Open Range Livestock Herder

By mid-December of each year, Fall newborns have been weaned, the pairs have been combined back into larger herds and Feeder herds from the have now been created for herd management and also to provide for the nutritional needs of the growing offspring. Pairs have been combined into larger herds and moved onto range land. This time of year is a crucial feeding & herd management time and is key to the success of our breeding program. The livestock’s main needs are: good nutritional feed, water, and protection from parasites, predators and stress. We have various range sites, including public and private property leases. Proper Herding and Grazing of these locations not only allows us to grow our offspring and maintain the health of our herds, but also helps us to manage our feed source and ensure that these range locations will be available to us in the future. Animals are moved frequently to different areas on the range. Range feeding extends from mid-December to end of October when we begin to slow down the animal movement and prepare for parturition (birthing) season. Minimum standards are required pertaining to care of animals and conduct in public. Animals must be well cared for with no negligence or abuse by personnel. The worker must be able to demonstrate work experience and a knowledge of range herd livestock. The Open Range Livestock Herder will be required to be On-Call 24/7 and live and work on the range more than 50% of the time. Range Duties include: Attends livestock that is grazing on range or pasture. Herding is part of grazing for fire fuels mitigation. Herds livestock and rounds up strays. Takes down and set up of portable electric fencing and working corrals. Beds down livestock near evening campsite and within night pen. Guards Livestock from poisonous plants as well as from predatory animals with the help of livestock guardian dogs. Drench, trim hooves, assist in shearing of livestock. May examine livestock for signs of illness and administer vaccines, medications and insecticides according to instruction. May perform other farm or ranch chores related to the production and husbandry of livestock on an incidental basis. May sort and cut culls. May feed livestock supplementary rations. Must care for and control livestock guardian dogs as well as herding dogs. 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. The job may entail operating a 4-wheeler and use herding dogs for movement of livestock. Worker must be able to lift and carry items weighing up to 100 pounds. Most duties are performed out-of-doors and entail exposure to extreme heat and cold; dust, rain, snow, wind; and herding hazards; poisonous snakes and predators common in range lands. Worker will be required to attain a driver’s license. General supervision will be provided by the ranch owner.

Requirements: 6 months of experience. Work is performed on the range for the majority (meaning more than 50 percent) of the workdays in the work contract period.