Livestock Backgrounder

Job description

• Drivers license preferred
• All the duties of Winter Range Livestock Worker but additionally will be to prepare for spring grazing season
Must have 3 months experience with 200 plus head of livestock. Experience with 800-1000 head flocks of sheep strongly preferred. One reference required. Assist in finishing and weighing lambs to prepare them for the late winter market. Help receiving, inventory, and backgrounding stocker calves. Attends livestock grazing on range or pasture: Herds and rounds up strays using trained dogs. Moves portable fence to avoid animals over grazing. Guard livestock from predatory animals and from eating poisonous plants. Drenches livestock. May examine animals for signs of illness and administer vaccines, medications and insecticides according to instructions. May need to work around and with tractors to assist in providing supplemental feed. Providing water to animals, including minor maintenance of water troughs and water lines. May perform duties including but not limited to herding, trailing, sorting, and loading on to trucks for transport to a new range or market. Monitor animals closely during weaning process. Worker will need to be able to be able to handle safely and appropriately winter snow/ice events and the health of the herd. In addition, they will need to make sure water for the livestock is not frozen. Implement strip grazing procedures and properly manage dormant forage. May perform general repairs on fence and livestock facilities, perform minor mechanical duties, welding, and general ranch maintenance. The worker must also be able to use a 4-wheeler in a safe and effective manner. Workers must be able to work alone for extended periods of time and complete tasks as instructed by the employer in a safe and timely manner without direct supervision. In addition to herding, use portable electric fencing to manage vegetation, prevent overgrazing, and provide optimum nutrition to sheep and cattle, in accordance with the season and guidance from employer. Use provided cell phones and apps to record flock and herd performance, movement, and forage inventory. Be prepared to manage sheep and cattle sharing the same range. Daily feeding and watering of guardian dogs attached to the flock or herd and assist with health protocols in accordance with instructions.