Open Range Production Of Livestock Parturition

Job description

Parturition/Kidding takes place on the range. Starting on or around March 15, the worker will begin preparing for the season. Worker will be responsible for moving nannies to staging areas and to monitor animals.
Good 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 kidding.
Kidding/birthing locations vary, worker will need to help determine which locations offer good cover (e.g. brush for protection from the rain) and few obstacles to the movement of the nannies and kids (e.g. creeks and roads that they must cross). The staging before kidding is strategically located near the kidding area and has high quality and abundant feed. It is very important to try to keep very high-quality forage in front of the animals just before birthing/kidding. Prepare temporary, movable shelters to be used during bad weather spells.

Birthing/kidding begins around May 1 and lasts for about 6 weeks. During that time the worker will assist with the birthing of approximately 800-1000 animals. The worker must be able to demonstrate knowledge of goats and cattle and experience with animal nutrition and birthing 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 birthing 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 are 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.

Once the nannies have given birth, it is important that the goat pairs do not break the bond between nannie and kid. At this point we give extra attention to moving the pairs back to the herd by individual pairs (as opposed to moving the whole herd at once). Bum kids are taken back to the bummer pen and fed multiple times per day. During this time frame the worker will assist with the following: Animal vaccinations, trim hooves, castration and de-worm animals. Prepare pens for Bummer animals as well as buying supplies for the bummers.
Driving associated with work on range land.

Special Requirements

None