Ranch Worker

Job description

Workers must have at least 3 months of experience birthing sheep or goats with herds of 200 head or larger. One reference required. May assist in lambing, kidding, docking, and shearing. The following duties will need to be performed. Herder will need to move pregnant ewes/does to lambing/kidding grounds. Be able to identify signs of ewes/does going into labor and identify potential problems during the labor process. Know how and when to assist during difficult births. Be able to properly constrain ewes/does for difficult births and able to graft orphan lambs/kids to mothers. Ability to identify herd health issues including but not limited to malnutrition of ewes/does and lambs/kids, prolapse and mastitis. Provide water to animals, including minor maintenance of water troughs and water lines. May need to haul water in truck to supplement animal water needs. May need to provide supplement feed for the ewes/does and lambs/kids if the range has insufficient forage. Disperse livestock on the range to reduce overcrowding and increase the success of mother and offspring bonding. Protect vulnerable livestock (lambs/kids & ewes/does in labor) from predators. Move Ewes/does and lambs/kids and assist in branding, castrating, vaccinating, tagging, and worming. Ability to safely catch lambs/kids with a hook. Herder will need to operate machinery/equipment to clean barns.

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 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 can be shown is the gross result of negligence or by a dishonest or willful act on the part of the employee (normal wear and tear excepted).