Livestock Continuing Education

Learn how to artificially inseminate (AI) cattle to expand breeding practices on your own farm. This course provides in-class learning on many topics and hands-on practice in our Oscar Peterson AI facility, located on the Vermilion campus.

Topics covered include:

• Insemination procedures and techniques
• Reproductive anatomy
• Palpation
• AI equipment and costs
• Semen tanks and handling
• Pregnancy testing
• Sire selection based on EPDs
• Estrous cycle and insemination timing
• Heat detection, heat detection aids and synchronization
• Reproductive diseases
• Nutritional effects on reproduction
• Other factors effecting reproduction

All AI materials needed for the course will be provided. You will be given your own manual to take home.

Course length: 4 days
2026 Cont. Ed. Course Dates: TBA
2026 Student Course Dates: TBA
Total hours: 28 hours
Cost: $999.95 (GST Included)
Delivery: on-site; Vermilion campus
Prerequisite: basic cattle knowledge

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Geared specifically for cattle people between the ages of 12 and 18 that want to know how to inseminate, but do not make all of the background decisions for artificial insemination. Must be mature and have basic cattle knowledge. The hands on portion is the same as the producer course, they will be able to artificially inseminate cattle when they leave. The only difference is the junior course does not cover background material such as sire selection, estrous cycle, insemination timing, heat detection, synchronization, reproductive diseases, and nutritional effects on reproduction.

Topics covered include:

• insemination procedures and techniques
• reproductive anatomy
• palpation
• AI equipment and costs
• semen tanks and handling
• pregnancy testing

All AI materials needed for the course will be provided. 

Course length: 3 days, 1 night
Junior Course Dates: TBA
Total hours: 26 hours
Cost: $749.95 (GST included)
Delivery: on-site; Vermilion campus
Prerequisite: basic cattle knowledge

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This advanced training is specifically for Alberta registered veterinary technologists (RVT). As an RVT, this course will equip you with the knowledge and skills to complete pregnancy detection in beef cattle and small ruminants. 

This course has 2 components:

• Online - 8 hours of online material and a test. You have 1 week to complete the material and pass the test. You must pass the test before the in-person portion. 
• In-person - 16 hours (2 days) of in-person hands on material. 

Topics covered in the course include, but are not limited to:

• anatomy and physiology
• ultrasound operation basics
• equipment features, set up and handling
• identification of the bovine cervix, pregnant uterus and stages of bovine pregnany
• policy
• low stress cattle handling and techniques

After successful completion of this course, you can perform pregnancy detection in beef cattle using ultrasound in Alberta.

Prerequisite: You must be a graduated RVT and currently working under a registered veterinarian.
In-person date: Sept 12 - 13, 2026
Total hours: 24 hours
Cost: $1,428.57 (GST included)
Delivery: Online and in-person at Vermilion campus

Registration closes: TBA

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Whether or not you have to check cows, or you just want to learn more about more about calving - this course is for you.

This one-day workshop is your opportunity to learn and ask everything you need, or wanted, to know about calving.

Topics include:

• vaccination programs
• nutrition
• newborn/mother care
• calf health
• calf presentations and more

This workshop is offered every year in January.

Course length: 1 day
Course date: TBA
Total hours: 6 hours
Cost: $150 (GST included)
Delivery: on-site; Vermilion campus
Prerequisite: none

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Gain knowledge and skills to work in an Alberta dairy operation.

Learn the basics of dairy hoof health with instruction through the WCCHTA. This course is geared towards dairy farmers and dairy industry workers.

During the course, we'll discuss anatomical structure of the hoof, different hoof diseases and lesions and hoof trimming techniques.

You'll also discover ways to improve cow comfort to prevent lameness. Both classroom instruction and hands-on training in the 2-day course.

Topics include:

• anatomy and biomechanics
• infectious and non-infectious hoof lesions
• tool safety
• the 5-step Dutch Method
• blocking, wrapping and tool sharpening

Course length: 2 days
Course Dates: TBA
Total hours: 15.5 hours
Cost: $1,200 (GST included)
Delivery: on-site; Vermilion campus
Prerequisite: n/a

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Whether you are lambing for the first time or are an experienced shepherd, our one-day workshop will help all experience levels learn more about best management practices.You'll learn both through classroom and hands-on experiences.

Your instructor is one of Lakeland's animal science faculty, Marisa Schuebel.

Topics include:

• vaccination programs
• nutrition
• lamb health
• newborn/mother care

Course length: 1 day
Total hours: 6 hours
Cost: $126 (GST included)
Delivery: on-site; Vermilion campus
Prerequisite: n/a

Fascinated by sheep and goats? So are we! Join us and learn everything you need to know about getting into the sheep and goat business.

During this course, you'll learn both in the classroom and on a field trip.

We'll cover the following topics:

• sheep management systems
• materials and handling
• flock/herd selection
• breeding
• nutrition

Course length: 1 day
Course date: TBA
Total hours: 7.5 hours
Cost: $150 (GST included)
Delivery: on-site; Vermilion campus
Prerequisite: n/a

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This course will take a detailed look at:

• planning winter feeding sites
• rationing nutrients for animals
• pasture plans and grazing management strategies for tame and native pastures
• selecting tame forage species
• riparian area management

You’ll study 3 modules:

1. Winter Feeding
2. Tame Pasture Management
3. Riparian Area Management

Course length: self-paced; 7 weeks to complete all modules
Total hours: approximately 20 - 23 hours
Cost: $680 (GST included)
Delivery: online
Prerequisite: n/a

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