Job Duties
Must have 3 months experience with 200 head of livestock on the range. One reference required.
Attends livestock grazing on range or pasture: Herds and rounds up strays using trained dogs. Beds down livestock near evening campsite and moves portable fence to avoid animals over grazing. Guard livestock from predatory animals and from eating poisonous plants. Drenches livestock. May examine animals for signs of illness and administer vaccines, medications and insecticides according to instructions. May need to work around and with tractors to assist in providing supplemental feed. Providing water to animals, including minor maintenance of water troughs and water lines. May perform duties including but not limited to herding, trailing, branding, castrating, sorting, and loading on to trucks for transport to a new range or market. May perform general repairs on fence and livestock facilities, perform minor mechanical duties, welding, and general ranch maintenance closely and directly related to herding and/or the production of livestock.
The work activities involve the herding or production of livestock (which includes work that is closely and directly related to herding and/or the production of livestock).
The worker must be able to saddle and ride a horse or mule in a safe and effective manner such as to avoid injury to self, coworkers, bystanders, or the animal itself. The worker may be required to shoe horses for his use. The worker must also be able to use a 4-wheeler in a safe and effective manner.
Workers must be able to work alone for extended periods of time and complete tasks as instructed by the employer in a safe and timely manner without direct supervision.
May assist in lambing, docking, and shearing. The following seasonal duties will need to be performed. Herder will need to move pregnant ewes to lambing grounds. Be able to identify signs of ewes 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 for difficult births and able to graft orphan lambs to mothers. Ability to identify herd health issues including but not limited to malnutrition of ewes and lambs, 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 and lambs if the range has insufficient forage. Disperse livestock on the range to reduce overcrowding and increase the success of mother and lamb bonding. Protect vulnerable livestock (lambs & ewes in labor) from predators. Move Ewes and lambs and assist in branding, castrating, vaccinating, tagging, and worming. Ability to safely catch lambs with a hook. Move ewes and lambs to summer range grounds. May examine animals for signs of illness and administer vaccines, medications and insecticides according to instructions.
