Open Range Production Of Livestock Parturition

Job description

Starting in the end of January, the worker will begin preparing for the season. Pens need to be cleaned and sterilized to get ready for lambing. Maintenance on gates and broken panels needs to be done each season, and bucks need to be let out.
Shearing of the sheep is needed to get the wool off, and wool is placed into bags. Vaccinations need to be given to sheep at pre-birth, and daily feeding needs to be done twice a day so that it does not cause problems with the mother and unborn lamb. The sheep go from fields to pre-drop corrals after each bagging, then to the drop corraIs where they drop their lamb. They are then taken to pens for 1-3 days, depending on progress, then to bigger pens, and then to split corraIs and then to range pastures. Due to the limited space in the barn, bagging sheep to see which mothers are due first is done weekly. This helps keep the barn cleaner. Changing out Straw and cleaning/sterilization of each pen is done twice daily to make sure that everything is clean and sterile for the next birth.
So not to overload with sheep when lambing starts, monitoring day and night is needed to keep lamb warm from the elements. Also, to make sure the lambs feed off of their mother, sometimes getting in and helping without disrupting anima Is is needed. When mothers don't have enough food, robbing other mothers of more milk may be needed. Grafting is an important skill. lt has to be done at the right time to get a mother to take a lamb that is not hers, most of the time resulting in a baby lamb without a mother. We then number each lamb to match with their mother so that there is no confusion. Tube feeding may be needed to help with lambs that may require more milk.
The worker will be responsible for moving ewes to staging areas and to monitor animals. This season is a critical phase in the production cycle of livestock.
Livestock feeding and management are essential to the success of the season. It is during these last weeks of pregnancy that there is a need for increased feed, primarily to a more nutrient rich diet. Extra nutrition is needed to support fetal growth. Worker will be responsible for helping move animals to staging areas, and monitoring animals closely during the last weeks of pregnancy to be sure they are in good health before Parturition.
It is very important to try to keep very high-quality forage in front of the animals just before birthing/kidding. Prepare temporary, movable shelters to be used during bad weather spells.

During this time the worker will assist with the birthing of approximately 1000 animals. The worker must be able to demonstrate knowledge of sheep and experience with animal nutrition and parturition along with the ability to monitor livestock to determine readiness to give birth.

Assisting livestock with delivery, maintaining a clean environment. Livestock will need to be checked regularly during the 24-hour day, as animals can give birth around the clock. Knowledge of and ability to determine normal and abnormal parturition situations. Monitor livestock closely to help prevent problems. Ability to determine when assistance is required. Monitor health/growth and nutrition of newborn livestock. Monitor to ensure that newborns are nursing, taking in colostrum and milk. If newborns are not nursing as needed, supplement and assist as needed to ensure growth. Bottle feeding as necessary.

Once the animals have given birth, it is important that the livestock pairs do not break the bond. At this point we give extra attention to moving the pairs back to the flock. During this time frame the worker will assist with the following: Animal vaccinations, trim hooves, castration and de-worm animals.
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Worker will be required to work and live on the range more than 50% of the time.

Special Requirements

None