Small ruminants are of great importance for grazing alpine areas when used strategically and with good management. In alpine regions, they mostly graze on higher elevations and marginal sites that are often inaccessible or difficult to access for cattle.
For site-appropriate and sustainable grazing with sheep and goats, managed grazing is crucial – and thus the work of experienced herders. Their tasks are diverse: careful animal observation, managing the flock in cooperation with herding dogs, animal health, assessing terrain and hazards, fence construction, herd protection, pasture management, and much more.
As part of the project, a comprehensive certificate course for sheep and goat herders was developed for the first time at the HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein. A pilot course was implemented in 2025 with 20 participants; further courses are planned.
Course structure:
The resulting course comprises 6 modules of 2 days each:
- Module 1: Introduction and Fundamentals
- Module 2: All about animals
- Module 3: Working with herding dogs
- Module 4: Working on the mountain
- Module 5: Pasture Management
- Module 6: Herd Management
In cooperation with the Austrian Centre for Bear, Wolf, and Lynx, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Alpe Office.
Project duration: July 2024 – Dec. 2025
