Job description Herd Attendant in Newfoundland and Labrador

Find out what work is like for a herd attendant in Canada. This work description is applicable to all Agricultural service contractors, farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers (NOC 84120).

Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators

Description

Specialized livestock workers carry out feeding, health and breeding programs on dairy, beef, sheep, poultry, swine and other livestock farms. Farm machinery operators operate and maintain farm machinery and equipment. They are employed on crop, livestock, fruit, vegetable and specialty farms.

Job duties

Here are some of the main activities and tasks that Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators have to perform, and some of the physical demands they involve:

  • Specialized livestock workers
  • Perform or assist in performing animal husbandry activities
  • Implement pasture or pen breeding programs
  • Develop and implement feeding programs
  • Follow safety and bio-security procedures
  • Detect and treat certain diseases and health problems in livestock
  • Maintain livestock performance records
  • Select livestock for sale
  • Set and monitor water lines, air flow and temperature in barns, pens and chicken coops
  • Train horses
  • Maintain inventory and order materials as required
  • May be responsible for the collection of semen and the insemination of donor females
  • May supervise general farm labourers.
  • Farm machinery operators
  • Operate farm equipment and machinery to till soil, plant, cultivate and harvest crops, and load and unload crops or containers of materials
  • Perform equipment and machinery maintenance
  • Monitor equipment and machinery operations to detect malfunctions
  • Follow safety procedures
  • May perform minor repairs to farm equipment and machinery.

Physical demands

Physical demands are the physical activities that the job requires the worker to do. Physical demands are selected according to the likeliness that workers will have to perform them for at least half of the time they spend at work.

Work environment

The work environment refers to the physical setting in which people work. The characteristics and conditions of the work environment are selected according to the likeliness that workers will be exposed to them at least once a week.

Physical proximity from others

Physical proximity from others refers to the physical distance between individuals in the workplace. The likeliness that the job requires to perform tasks while being physically close to other people is rated on a scale with 3 levels: "Somewhat close", "Close" and "Very close".

Related job titles

Here are some other related job titles that are found in the same occupational category (NOC 84120), and a list of similar occupations:

  • artificial inseminator
  • cattle herdsperson
  • dairy herdsperson
  • farm machinery operator
  • harvester machine operator
  • horse trainer
  • pork production technician
  • swine herdsperson

Similar occupations Help - Similar occupations

Similar occupations

This section lists other occupations that are part of the same broad occupational category as Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators in the National Occupational Classification (NOC). These occupations involve similar core qualifications but involve different responsibilities. To see more similar occupations, use the Job Transition Tool.

Sources Occupational and Skills Information System & National Occupational Classification

Labour Market Information Survey
Date modified: