Range Winter Sheepherder

Job description

Must have 3 months experience with 800 – 1000 head flocks. One reference required.
The employee must be able to identify approaching storm periods and take precautions to prevent the herd from drifting against fence lines or into deep ravines where they can pile up and get drifted over with snow and freeze and or suffocate to death. The herder must be experienced in handling extreme winter conditions on a range so as to prevent death of sheep, goats, horses, and dogs. Due to animals expending more energy during the winter months especially during extreme weather conditions, the herder will need to monitor the nutritional needs of the animals throughout winter. Ensure that animals have access to unfrozen water and distribute emergency supplemental feed. Monitor snow levels to prevent sheep/goats from being stranded in deep snow, or caught up against a fence, or stranded in a deep ravine. Herders need to have experience in identifying animals in need of additional nutritional needs, keeping fresh water supply in freezing temperatures, and how to maintain animals in extreme weather conditions. Herder will attend the sheep riding horses, riding ATV’s, and walking. Lives in isolated mobile camps while attending the sheep. May drive tractor or truck in emergency feeding conditions. May assist with shearing. May perform other farm and ranch chores related to the production and husbandry of sheep on an incidental basis.

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 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. The employee may be held accountable for damage to the housing unit that is the result of 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***