The livestock industry is an expansive field that supports food production, labor services, consumer goods, and even entertainment. If you enjoy working with animals and have an interest in the essential supplies and services that livestock produce, there are several career paths that you can explore. Reviewing popular jobs where you can work with livestock and learning about their duties is a great way to determine if you want to create a career caring for and managing farm animals.
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In this article, we share a list of jobs in the livestock industry, along with each role’s average salary and key duties.
9 Jobs in the Livestock Industry
Here are several jobs you can explore if you’re interested in a career in the livestock industry. For the most up-to-date salaries, please click on the links below:
1. Equestrian coach
National average salary: $19,972 per year
Primary duties: An equestrian coach instructs students on how to ride horses, improve their riding skills, and learn the appropriate methods for caring for their horses. Equestrian coaches teach students a range of skills, including how to handle reins, guide the horse to make turns, stop and jump over obstacles, dismount the horse, and equip horses with horse riding equipment. They teach students the appropriate etiquette for participating in horse riding events and provide advice on how to improve their form to achieve riding goals.
2. Animal breeder
National average salary: $32,017 per year
Primary duties: Animal breeders in the livestock industry raise and breed animals with the goal of promoting specific genetic traits. They review the genetic history of their animals and decide which animals to breed, with the goal of creating offspring that have certain characteristics, such as thick wool or high milk production. Animal breeders oversee pregnant animals and provide them with care to facilitate safe births. They raise livestock, maintain genetic records, and make appointments with livestock veterinarians.
3. Ranch hand
National average salary: $34,420 per year
Primary duties: Ranch hands oversee the hands-on care of livestock on a ranch. They clean animal stalls, lay down fresh hay and bedding, refill feed and water troughs, care for animal hygiene, and assist with herding. Ranch hands also complete maintenance tasks around the ranch, such as repairing equipment and fences, trimming brush around trails, bailing hay, spreading fertilizer, and irrigating farmland. Ranch hands often ride horses around the grounds to supervise the property and maintain trails.
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4. Animal care technician
National average salary: $34,570 per year
Primary duties: Animal care technicians in the livestock industry can work at ranches, dairy farms, rodeos, and livestock shows to provide a safe and clean environment for animals. They determine the appropriate diet for each animal, maintain a feeding schedule, and clean transportation trailers, pens, and stalls. Animal care technicians may observe livestock after branding to prevent infection, clean animal care equipment, identify potential health issues and maintain records for feeding, medication, milking, shearing, and other care activities.
5. Ranch manager
National average salary: $37,641 per year
Primary duties: Ranch managers are livestock professionals who oversee operations at a ranch. They hire and train ranch staff, supervise the well-being of the animals at the ranch, identify treatment and care needs for livestock, maintain an inventory of ranch supplies, and coordinate the purchase and sale of livestock and their byproducts. Ranch managers monitor the behavior of cattle, sheep, hogs, and other livestock by riding horses or tractors around their property. They also coordinate the maintenance and construction of structures on the ranch such as sheds, barns, and fences.
6. Barn manager
National average salary: $42,231 per year
Primary duties: Barn managers coordinate the care and management of horses in a barn. This includes overseeing riding lessons, hiring and training equestrian coaches, managing horse boarding programs, ordering inventory, maintaining the barn, and scheduling vet appointments for the horses. Barn managers ensure that all the horses in the barn receive proper care, including grooming, nutrition, and exercise. They schedule employees, update barn records, and maintain the facility.
7. Herd manager
National average salary: $45,766 per year
Primary duties: Herd managers are responsible for a herd of cattle, sheep, swine, or goats. They track their herd at all times, including determining where the herd sleeps, counting the number of animals in the herd, protecting the animals from predators, and finding sources of food and water for their animals. Herd managers regularly assess the herd to locate any behavioral issues, injuries, or signs of disease. They also record the herd’s production of milk, wool, and other goods to identify any factors influencing production.
8. Feed mill manager
National average salary: $77,613 per year
Primary duties: A feel mill manager coordinates operations at a factory that produces feed for livestock. They create procedures and systems for efficiently processing feed ingredients into a consistent final product. Feed mill managers institute quality assurance standards, establish budgets, maintain manufacturing equipment, create schedules for the factory team, track production records, and distribute feed products to buyers.
9. Livestock veterinarian
National average salary: $111,591 per year
Primary duties: Livestock veterinarians are animal care professionals who specialize in providing medical care to farm animals. They treat medical conditions, injuries, and illnesses for large animals like horses and cows. Livestock veterinarians often travel to ranches and farms to assess the health of a herd or provide specialty care to a sick animal. They conduct tests, review vital signs, administer medications, and create care plans.
I hope you find this article helpful.
