Open Range Production Of Livestock Parturition (lamb/calve)

Job description

Starting on March 1, the worker will begin preparing for the season. Each year the pens need to be repaired, cleaned and prepared for the parturition season. The worker will be responsible for moving ewes and heifers to staging areas and to monitor animals. This season is a critical phase in the production cycle of livestock.

Livestock 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 Parturition.

During that time Livestock 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 Parturition.

The worker will assist with the birthing of 800 to 1300 lambs as well as around 100 heifers The worker must be able to demonstrate knowledge of, sheep and cattle and experience with animal nutrition and parturition 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 parturition 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 is 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 mothers have given birth, it is important that the livestock pairs do not break the bond. At this point livestock pairs are separated. We give extra attention to moving the pairs back to the herd. Animal pairs are progressively moved into larger groups as they grow in size and strength. Care must be given to their health and welfare including doctoring and ill animals and maintain vigilance over their prescience when night penning. Predation must be monitored and mitigated with human presence night penning and guardian dogs. During this time frame, the worker will assist with the following: Animal vaccinations, castration, and docking tails. Have supplies prepared and ready for use.

Worker will be required to be On-Call 24/7 and live on the range more than 50% of the time.