Summer Range Goat/sheepherder

Job description

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 plant species); bed down animals at appropriate night site; build and/or maintain fence and facilities to ensure the safety and health of animals and forage; 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; report conditions of grazing areas to employer. Assist in the maintenance of tools, equipment and handling facilities necessary to production; assist with the vaccination of livestock by herding into corrals and/or stalls or manually restraining animals.

Special Requirements

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, to ride, handle and tend horses in a manner to assure the safety and health of the worker, co-workers, horses, dogs and livestock, to operate equipment and machinery required to perform job duties indicated in a safe and responsible manner, work outdoors in all types of weather and may experience occasional exposure to hazards such as poisonous snakes, biting insects and extreme temperature, attend animals during all hours of the day as required for their safety and well-being, maintain and manage remote housing locations in a safe and responsible manner, work with and around farm machinery such as tractors, UTVs and ATVs for supplemental feeding purposes and movement of livestock, Assist with fire suppression and control to protect livestock and forage in the