Open Range Production / Parturition

Job description

Each year the Production/Parturition season begins on or near the beginning of May with the preparation of lambing pens in the lambing shed. Each year the pens need to be repaired, cleaned and prepared for the lambing season. 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.

The worker will assist with the birthing of approximately 2400 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 newborn is 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.

Our range lambing operation consists bow ringing method explained as follows: the ewes are turned loose and spread out so each ewe can lamb in private.
Workers begin gathering the ewes and lambs and placing them into two summer herds. The two herds are docked, banded and vaccinated.
These herds are then herded into two directions, east and west, until they reach high country range. Once they reach the high country each herd is put into the corral on top and those that were missed during docking in the low country are docked, banded and vaccinated. Around the 1st of September the herders begin bringing the herds down to sell the lambs. After the sale, the herds are taken back to the high country. This marks the end of the Production season.

Worker will be required to be On-Call 24/7 and live and work on the range more than 50% of the time.

Special Requirements

None