Range Sheepherder

Job description

Must have 3 months experience with 800 - 1000 head flocks. One reference required. Attends sheep and/or goat flock grazing on range or pasture: Herds flock and rounds up strays using trained dogs. Attend to sheep grazing on the range to include: Herding sheep on the range or in pastures while riding on horseback, riding ATVs, or walking on foot. Beds down flock near evening campsite. Guards flock from predatory animals and from eating poisonous plants. Drenches sheep and/or goats. May examine animals for signs of illness and administer vaccines, medications and insecticides according to instructions. Range herding is completed when vegetation is not in a dormant state. A range herder requires knowledge and maintenance of rangeland in order to avoid overgrazing of the range land and prevention of animals ingesting noxious weeds. The proper grazing action of these animals helps to reduce wildland fire fuel, increase soil fertility and improve vegetation. Experienced employees hired for this type of position would need to have the knowledge of maintaining a herd on a range so the animals don’t disperse in large open areas, be able to promote proper grazing of rangeland, and predator control on the range. Incidental work of lambing, docking, and shearing may occur on the range. Provide water to animals, including minor maintenance of water troughs and water lines. May need to haul water in truck to supplement animal water needs. Move ewes and lambs to summer range grounds.

Some work/tasks may occur off the range, but more than 51% of work will be performed on the range. Western Range Association and its member ranches facilitate practices of good animal husbandry. Employees that are found abusing, neglecting or abandoning livestock entrusted to their care may be terminated for cause. If the negligent/abusive actions of an employee result in the loss/death of livestock/animals or cause harm to another person, the employee may be held accountable for these actions. The worker will live in the employer provided range housing. Said housing will be clean and in good repair at the time it is provided to the employee. The employee is responsible to maintain the housing unit in a reasonable level of cleanliness in order to avoid flies, mice or other vermin. The employee is responsible to alert the employer of damage to the housing unit within a reasonable amount of time. The employee may be held accountable for damage to the housing unit that is the result of negligence on the part of the employee (normal wear and tear excepted). ***Hours worked footnote: On call for up to 24 hours 7 days a week***