Summer Range Goat/sheepherder

Job description

Worker must have 4 months experience. Required to be available 24 hours per day, 7 days a week and spend the majority of workdays on the range. All job duties are closely and directly related to the production of sheep and goats during the summer months.
Perform any combination of the following tasks required to attend sheep and goats on the range during the summer months: administer medication as needed; apply herbicides to noxious, invasive and poisonous plant species on grazing areas; assist with loading and unloading livestock according to shipping schedules; assist with sorting and cutting of culls; assist with weed control on grazing areas (including noxious, invasive and poisonous species); bed down animals at appropriate night site; examine animals to detect diseases and injuries; feed and water and ensure adequate provision of both; feed supplemental rations to sheep and goats when available forage is not sufficient to increase the plane of nutrition; feed, water and tend to the dogs(both guard and working dogs) and horses; guard against predatory animals and from eating poisonous and/or noxious plants; herd to appropriate grazing area; make certain animals have access to fresh water; monitor animals for weight gain, thrift and health problems; monitor available grasses and adjust herding methods to ensure an increasing plane of nutrition to facilitate estrus cycling in ewes and nannies; observe ram and buck interaction with ewes and nannies and report problems to employer; repair and/or maintain fence and facilities to ensure the safety and health of animals and forage; report conditions of grazing areas to employer.
Required to: perform tasks capably and efficiently without close supervision, spend the majority of work days on the range, live and work singly or in small groups of workers in isolated areas for extended periods of time, attend animals during all hours of the day as required for their safety and well-being, work outdoors in all types of weather and may experience occasional exposure to hazards such as poisonous snakes and large game animals, biting insects and extreme temperature, maintain and manage remote housing locations in a safe and responsible manner, to maintain equipment and machinery to a standard established by the employer, work with and around farm machinery such as tractors, UTV's and ATV's for supplemental feeding purposes and movement of livestock.

Some work/tasks may occur off the range, but more than 51% of work will be performed on the range. Western Range Association and its member ranches facilitate practices of good animal husbandry. Employees that are found abusing neglecting or abandoning animals entrusted to their care may be terminated for cause. If the negligent/abusive actions of an employee result in the loss/death of animals or cause harm to another person, the employee may be held accountable for these actions. The worker will live in the employer provided range housing. Said housing will be clean and in good repair at the time it is provided to the employee. The employee is responsible to maintain the housing unit in a reasonable level of cleanliness in order to avoid flies, mice or other vermin. The employee is responsible to alert the employer of damage to the housing unit within a reasonable amount of time. The employee may be held accountable for damage to the housing unit that is the result of a dishonest or willful act or by the gross negligence on the part of the employee (normal wear and tear excepted).
***Hours worked footnote: On call for up to 24 hours 7 days a week***