Cattle Farmhand

General Description:

The Cattle Farmhand supports the daily care, feeding, and management of the cattle herd. The role is hands-on and helps keep animals healthy, facilities in good condition, and operations running smoothly.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities:

• Oversee and ensure health of cattle
• Daily observation
• Check for open wounds on tails, feet and/or ears
• Cattle are eating and drinking on a regular basis
• Able to walk with no limp on all four hoofs
• Cattle are not by themselves, sunken in, with their head down as that can indicate sickness
• Environment is maintained by cleaning pens weekly by the removal of manure and adding more dirt to maintain comfort
• Administer treatment protocols
• Treatment may included but not limited to the removal of cattle in need of treatment to another location, administering antibiotics and anti-inflammatories with approved methods of euthanasia, as needed
• Vaccination administration and Reporting
• Complete treatment form to outline history of treatment
• Complete Daily Paperwork – Animal treatment summary, feed sheets, commodities reports, etc.
• Assist with morning and afternoon cattle feedings
• Ensure correct rations and feed times are established and followed
• Ensure truck loads are maximized with weights and rations
• Accurately mix feed
• Oversee upkeep of bunks
• Maintain Inventory on all commodities, medications, implants and vaccines
• General maintenance of company equipment
• Include by not limited to applying grease, changing oil, checking tire pressure and replacing tires, as needed
• Ability to operate Heavy Equipment
• Feed Truck
• Payloaders
• Tractor
• Skid Loaders
• Special Projects -- Coordinate and complete special projects as requested for the Iowa Feedlot/Operations Manager and other Summit Farms management, as needed basis
• Maintain a positive attitude while conducting work tasks along with a positive relationship with co-workers, vendors and clients.
• Prioritize work tasks to ensure high priority items are taken care of first
• Perform duties in a safe manner and follow all safety policies
• All other duties as assigned by Manager

Work Environment:

• This position is performed inside and outside pending the location of the cattle while being exposed to outside weather conditions.
• The noise level within the work environment can be loud and during seasonal months additional fumes and dust may be more noticeable.

Education/Experience:

• Prior experience working and being around livestock is preferred
• Class A CDL preferred, but not required

Physicality Requirements:

• Required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear.
• The employee must be able to continuously repeat necessary movements such as bending, lifting and different hand movements as needed to complete tasks
• Ability to frequently lift or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift or move up to 50
• Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust
• Ability to lift up to 75 pounds along with climbing up ladders and over gates
• Ability to climb in and out of livestock trailers that can be as short as 48 inches in height

Position Type:

• This position is full-time working Monday-Friday and/or work every other weekend with a day off during the week pending the schedule.
• Additional hours may be required during staffing challenges and/or seasonal needs.