Description
Position Overview:
This role will also involve working on a modern day, state of the art farrow to wean sow farm. This position is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious individual who is looking to learn the ins and outs of the swine industry and gain practical knowledge.
Essential Job Responsibilities
- Ensuring all animals are receiving proper feed, water, and ventilation
- Shipping and receiving animals
- Treating animals
- Heat checking and breeding sows and gilts via artificial insemination
- Assisting with the birthing process of sows and gilts including sleeving
- Caring for piglets and ensuring they are off to a good start
- Moving animals with a sort board
- Cleaning facilities including power-washing, disinfecting, scraping manure, picking up cleanings, and removing deceased animals
- Weaning piglets from their mothers and giving wean shots
- Processing piglets including castration, docking tails, tattooing, and giving injections
- Following the proper steps for timely euthanasia
- Pen management, culling, sorting
- Keeping detailed, accurate records that comply with integrator
- Testing via blood/saliva samples as needed
- Understand & follow WFR’s biosecurity protocol, must shower in and out of the facility
- Understand & follow WFR’s animal welfare policy
- Understand & follow WFR’s handbook and procedures
- Work respectfully with a diverse team of 15-18 employees
- Maintain PQA+ certification
Reasonable Accommodations Statement: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable Accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties of the position.
Requirements
Education and Experience
- No previous experience required. Must have willingness to learn.
Qualifications
- Strong interest in work with animals with a desire to learn and self-develop
- Self-motivated team player with a positive attitude
- Strong prioritization and organizational skills
- Ability to lift a minimum of 50 lbs.
- Ability to stand, walk and be on feet for 8 to 10 hours a day
- Ability to frequently bend, reach, squat & kneel
- Capable to do repeated actions
- Effectively communicate with team members
Work Environment
- Schedule: Must work scheduled days and hours, will work weekends and extra hours as needed. Must work full time, a minimum of 80 hours each pay period.
- Environment: indoors and outdoors, dusty environments, hog farm. Nosie level is usually moderate to loud.
- Travel: Requirements are limited. May have to travel occasionally for meetings, supplies, etc.
Please note that this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of duties or responsibilities. Duties and responsibilities may change at any time with or without notice.
Skills Required
- Willingness to learn and interest in working with animals
- Maintain PQA+ certification
- Ability to lift a minimum of 50 lbs
- Ability to stand and be on feet 8-10 hours per day
- Frequent bending, reaching, squatting, kneeling and repetitive actions
- Effectively communicate and work respectfully with a diverse team
- Follow biosecurity protocols (shower in/out) and farm handbook/procedures
- Perform animal husbandry tasks: AI heat checking, birthing assistance, castration, tail docking, tattooing, injections
- Ability to perform facility cleaning: power-washing, disinfecting, manure scraping
- Keep detailed, accurate records per integrator requirements
What We Do
Waukon Feed Ranch Inc. (WFR) is a multifaceted agricultural business based in northeast Iowa. The company provides a diverse range of agricultural products and services, including grain handling, agronomy, livestock feed production, and transportation of feed, livestock, grain, and fuel. They specialize in distributing seeds, fertilizers, and bulk feed mixes for swine, cattle, and other animals to support local farmers.
