Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, And Aquacultural Animals

Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals

Description

Attend to live farm, ranch, or aquacultural animals that may include cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses and other equines, poultry, finfish, shellfish, and bees. Attend to animals produced for animal products, such as meat, fur, skins, feathers, eggs, milk, and honey. Duties may include feeding, watering, herding, grazing, castrating, branding, de-beaking, weighing, catching, and loading animals. May maintain records on animals; examine animals to detect diseases and injuries; assist in birth deliveries; and administer medications, vaccinations, or insecticides as appropriate. May clean and maintain animal housing areas. Includes workers who shear wool from sheep, and collect eggs in hatcheries.

Tasks

Feed and water livestock; and monitor food and water supplies.
Drive trucks, tractors, and other equipment to distribute feed to animals.
Examine animals to detect illness, injury, or disease, and to check physical characteristics, such as rate of weight gain.
Provide medical treatment, such as administering medications and vaccinations; or arrange for veterinarians to provide more extensive treatment.
Mix feed, additives, and medicines in prescribed portions.
Inspect, maintain, and repair equipment, machinery, buildings, pens, yards, and fences.
Move equipment, poultry, or livestock from one location to another, manually or using trucks or carts.
Clean stalls, pens, and equipment, using disinfectant solutions, brushes, shovels, water hoses, and/or pumps.
Mark livestock to identify ownership and grade, using brands, tags, paint, or tattoos.
Herd livestock to pastures for grazing or to scales, trucks, or other enclosures.
Shift animals between grazing areas to ensure that they have sufficient access to food.
Order food for animals, and arrange for its delivery.
Perform duties related to livestock reproduction, such as breeding animals within appropriate timeframes, performing artificial inseminations, and helping with animal births.
Milk animals such as cows and goats, by hand or using milking machines.
Segregate animals according to weight, age, color, and physical condition.
Patrol grazing lands on horseback or using all-terrain vehicles.
Maintain growth, feeding, production, and cost records.
Groom, clip, trim, and/or castrate animals; dock ears and tails; and/or shear coats to collect hair.
Spray livestock with disinfectants and insecticides; or dip or bathe animals.
Collect, inspect, and place eggs in incubators; operate machines for egg washing, candling, and grading; and pack eggs in cartons.
Protect herds from predators, using trained dogs.
Trim and shear poultry beaks, toes, and wings using debeaking machines, heated hand shears, or hot wires.

Knowledge

Administration and Management: Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Production and Processing: Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Mechanical: Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Biology: Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
Food Production: Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.

Skills

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Abilities

Problem Sensitivity: The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Arm-Hand Steadiness: The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
Control Precision: The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
Oral Comprehension: The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Multilimb Coordination: The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
Static Strength: The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
Oral Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Deductive Reasoning: The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Manual Dexterity: The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

Work Activities

Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
Performing General Physical Activities: Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Work Context

Face-to-Face Discussions: How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
Outdoors, Exposed to Weather: How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
Exposed to Contaminants: How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?
Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled: How often does this job require working indoors in non-controlled environmental conditions (e.g., warehouse without heat)?
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets: How much does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets?
Time Pressure: How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
In an Enclosed Vehicle or Equipment: How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or equipment (e.g., car)?
Outdoors, Under Cover: How often does this job require working outdoors, under cover (e.g., structure with roof but no walls)?
Freedom to Make Decisions: How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
Structured versus Unstructured Work: To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?

Interests

Realistic: Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Conventional: Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Investigative: Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Enterprising: Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Artistic: Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
Social: Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Work Style

Dependability: Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Integrity: Job requires being honest and ethical.
Cooperation: Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Attention to Detail: Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Independence: Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Self Control: Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Adaptability/Flexibility: Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Initiative: Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Leadership: Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
Concern for Others: Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.

Work Values

Support: Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Relationships: Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Independence: Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Working Conditions: Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Achievement: Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Recognition: Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.

Related Occupations

Nonfarm Animal Caretakers

Animal Breeders

Nursery Workers

Forest and Conservation Workers

Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers

Lay Titles

Animal Care Taker

Animal Feeder

Animal Herder

Animal Husbandry Worker

Animal Keeper

Aquaculture Worker

Aquatic Laborer

Aquatic Life Laborer

Artificial Breeding Distributor

Bait Digger

Barn Hand

Barn Worker

Bee Keeper

Bee Robber

Bee Tender

Bee Worker

Beekeeper

Bottler

Breeder Hen Service Technician

Breeding Technician

Broodmare Barn Groom

Brush Cutter

Buccaro

Caponizer

Care Taker

Castrator

Cattle Alley Worker

Cattle Brander

Cattle Care Worker

Cattle Dehorner

Cattle Dipper

Cattle Driver

Cattle Feeder

Cattle Sprayer

Chick Room Supervisor

Chicken Catcher

Chicken Dresser

Chicken Handler

Chicken Hatchery Helper

Chicken Picker

Chicken Tender

Chicken Vaccinator

Chopper

Chore Tender

Chore Worker

Chute Man

Cow Puncher

Cow Rider

Cow Tender

Cow Washer

Cowboy

Cowpuncher

Dairy Farm Worker

Dairy Farmer

Dairy Farmworker

Dairy Feed Worker

Dairy Hand

Dairy Worker

Dairyman

Debeaker

Dipper

Ditch Cleaner

Ditch Digger

Ditch Rider

Ditch Tender

Ditcher

Dude Wrangler

Egg Gatherer

Egg Setter

Exercise Rider

Farm Hand

Farm Helper

Farm Laborer

Farm or Ranch Animal Caretaker

Farm Rancher

National Wages and Employment Info

Median Wages (2008):: $10.61 hourly, $22,060 annual.

Employment (2008):: 29,570 employees