Open Range Production of Livestock-Parturition(Calving/Lamb)

Work description

Beginning on November 15 when livestock are moved to transitional range lands. the PRODUCTION season begins. Each year before the calves and lambs are born, the jugs/pens need to be repaired, cleaned and prepared for the lambing season. Before lambing begins, the ewes need to be sheared and moved to areas near the lambing barns. This season is a critical phase in the production cycle of livestock. Livestock feeding and management are essential to the success of the season. It is during these last weeks of pregnancy that there is a need for increased feed, primarily to a more nutrient rich diet. Extra nutrition is needed to support fetal growth. Worker will be responsible for helping move animals to staging areas, and monitoring animals closely during the last weeks of pregnancy to be sure they are in good health before Parturition. During that time the worker will assist with the birthing of approximately 150 cows and 800 ewes. The worker must be able to demonstrate knowledge of cattle and sheep, and experience with animal nutrition and parturition (birthing) along with the ability to monitor livestock to determine readiness to give birth. Assisting livestock with delivery, maintaining a clean environment. Livestock will need to be checked regularly during the 24-hour day, as animals can give birth around the clock. Knowledge of and ability to determine normal and abnormal parturition situations. Monitor livestock closely to help prevent problems. Ability to determine when assistance is required. Monitor health/growth and nutrition of newborn livestock. Monitor to ensure that newborn is nursing, taking in colostrum and milk. If newborns are not nursing as needed, supplement and assist as needed to ensure growth. Bottle feeding as necessary. Once the animals have given birth, it is important that the livestock pairs do not break the bond. At this point livestock pairs are separated from pregnant animals. We give extra attention to moving the pairs back to the herd. Animal pairs are moved back to transitional range as they grow in size and strength. Care must be given to their health and welfare including doctoring and ill animals and maintain vigilance over their prescience when night penning. Predation must be monitored and mitigated with human presence night penning and guardian dogs. During this time frame, the worker will assist with the following: Animal vaccinations, castration, and docking tails. Have lambing supplies prepared and ready for use. The season ends on June 1st when flocks and herds are moved to rangelands. Employee must be willing to perform tasks capably and efficiently without close supervision and live and work singly or in small groups of workers in isolated areas for extended periods of time. Worker must be able to lift and carry items weighing up to 100 pounds. Worker will use 4-wheelers and horses during the course of work. Worker must have knowledge of and experience working with cattle, sheep and trained dogs (guard dogs and herding dogs.) Most duties are performed out-of-doors and entail exposure to extreme heat and cold; dust, rain, snow, and wind; and herding hazards; poisonous snakes and predators common in range lands. General supervision will be provided by the ranch owner. Worker will be required to be On-Call 24/7 and live and work on the range more than 50% of the time.

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Last updated: October 7, 2026