Farmworkers, Farm & Ranch Animals

Work description

Feed and water livestock and monitor food and water supplies. Herd livestock to pastures for grazing or to scales, trucks, or other enclosures. 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. Mark livestock to identify ownership and grade, using brands, tags, paint, or tattoos. Maintain heated watering system. Segregate animals according to weight, age, color, and physical condition. Inspect, maintain, and repair equipment, machinery, buildings, pens, yards, and fences. Move equipment 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, or pumps. Mix feed, additives, and medicines in prescribed portions. Shift animals between grazing areas to ensure that they have sufficient access to food. Protect herds from predators, using trained dogs. Order food for animals, and arrange for its delivery. Daily monitoring of cattle, in case help is needed to pull a calf or warm them in a warming box after they are born. Perform duties related to livestock reproduction, such as breeding animals within appropriate timeframes, performing artificial inseminations, and helping with animal births. Patrol grazing lands on horseback or using all-terrain vehicles. Maintain growth, feeding, production, and cost records. Groom, clip, trim, or castrate animals, dock ears and tails, or shear coats to collect hair. Spray livestock with disinfectants and insecticides, or dip or bathe animals. Operate snow removal equipment in order to operate feed wagons. Confine livestock in stalls. Remove ice formed in water. Drive pick-up truck to town for cattle supplies on occasion. Must speak and understand English.

View the official U.S. Department of Labor source

Last updated: October 7, 2026