Job Description:

• 1) Breeds and raises livestock, such as beef cattle, dairy cattle, goats, horses, reindeer, sheep, and swine, for such purposes as sale of meat, riding or working stock, breeding, or for show; and for products, such as milk, wool, and hair: Selects and breeds animals according to knowledge of animals, genealogy, characteristics, and offspring desired.

• 2) Selects pasture, range, and crop lands to graze animals and produce feed crops.

• 3) Mixes feed and feed supplements according to dietary requirements of animals and availability of grazing land.

• 4) Feeds, waters, grazes, and distributes salt licks for animals.

• 5) Observes animals to detect signs of illness and injury, treats minor injuries and ailments, disinfects and vaccinates animals, and engages VETERINARIAN to treat serious illnesses and injuries.

• 6) Attends animals during and after birth of offspring.

• 7) Castrates, docks, and dehorns animals.

• 8) Brands, tattoos, notches ears, and attaches tags to identify animals.

• 9) Milks cows and goats, shears sheep, and clips goats' hair.

• 10) Operates farm machinery to plant, cultivate, and harvest feed crops.

• 11) Cleans and fumigates barns, stalls, and pens, and sterilizes milking machines and equipment.

• 12) Cools milk to prevent spoilage and packages wool and other products for shipment.

• 13) Maintains and repairs farm machinery, equipment, buildings, pens, and fences.

• 14) Arranges for sale of animals and products.

• 15) Maintains cost and operation records.

• 16) May butcher animals and cure meat.

• 17) May hire and supervise workers.

• 18) May exercise and train horses.

• 19) May groom and exhibit animals at livestock shows.

• 20) May be designated according to animal raised as Cattle Rancher; Dairy Farmer; Goat Farmer; Horse Rancher; Reindeer Rancher; Sheep Rancher; Swine Rancher.

• 21) May manage farm that raises and breeds thoroughbred horses and be designated Thoroughbred Horse Farm Manager.