Range Sheepherder

Job description

Must have 3 months acceptable experience with 800-1000 head flocks and/or one acceptable reference.
Range herding is typically completed when vegetation is not in a dormant state. Range herding requires knowledge and maintenance of rangeland, in order to avoid overgrazing of the range land and prevention of animals ingesting noxious weeds. The proper grazing of these animals helps to reduce wildland fire fuel, increases soil fertility and improves vegetation.
Herder will be required to maintain the herd so that the animals don’t disperse in large open areas. Herder attends sheep flock grazing on range or pasture and will round up strays using trained dogs. Herder beds down flock near evening campsite. Herder guards flock from predatory animals and from eating poisonous plants. Herder will be required to examine animals for signs of illness and administer medications, insecticides, vaccines and drench sheep according to medication instructions. Herders may perform duties including but not limited to herding, trailing, branding, castrating, sorting and loading sheep onto trucks for transport to new range or market.
Herders may be required to work around and with tractors to assist in providing supplemental feed. Herders will provide water to animals, which may require minor maintenance of water troughs and water lines. Herders will haul water in a truck, as needed, to supplement animal water needs. Herders may perform general repairs on fence, livestock facilities and general ranch maintenance that is closely and directly related to the herding and/or the production of livestock.
Some work/tasks may occur off the range, but more than 50% of work will be performed on the range. Western Range Association and its member ranches facilitate practices of good animal husbandry. Herders that are found abusing, neglecting or abandoning livestock entrusted to their care may be terminated for cause. If the negligent/abusive actions of an employee result in the loss/death of livestock or cause harm to another person, the herder may be held accountable for these actions.
The herder will live in the employer provided range housing. Herder may occasionally stay in fixed housing off the range. Said housing will be clean and in good repair at the time it is provided to the herder. The herder is responsible to maintain the housing unit in a reasonable level of cleanliness, in order to avoid flies, mice and other vermin. The herder is responsible to alert the employer of damage to the housing unit within a reasonable amount of time.

Some work/tasks may occur off the range, but more than 50% 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 livestock entrusted to their care may be terminated for cause. If the negligent/abusive actions of an employee result in the loss/death of livestock/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.
***Hours worked footnote: On call for up to 24 hours 7 days a week***