Swine Technician

Continue caring for sows and piglets from birthing through weaning during the requested extension period. The majority of workdays will involve hands-on farrowing and weaning activities, including farrowing assistance, newborn care, feeding, watering, daily husbandry, sanitation, animal movement, and monitoring animal health under the direction of the onsite veterinarian. Perform piglet processing and weaning activities, maintain accurate barn logs, and follow biosecurity and animal welfare protocols. Support completion and stabilization of the existing post-cervical insemination (PCI) initiative for gilts and young stock and the management protocols developed to improve the throughput, pre-weaning performance, and value of smaller piglets. Continue collecting and reviewing production and health data, documenting outcomes, refining procedures, and training permanent staff to assume ongoing implementation. These duties support completion of the same temporary implementation projects during the requested extension period. Protocol development, data analysis, and staff training will remain secondary and will not exceed 50 percent of workdays. All animal health support activities will be performed under the direction of the onsite veterinarian. The worker will not perform acts requiring a veterinary license. Safely guide and move sows weighing approximately 500 pounds during weaning and lift up to 50 pounds as needed.

Requirements: 12 months of experience. Associates degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience, together with 12 months of relevant work experience. The current worker holds a masters degree and applies graduate-level knowledge in swine reproductive physiology, neonatal immunity, disease prevention and epidemiology, and production data analysis to support efforts to reduce pre-weaning mortality and improve farrowing outcomes. During the requested extension period, the worker will continue applying this knowledge to complete and stabilize the existing temporary production initiatives. Responsibilities include refining, implementing, and documenting evidence-based farrowing and weaning procedures under the direction of the onsite veterinarian; analyzing barn-level performance indicators to support husbandry adjustments. Also, including training permanent staff on biosecurity, animal welfare, and the procedures developed during the implementation phase.