Open Range Cattle Herder
Employer
609 5th Avenue West
Rock Springs, WY 82901
United States
Job description
Performs any combination of the following seasonal duties primarily involved in the range production of commercial livestock to assist the employer and employer-designated representative. On call 24 hours per day, 7 days a week. Lives in isolated mobile camps & performs following tasks almost exclusively out on desert range to protect pregnant cows from harsh winter conditions: trail groups of pregnant cows to areas designated by the employer and employer-designated representative using winter trailing methods to avoid undue stress on cows; prevent hypothermia/abortion/death; move cows at a pace/distance sufficient to ensure they receive ample water/native forage during daylight hours to arrive at natural shelters by nightfall to protect cows during blizzards/high winds/extreme cold, ride unmarked perimeters of open range area designated by the employer and employer-designated representative. Help employer and employer-designated representative with supplemental feeding (when weather precludes use of range forage). Must be able to ride and handle horses in the movement of livestock in the open range while assuring the safety of the worker, co-workers, livestock, and horses. Employee must be willing to: perform tasks capably and efficiently without close supervision, and live and work singly or in small groups of workers in isolated areas for extended periods of time. The job may entail working with and around farm machinery such as tractors and ATVs for feeding purposes and the movement of livestock, periodically. Employee will work outdoors in all types of weather, including blizzards/high winds/extreme cold and may experience occasional exposure to herding hazards such as predators. 50 lbs. lifting and driving requirement is needed.
Keep cows in small groups to allow grazing on proper mix of native forage, gradually herd cows in direction specified by the employer and employer-designated representative using methods which move cows slowly & orderly through desert ravines/washed out areas/tall sagebrush, avoiding deep snow, herd/trail cows to a viable water source, use ax to chop large holes in frozen creeks/reservoirs to water 20-30 cows at a time, trail pregnant cows across ice to water sources or to native forage area by choosing safe crossing area; making a sanded trail; keeping cows calm & moving in slow orderly manner on trail. Report to the employer and employer-designated representative on water/native forage/weather conditions, detect direction from which wind or prevailing storm is coming to prevent cows from scattering, trail/herd cows & properly place them in shelters/direction of wind/prevailing storm, in canyons, washed out or cut banks, cedar breaks, or draws with tall sagebrush. Report to the employer and employer-designated representative dehydration & other indicators of deterioration in cows' body condition/behavioral changes indicating malnutrition. Remember and report location of sick & injured cows. Administer emergency minor medical care to sick/injured pregnant cows using roping methods to gently immobilize cow without causing undue stress.
Detect through winter tracking methods where employer and employer-designated representative’s as well as other rancher(s)' livestock has been to avoid overgrazing of native forage. Shoe horses with sharp shoes for better footing on frozen creeks/slopes and properly hobble camp horses. Maintain and set up camp and supply wagons in appropriate direction to provide for wind break/shelter/protection for horses & dogs. Make sufficient water from snow for horses/dogs at camp. Properly use/store food supplies for herder/horses/dogs, reporting to the employer and employer-designated representative when supplies are low. Operate camp stove appropriately to provide/conserve heat in extreme cold/high winds.
Special Requirements
Must be able to ride and handle horses and equipment utilized and necessary in the range production of livestock in a manner to assure safety of the employee, co-workers, horses, dogs, and range livestock. Must be able to find and maintain bearings to assigned work areas on the open range.
Employee must be physically able to perform the duties described herein and must be able to perform the duties reliably. Employee will be directed and controlled by the employer and/or employer-designated representative. However, employees are often required to work alone for periods of time and to perform the required work reliably and properly. Absences from work, failure to perform all required duties described herein, and any act of misconduct, such as severe or willful damage/injury to livestock, horses, dogs, housing, equipment, or fighting or willful injury to co-worker(s) or any other person will not be tolerated and will be cause for immediate dismissal.