This self-paced online course teaches you the essentials of raising livestock on small acreages. Learn how to select animals, maintain biosecurity, manage pasture health, handle manure responsibly, and begin beekeeping with confidence. Designed for homesteaders, acreage owners, hobby farmers, and beginners exploring backyard livestock.

• How to choose and care for poultry, small ruminants, and bees
• How to set up safe, effective housing and facilities
• How to manage nutrition, grazing, and pasture productivity
• How to reduce health risks through proper biosecurity
• How to handle, store, and apply manure safely and responsibly

• Poultry basics
• Housing, equipment, and care

• Biosecurity
• Facilities and housing
• Animal selection
• Nutrition and grazing
• Parasite control

• Pasture introduction
• Forage production
• Fertilization
• Utilization and grazing strategies

• What manure is and how it breaks down
• Manure forms and production
• Collection, handling, and storage
• Environmental regulations and field application

• Introduction and pollination
• Honeybee biology
• Getting started and essential equipment

• Online, self-paced
• 277 minutes of video instruction from ISU Extension and Outreach experts
• English & Spanish captions
• Certificate included

• Homesteaders raising backyard livestock
• Acreage owners wanting healthier pastures and animals
• Hobby farmers caring for poultry, goats, sheep, or bees
• Beginners exploring livestock production in Iowa or the Midwest