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.
Clean stalls, pens, and equipment, using disinfectant solutions, brushes, shovels, water hoses, and/or pumps.
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.
Groom, clip, trim, and/or castrate animals; dock ears and tails; and/or shear coats to collect hair.
Herd livestock to pastures for grazing or to scales, trucks, or other enclosures.
Mark livestock to identify ownership and grade, using brands, tags, paint, or tattoos.
Milk animals such as cows and goats, by hand or using milking machines.
Mix feed, additives, and medicines in prescribed portions.
Perform duties related to livestock reproduction, such as breeding animals within appropriate timeframes, performing artificial inseminations, and helping with animal births.
Feed and water livestock; and monitor food and water supplies.
Provide medical treatment, such as administering medications and vaccinations; or arrange for veterinarians to provide more extensive treatment.
Segregate animals according to weight, age, color, and physical condition.
Shift animals between grazing areas to ensure that they have sufficient access to food.
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.
Inspect, maintain, and repair equipment, machinery, buildings, pens, yards, and fences.
Maintain growth, feeding, production, and cost records.
Move equipment, poultry, or livestock from one location to another, manually or using trucks or carts.
Order food for animals, and arrange for its delivery.
Patrol grazing lands on horseback or using all-terrain vehicles.
Trim and shear poultry beaks, toes, and wings using debeaking machines, heated hand shears, or hot wires.
Protect herds from predators, using trained dogs.
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.
Static Strength -- The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
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.
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.
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.
Dynamic Strength -- The ability to exert muscle force repeatedly or continuously over time. This involves muscular endurance and resistance to muscle fatigue.
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.
Handling and Moving Objects -- Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
Controlling Machines and Processes -- Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings -- Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People -- Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material -- Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Getting Information -- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work -- Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards -- Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Processing Information -- Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.