Livestock And Ranch Workers

Job description

Crops/Commodities: livestock.
Perform manual and/or mechanized duties associated with the breeding, care, and raising of livestock on a ranch. Care for animals. Feed and water livestock and monitor food and water supplies. Segregate animals according to weight, age, color, and physical condition. Herd livestock to pasture for grazing or to scales, trucks, corral, stall or other enclosures. Manually restrain animals. Shift animals between grazing areas to ensure that they have sufficient access to food. Patrol grazing lands on horseback or using all-terrain vehicles. Clean stalls, pens, and equipment, using disinfectant solutions, brushes, shovels, water hoses, or pumps.

Operate farming equipment. Drive trucks, tractors, and other equipment to distribute feed to animals. Move equipment or livestock from one location to another, manually or using trucks or carts. Transport animals, crops, or equipment. Lift, carry, and load/unload products or supplies. Examine animals to detect illness, injury, disease, or other problems, and to check physical characteristics. Spray livestock with disinfectants and insecticides, or dip or bathe animals. Mix feed, additives, and medicines in prescribed portions. Treat animal injuries or illnesses and provide medical treatment, such as administering medications and vaccinations. Mark livestock to identify ownership and grade, using brands, tags, paint, or tattoos.

Maintain inventories of materials, equipment, or products. Prepare materials or solutions for animal or plant use. Mow, cut, and weed fields. Apply pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and other crop protectants. Apply fertilizers, plant growth chemicals, conditioners, and other plant related treatments at the correct times depending on plant type, growth, climate and crop conditions. Install/maintain irrigation systems and water lines. Move and install irrigation pipes and equipment. Assist with farm building/field maintenance and repairs. Inspect, maintain, and repair agricultural equipment, machinery, buildings, pens, yards, and fences. Clean equipment or facilities. Cut, trim, and inspect meat to prepare for packing. Tend assembly lines. Weigh meat and wrap/tag containers for weight. Sort materials or products for processing, storing, shipping, or grading. Stun and slaughter animals. Process animal carcasses and skin animals. Must wear assigned personal protective equipment when required. Must report for work daily wearing work clothing and boots or other durable footwear. Workers wearing clothing inappropriate for work will not be permitted to start work. Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, honeybees, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, or related chemicals may affect a worker's ability to perform the job. Work will be performed in very remote areas. Persons seeking employment in this position must be available for the entire period requested by the employer.

Employer may request, but not require, workers to work more than the stated daily hours and/or on a worker's Sabbath or federal holidays. Worker must report to work at designated time and place each day. Daily or weekly work schedule may vary due to weather, sunlight, temperature, crop conditions, and other factors. Employer will notify workers of any change to start time. Workers will have an unpaid lunch break.

TERMINATION. Prior to any termination for cause, employer evaluates workers' performance of required tasks and compliance with Work Rules and other employer policies. Employer may terminate a worker for cause if the worker's performance consistently and/or substantially fails to satisfy the employer's reasonable expectations (in accordance with the criteria set forth herein), or otherwise engages in serious or egregious misconduct that endangers health, safety, or property.

Special Requirements

This job requires a minimum of 6 months of verifiable agricultural experience working on a livestock farm or ranch handling both manual and mechanized tasks. Applicants must be able to furnish verifiable job reference(s) or comparable third party documentation from recent employer(s) establishing acceptable prior experience. Work will be performed in a rural environment. Outdoor work is required when working with livestock, during light rain, moderate winds, direct sun, high humidity and extreme temperatures, including snow and heat. Work will be performed in extreme weather, including moving livestock in sub-zero temperatures and chopping ice on frozen creeks. Work is done outdoors for long periods of time and requires prolonged periods of horseback riding, sitting, standing and/or walking, pushing/pulling, repetitive movements, and frequent bending and/or stooping. Workers must be able to handle, lift, and carry heavy or bulky objects up to 75 lbs.