Livestock Farmer

Persuade

I believe in growing and producing as much food as possible in order to feed a growing population, as well as being environmentally sustainable.

Eric, Fifth Generation Farmer & Rancher
Livestock Farmer

In A Nutshell

I raise animals for food and products that benefit humans. 

I make sure animals are healthy during many stages of their life cycle; from breeding, to birth, to growing, to eventually selling.

I train and manage employees so that our livestock are always given a consistent level of care.

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Potential Salary Range

$28,000 - 60,000 Annually

Which provinces would this job be in?

Alberta AB
Alberta
British Columbia BC
British Columbia
Manitoba MB
Manitoba
New Brunswick NB
New Brunswick
Newfoundland & Labrador NL
Newfoundland & Labrador
Nova Scotia NS
Nova Scotia
Ontario ON
Ontario
Prince Edward Island PEI
Prince Edward Island
Quebec QC
Quebec
Saskwatchewan SK
Saskwatchewan

My workplace is whatever it needs to be. It can be trapsing through muddy fields to corral animals, or it can be sitting at a computer going through budgets and data. 

Workplace

Indoor / Outdoor

Job Requirements & Duties

  • Monitoring the health and wellbeing of livestock and adjusting feeding to improve nutrition
  • Overseeing general farm activities such as maintaining fences, cleaning stalls, and filling hay and straw storage for the winter
  • Hiring new employees and training them to spot health problems in livestock
  • Organizing the sale, purchase, and transportation of livestock
  • Maintaining financial records of farming activities and planning budgets and expenses accordingly
  • Creating and managing a breeding schedule for livestock 

Education & Training

  • While no post-secondary education is required, a diploma in agriculture or animal husbandry can help candidates stand out from the competition. 
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Job Outlook

    While there will always be a need for workers in this industry, it may be challenging to break into a leadership position in this role. 

Related School Subjects

Science
Ed. Prof. et Tech.
Career Education

What words come to mind when thinking about this career?

Animals Livestock Management Farming

Important Skills

Patience

Working with animals can be challenging, but getting frustrated just makes it worse. Being patient and keeping cool during stressful situations is a very important part of the job.

Leadership

I can’t be everywhere at all times, so I need to train my team so I can trust them to be observant and provide the same level of care when I’m not around. 

Decision Making

You can’t be scared of making decisions when managing livestock! Every day brings a new set of challenges, and it’s really important to trust yourself to call the shots.

Resilience

Sometimes customers change their mind midway through a project and sometimes codes are hard to troubleshoot. It’s important to be resilient and get back up again after these challenges!

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The Best Things About This Job Are…

Working with Animals
Helps Others
Own Boss
Working in a Small Business