Sheep Laborer

Job description

All job duties are closely and directly related to the production of sheep. Perform any combination of the following tasks to attend to sheep. Workers are needed to assist with the breeding and care of sheep, attend to pregnant sheep and newborn lambs, brand, tag, clip or otherwise mark young animals for identification purposes. Workers will feed the sheep daily, ensure water supply is fresh and maintain corals. Workers will move sheep to various feeding areas on the farm. Workers will monitor grazing areas for poisonous and/or noxious plants and take action to prevent animals from consuming any identified. They will assist with the breeding of the sheep which is done in September. They will help during the lambing process and will vaccinate and deworm the lambs as necessary. They will administer medication as needed and apply medications to cuts and bruises, examine animals to detect diseases and injuries. Once the lamb reaches 4 to 6 months old (depending on weight), the workers will load the lambs in trailers to be taken to be slaughtered. When the last of the lambs is sent to slaughter, the worker will return home (usually in June). The season for the sheep laborer is from September through June as no lambing happens during July or August.

Workers will repair and maintain fencing, and irrigation maintain and facilities to ensure the safety and health of animals and forage.

3 months working with sheep is required.

Workers should be able to work on their feet for long periods of time. Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, insect spray, related chemicals, etc may affect workers’ ability to perform the job. Workers should be physically able to do the work required with or without reasonable accommodations. Workers are exposed to wet weather early in the morning and heat throughout the day while working in the fields. Temperatures may range from 10 to 100 F. Workers may be required to work during occasional showers not severe enough to stop field operations. Workers will report to work at the designated time and place as directed by the grower each day. The standard work is 7 hours per day. In peak periods of seasonal crop demands, employees may be requested but not required to work up to 12 or more hours per day and/or on the Sabbath or Federal holidays depending upon the conditions in the fields, weather, orders, and maturity of the crop. Employees may volunteer to work additional hours when work is available. Workers should expect occasional periods of little or no work because of weather, crop or other conditions beyond the employer’s control. These periods can occur any time throughout the season. All operational specifications can change during the season due to crop or market condition. Workers will be expected to conform to the specific instructions given for each day’s work. A farm manager, supervisor, or a designated employee will provide instructions and general supervision. The grower or supervisor will make daily individual work assignments, team or crew assignments, and determine location of work as the needs of the operation dictates. Workers may be assigned a variety of duties in any given day and different tasks on different days. Person seeking employment as a farm laborer must be available for the entire period requested by the employer and possess 3 months experience handling sheep. All domestic and/or nonresident seasonal workers employed pursuant to this job order who satisfactorily completed the previous crop season may be compensated above the stated hourly wage rate. The decision to pay above the stated prevailing hourly rate will be made by the employer, at his sole discretion, and will be based on factors including the recipient’s performance and tenure.

Special Requirements

3 months experience working with sheep is required.