since 1992, but specialising in practical goat husbandry and management training since 1998. Over the years, she has regularly run short courses for people in the industry, or considering entering the industry. 

The courses are designed to provide a broad overview of all the information required to manage goats successfully. They cover the theory and practical application of important topics including:

  • Breeds and selection
  • Health
  • Nutrition
  • Breeding programmes
  • Fencing
  • Predator control
  • Marketing

Information about the management of Dorper sheep is included alongside the goat information, as Yarrabee runs the sheep enterprise in conjunction with the goats. All education and training is delivered by Helen, a fully qualified and experienced instructor, livestock manager and Boer goat judge. Delivery of training is on-farm, (Yarrabee, Goombungee) in an environment that demonstrates and implements industry standard management practices of goats and sheep.

The courses are usually run over two days on the last weekend of May and October each year. 

Enquire now for more details and secure your place in advance as  numbers are limited to a maximum of 12 attendees per course.   The cost is $495 (inc GST) per person, or $935 (inc GST) per couple.  Discounts may be arranged for group bookings.  Participants interested in an advanced level course (run according to demand) must have considerable goat experience and / or have attended a previous goat husbandry course.

Participants need to find their own accommodation in the local area; (the town of Crows Nest is just 20 km from Yarrabee, and city of Toowoomba, 35 km) and bring their lunch each day.  Morning and afternoon teas are supplied.

NOTE THAT THE INFORMATION BELOW IS NO LONGER RELEVANT FOR OCTOBER – POSTPONED UNTIL EARLY 2024

However, the approaching October course takes on a different format.

 THE NEXT GOAT / SHEEP COURSE WILL BE RUN 
ON THESE DATES:

Friday 27th, Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th October 2023

Note that this particular course is taking on a different format with a condensed version (not including internal parasite information) of the usual course, on the Friday, for a cost of $275 per person. This will be followed by two days of specific internal parasite information, presented by relevant industry professionals. The cost for these two days will be $495 per person, including lunch, morning and afternoon teas. This fee includes membership of QGoat, https://nominate.com.au/Clubs/RegistrationInformation.aspx?CID=564 .

Please note that numbers will be limited to a maximum of fifteen.